Buy more, spend less on groceries

Food.  You have to have it.  You can’t deny that.  Maybe it’s me, but it seems like it costs SO much more to fill your grocery cart than it did just a couple of years ago.  It seems groceries are one of the biggest expenses in my house—and it’s only my husband and me!  I can only imagine buying food for more than two!  However, each week I do my best to make our food budget stretch just as far as it can.  My advice may seem time-consuming… but it really isn’t.  All it takes is a little bit of thought ... and a pinch of organization.

Coupons

I think I’ve said this more than once.  Coupons can be big money savers ... not on EVERY item, but on several.  I usually get them from the Sunday paper AND online (typically Coupon Mom if you’re wondering).  Be organized, though.  Only clip the ones you KNOW you will use, whether that week or at least before the expiration date.  I even *try* to sort my coupons according to the route I usually take through the grocery store to minimize the time I’m actually in the store… but that doesn’t always happen.  The big thing:  DO NOT use coupons just to use them.  Otherwise you’re spending money on items you don’t really need—therefore you aren’t saving money.  You can also maximize your savings by pairing coupons with an in-store sale (for example: ice cream that’s already $1 off in the store + add an additional $1 off from a coupon).  Note: some stores also double (or even triple) the value of some coupons… but not all stores do.  Don’t assume your store does.  If you’re not sure, call and ask.  The worst thing they can tell you is “no.“

Price Matching

This takes a little more organization than coupons ... but you can easily save just as much, if not more!  The first step is to call ahead to find out if your store matches sales ads for other grocery stores.  If they DO, make sure you ask what the store’s price matching policy is.  For instance, your grocery store MAY match an ad that has something on sale for a specific price ... but not an ad to “Buy #, Get # Free” or one for a percentage off.  You must also be SURE you take in the store ad with you because the cashier will likely ask for proof of the sale, and to also make sure the sale isn’t over.  Plus, when you’re picking out your groceries, make sure you get the exact product and the exact SIZE mentioned in the sale ad.  Here’s how I organize these:  I write down all of the sales ads prices I’m using for the week in a small notebook—the same notebook I keep my grocery list with me.  I write down WHICH STORE has the sale, WHAT the PRODUCT SPECS are, and HOW MUCH the sale price is.

Make a List and Stick with It!

I know this sounds silly, but it’s true.  I’ve tested it.  I spend more if I don’t make a list.  I write down everything I KNOW I need, write down my sales ads, then write down a couple of unnecessary items, so I feel like I splurge a little.  I usually DO forget a couple of things—but I do a lot better than if I wing it.  Any time I DON’T have a list, I buy much more than we need… therefore I get the shock when the cashier rings up my total.

So I know it may sound like I spend a ton of time just getting ready to go to the grocery store, but I really don’t.  And it won’t take YOU much longer than normal!  It may take a little time to get used to it, but it’s easy once you get the hang of it!  I would say you’ll probably spend about 15-20 minutes clipping coupons from the Sunday paper, about the same online, then 15-20 minutes going through sales ads and writing them down, plus it shouldn’t take too long to make out your grocery list.  For me, it doesn’t take NEARLY that long anymore.  I think I might spend a total of 25-30 minutes preparing for the grocery store trip ... and I can easily get through the store in that little time as well.  So that’s it for now.  If you have any questions ... or you have another topic you want me to cover, just email me!  You can also follow me on Twitter… just search for AmberNBC13HD ... or find me on Facebook (Amber Hawkins).  Until next time!