Ways for Parents to Save Money on Groceries
With
the rising cost of food, most of us are all feeling the burn. The grocery store
is no exception. In fact, it is one of the main places that our wallet is
feeling the burn. Digital coupons can help, but with inflation pushing prices
up, it’s going to take a money-saving strategy. Here are a few suggestions on ways
to keep your grocery bill from getting too far out of hand.
Having
a plan
Before
you head off into the store, have a strategic plan. Look through your sales circulars and make a
list of the items to be purchase. Check
your pantry and see what items you need.
Making a menu for the coming week will also help you know what you will
need to purchase. Have a detailed list ready and a budget set before you hit
the store. This will save you both time
and money.
Sale
circulars
First
things first. Always check the sale circulars before heading off to the grocery
store. The sales papers contain the list of items that are on sale. Be sure to
get the circulars for more than one store and compare the prices. The same
items may be at a lower price at a different store. Thanks to technology you
don’t even have to get the actual paper. Most stores like Walmart and Walgreens
have website where you can easily check the price of different items and
compare them.
Consider
Grocery Pickup
Whether
you like grocery pickup or not, it is a way to help control your spending on
food. My ordering online you can easily monitor what is in your cart and how
much your groceries are going to cost before you check out. This will help to
ensure that you stick within your budget. When you go into a regular store, you
can easily get distracted. You may find yourself at the check out counter with
items, you didn’t mean to purchase. As a result, you may go beyond your budget.
Pet
Food
We
all love our pets, and it can be easy to forget about averaging in the pet’s
food with the grocery bill. Pet food can get to be extremely expensive, and it
can help wreck your grocery budget. I’ll be one of the first to admit that it’s
easy to overlook to forget about pet food. Figure out how much food your pet
are consuming and add this to your grocery bill.
Price
checking
Items
like milk, eggs, and sugar are grocery staples. The price on these items should
be check for at least two to three weeks in the stores in which you shop the
most often. Stores will often list items in a sale circular that are actually
regular price. By doing a price check for several weeks on these items, you can
identify if they are really on sale.
Budget
for inflation.
Since
prices have gone up, you will have to increase your allowance for food, or you
will have to cut back on the groceries that you buy. Inflation is over 8% at the
present. So, that means you should allow yourself an additional $8 to $10 per
month. That may not seem like a lot, but it can add up in the long run.
Buying
in bulk
When a nonperishable items that your family uses regularly go on sale, buy them in bulk from your regular stores. Various stores will often has staple items on sale each week. When these sales hit, you should purchase at least 3 of the items in order to stock up. If possible, purchase enough to last for several months. Believe it or not you can actually freeze cheese, whipped cream, and other products. Cheese should be shredded before freezing because the texture can change.
If
you really want to be smart, invest in a food vacuum. This will allow to vacuum
seal bulk purchases. Fruit unfortunately is perishable. So, unless you plan on
canning these items or create smoothies, only purchase them as you plan to use
them. Some people argue the case for freezing fruit. I am not one of those
people.
Check
Various Stores
Shopping
at more than one store has its advantages.
Different stores can have different staple items on sale. By shopping at
more than one store, you can get several items at a low price. Also, this helps
you to identify who has the best deal on a product.
Be
Mindful of the Meat
For
most of us, meat is the main part of our meals. Unfortunately, meat is the most
expensive item on our grocery lists. You can help keep your grocery bill low by
rethinking the way you look at meat. Instead of making meat your main item for
meals, consider it a side dish. Decrease the portion size you put on your
plates and bulk up on vegetables and other side dishes. Another option is to go
meatless one meal per week.
Monitor
Your Receipts
Be
sure to check your store receipts. Some
receipts have coupons that print out on them or promotional offers. Store receipts
may also have surveys on them, and they offer free items as rewards for
answering the survey. Checking receipts
will also ensure that you are getting an item for the correct price. Mistakes do happen at the checkout.
Stop
Impulse Shopping
Don’t
be drawn in by those mini-items at the check-out line. They have been
strategically placed there to get your attention while you are waiting in line
to check out. Stick to your shopping list.
Only
buy what you need. Don’t buy an item just because it is on sell. If it isn’t on
your shopping list for the week, leave it in the store.
https://funcheaporfree.com/7-reasons-why-i-dont-believe-in-couponing/
Grocery
prices are at an all-time high. Inflation is forcing many of us to become more mindful
of our shopping habits. So, before you head off to the grocery store be sure
that you have a strategic plan in place and a set budget for your trip. Happy
shopping.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp2YD4mEEac
