Food and groceries can be a pretty significant part of your budget. Start out the year by cutting your food bills by up to 25-50% by doing the following:
First, plan your grocery inventory. Make a list of what you need to stock up your refrigerator and your pantry. This will make you avoid having to buy too much of a particular item, or buying things that you don’t really need. Also take inventory of what you already have to avoid unneeded purchases. Planning also limits those “emergency” food runs to the supermarket where you suddenly find out that you need a particular grocery item – you save on time and fuel costs.
Second, pay attention to expiration dates. Store your food in such a way that the items that expire sooner are at a more prominent area for your retrieval and use. People throw away hundreds of dollars of food every year simply because they have reached their expiration dates. Always consider how much of a grocery item you are buying
Third, use grocery coupons more. Don’t throw away those Sunday newspaper coupons. The few minutes you take clipping and filing them can save you hundreds of dollars in food purchases. Also up as many flyers as you can at your local grocery or supermarket. These usually have big deals on fresh produce.
Fourth, go online to find bargains on food. It takes about 15 minutes to go to your local supermarkets’ websites to find out about what groceries they have on sale. These websites also have electronic coupons that you can use in shopping.
Fifth, consider buying store-brand food items. While store-brand brands can sometimes mean lower quality, they are just as safe and nutritious as branded names.
Sixth, consider joining a warehouse superstore. The discounts on quantity purchases from these places can be very significant. While they may require a membership fee, your savings will easily make up for it.
Seventh, try to go shopping by yourself. Bringing children along can result in buying treats and sweets on impulse. Even bringing a friend or a spouse can lead to buying things that are not on your essentials list.
Eighth, avoid the deli counter. Cheeses and meats in the deli section are usually much more expensive than buying packaged versions in the regular supermarket sections.
Ninth, stick to the food areas. Do not wander to the sporting goods or cosmetics section because they are designed to stock things that will catch your unwary eye. Remember that you are shopping for groceries and not for athletic shoes or cologne.
