Saving More at the Supermarket

   By drodriguez  Dec 13, 2008
49

There are lots of things we can cut back on when trying to save a few bucks, but when it comes to buying groceries many of us are left gasping at the bill after checking out.  We have to eat right?  With rising costs of food these days and soaring unemployment rates it is really important that we all learn how to be savvy shoppers.

And many of us have already become a lot better at finding deals that will save a small bundle each week.  Shoppers are taking advantage of websites that offer coupons for everything from laptop computers to breakfast cereal.  According to the Indiana News and Tribune, 89 percent of the U.S. population uses coupons.  The traffic on sites like EverSave.com and RetailMeNot.com grows higher as the economy sinks lower.  On average, a family could save close to $10 a month on groceries by using coupons. 

Aside from saving with coupons you can find on websites and in newspapers a recent article from CNN also offered some great ways to save at the grocery store.

A great way to get more value for your dollar is to buy in bulk.  Bulk items are almost always much cheaper than individual products.  Things like toilet paper and paper towels should always be purchased in bulk since you know you will use them and they will not spoil.  Stay away from deals on perishables like milk, eggs and produce that will go bad before you can eat them.

Buying the store brand item over a name brand can also help you save quite a bit.  The ingredients and taste are often similar if not identical.  The only noticeable difference is usually the cost

CNN reports about a blind taste test conducted by supermarket expert Phil Lempert.  The test showed that with items like cereal, potato chips, and ginger ale a big percentage of shoppers either could not tell the difference or actually preferred the generic brand.

Making a list may not always be the answer to avoiding impulse shopping.  Robyn Moreno, consumer editor of Women’s Day, told CNN that shoppers with lists spend over 40 percent more than those who shop list-free.  This doesn’t mean you should forget the list all together.  Just think of the shopping list as less of a “wish list” and more as an economically planned list focused around menus for you and your family. 

For a complete list of CNN’s tips you can visit: http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/07/09/food.bill/index.html


What do you think of the tips offered above on how to save at the grocery store?

Have you figured out a unique way to save more on groceries?
 

Make a Comment

 
SHARE
Comments
proudtxmomof3 by proudtxmomof3 | Waxahachie, TX
Jan 19, 2009

I as well use coupons! I live in a land where they double and triple coupons also take advantage of CVS and Walgreens programs where they pay you back in Extracare bucks as well as REgister Rewards!

chrissybear77 by chrissybear77 | West Palm Beach, FL
Jan 19, 2009

I look for like when win dixie has their veggies in a can it is store brand but it tates about the same like this past weekend the 17th they had their veggies 20 for 10 on sale in FL in west palm beach so I went there and I stocked up. I looked for deals like that Or I shop at bj or sams for meat and then frezee them you get more for your money.

TRUGIRL by TRUGIRL | RIDGELAND, MS
Jan 16, 2009

I MAKE SURE THAT I USE COUPONS BUT I ALSO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SITES THAT GIVE FREEBIES AND COUPONS. I SHOP AT KROGER AND HAVE FOUND THAT WITH SHORTCUTS.COM YOU CAN HAVE COUPONS OF YOUR CHOICE LINKED TO YOU KROGER CARD. I ALSO GET ALOT OF FREE SAMPLE ITEMS FROM DEALTAKER.COM. THESE HAVE HELPED ME TO SAVE MONEY. I HAVE 2 KIDS AND MONEY IS ALWAYS TIGHT SO I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT I CAN SAVE A FEW BUCKS HERE AND THERE. I ALSO DONT DO ALOT OF STORE BOUGHT SNACKS FOR MY KIDS. I BUY EVERYTHING I CAN IN BULK AND SEPPERATE AND FREEZE IT. I HAVE FOUND THAT IT HAS HELPED ALOT AND ME AND MY FAMILY ARE HEALTHIER FOR IT.

MommaGeorge by MommaGeorge | Beaverton, OR
Jan 16, 2009

I always use coupons and watch for sales on Meat and stock up usually on the 1st or 2nd day of the sale..and then on the last day of the sale I do another check, but most of items are gone, so I ask for rain checks. I have been able to use rain checks months after they expire by telling the manager or cashier the items have not been in stock when I came in to purchase (especially meat in grocery stores), and I have not had any problem using an expired rain check..so hold on to them even after expiration dates!! If you watch the meat sales they rotate between pork, chicken and beef from week to week..great sales seem to happen every 4-6 weeks. I don't have a large freezer like I used to when I had kids, but my fridge freezer holds enough for me to do a good job of rotation between my meats and frozen foods I find on sale. Also, check out websites like Slickdeals.net , cliipngocoupons.com, couponbug.com, hotcouponworld for pointers on savings and coupons.

christmasangel by christmasangel | Richmond, TX
Jan 16, 2009

I have found another way to saving at teh grocery store aside from coupons is to cook breakfast. Just cooking a good hot breakfast on the weekends only has saved us. With everyone being home on the weekends I was noticing "snacking" going on that doesn't typically go on during the week. We started feeding the kids a cooked breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays rather than cereal, it sustains everyone longer and even cuts back on how much they tend to eat at lunch. Also, I try to prepare their snacks for them, rather then the once, "free for all", this forces them to sit down and eat it, and the amount is controled and now I regulate a more healthy snack. I have stopped buying "junk" food, and since I regulate their snacking now they don't even notice that we don't have "ding-dongs" anymore. It took some time, but now I am noticing that even during the week when they are wanting a snack they tend to reach for hard boiled eggs, or cheese cubes, even fruit over the more sugary items.

KsFoodie by KsFoodie | Wichita, KS
Jan 15, 2009

The overall theme here is "Use coupons'. They will often make the name brand item cheaper than a generic store brand, especially if your store offers double coupons. Also, don't overlook the mark-downs! I recently found a 6-pack of Slim Fast marked $1.50. Had a dollar off coupon. One caveat-always check the expiration dates, but remember, food doesn't 'die' on the date that's marked. Shop for foods in season, cook from scratch (it's healthier) and save money!.

Versace by Versace | KNOXVILLE, TN
Jan 10, 2009

I have always used coupons, from the time I was in my teens (I'm now in my 40's). This past year I kept a close count on just how much money I saved using coupons. Get this ... in 2008, I save $6879.55 using coupons!!!!! I knew that I saved a good bit, but I never realized just how much until I added it all up. I now have over $6000.00 worth of FREE items just by using coupons and being a savvy shopper. I only use the coupons that I get from my local newspaper or mail advertisements. If I could find a website (that is FREE) where I could print coupons, no telling how much I could save in 2009. It takes a little time and effort, but to me the money saved is worth all the work!

dusty910 by dusty910 | Deep River, CT
Jan 09, 2009

I can't believe how high food prices have gotten but I'm lucky to have 2 large grocery stores within 2 blocks of each other. When the flyers come out, I sit down and make my lists based on what's on special that week and whatever coupons I have. There's a great website, Allrecipes.com, that has an recipe finder based on ingredients. There are thousands of recipes online with most of them contributed by readers. I plug in the specials and have been able to make some really great meals for my family fairly inexpensively and they get to try something new. They also have a category for budget meals. Definitely worth checking out!

Kremer2310 by Kremer2310 | Shelbyville, KY
Jan 09, 2009

I buy the best deal possible. Meaning, if the store brand is a better deal than a name brand with a coupon and sale, I buy the store brand. I use Couponmom.com for weekly deals at my grocery store. I have also learned to buy health and beauty items at discount drug stores and stock up on items that are on sale. I was able to get $100 worth of health and beauty items for $38. That was my biggest savings yet!

hairs2u by hairs2u | Lowell, MA
Jan 01, 2009

I try to save in a lot of areas. But, food shopping is the worst. No matter how hard I try it is one of my highest bills. The gas prices went down and the food hasn't. What will happen when the gas goes up again. No one will afford to eat. This is crazy. Something needs to be done. There is only 3 of us in my house What do people do that have 5 or more???

KathiSierra by KathiSierra | Girard, PA
Dec 31, 2008

I plan my meals around what is on sale that week at our favorite "double coupon" store,usually the purchase such as a pot roast will not only be enough for the main meal but for a leftover equally delicious meal that same week. I also email companies and ask if they send out coupons or samples, its amazing how many free product coupons I obtain that way.

Mom2NateNoahnick by Mom2NateNoahnick | BROWNSBURG, IN
Dec 24, 2008

I trade coupons and boy oh boy has it helped me. You can also get coupons on ebay! There are times that these come in so handy when your buying multiplies of one item:)

ayesha16 by ayesha16 | huntington station, NY
Dec 23, 2008

coupons are the best. I always use them, when I shop in a supermarket. sometimes, I get toothpaste and shampoo for free. it saves a lot of money.

ELLETN by ELLETN | CHURCH HILL, TN
Dec 21, 2008

I found the statement...."the average family could save $10 a month using coupons" to be hillarious. I grocery shop once a week and always save $50 or more using coupons.

MaurChclt by MaurChclt | Cattaraugus, NY
Dec 21, 2008

I started using coupons and found that I save about $15-20 on every grocery trip, a much needed savings.