Making the grocery budget stretch is a common concern and goal for many people and households, and the main grocery purchaser of households across the country confess to using some if not all of these techniques to get the most out of their money. They are easy to use and can even save you time, too, so try a few and see what they can do for your grocery funds!
Meal Plan
If you don’t have a plan, you will fail. The best way to stretch a grocery budget is to start with a meal plan of what all you need to buy, so that you get the essentials and nothing more. If you want a small splurge, add that into the plan. This also saves you time in grocery shopping and cooking each week.
Make a list
After you plan your meals, make a grocery list and stick to it. Don’t leave it at home! Make sure you have it with you at all times and don’t deviate from it. That’s how you start adding in extra costs without even realizing what you are doing.
Price match
Do you know what different stores have to offer? Pull up the sale papers and websites and start checking out prices. Once you find the range you’re comfortable with, go to that store. In price matching, you may sometimes go to different stores to complete your list. If you do, make separate lists for each store and stack them in order of how you will need to go to the stores.
Use coupons
Sometimes coupons can cost you more, but you can save a lot with using them, too. Carefully plan out how and when you will use coupons and attach them to your list or lists so that you don’t forget them when it is time to shop. Also be sure to check out the store’s website to see if they have special coupons that you can load directly on to your shopper reward card.
Plan to shop weekly
So that you don’t buy too much or food that will rot before you can use it, plan a day where you will spend an hour or two shopping for all the things you need that week and that week only, unless you find a great deal on something you can use the following week.
Buy in bulk
Buy in bulk with meats, pastas, and sauces and divide them up and freeze them. This will save money and if you ever find yourself during a time where you are running low on funds, you will always have some foods on hand to whip up a quick meal.
Bring a calculator with you
Bring a calculator when you go shopping so that you can see where you are saving and where you may be spending too much. Mark prices next to items so that you can have it for future reference to check on prices that go up, down, and stay the same.
Karen Kart says
These are all great ideas! I buy groceries for a family of five so thank you for these tips. I have already started on my meal plan for next week.
Elena says
These are great tips! Thanks for sharing