With the current state of the economy, we need more and more ways to save money. The grocery store is the best place to start. Food is a necessity, but it doesn't have to be a burden on your budget. There's plenty of strategies you can use to cut costs when you shop for food. Consider using these ideas for saving money on groceries the next time you shop at the grocery store.
1) Be in a hurry, never shop hungry - Shopping when you're starving for food is probably one of the worst ways to go into the grocery store. You'll tend to crave certain things you see and end up adding more items to your cart then you originally planned to. Always make sure to have eaten before you hit the grocery store. Another idea, is to consider shopping when you're in a hurry. While this may cause some people to forget an item, bringing a grocery shopping list will eliminate that need.
2) Use coupons for maximum savings - Coupons can save you hundreds of dollars over the course of a year. Many grocery stores will also offer one day a week when they double or triple your coupons. Be diligent about cutting out the coupons each week from the Sunday paper. If you don't get the paper, start buying at least Sunday's edition, as that $1.50 or so you spend can equal up to a lot of savings with the coupons you get. Also consider swapping coupons with neighbors. For example, if you don't have kids and a neighbor does, swap your diaper or other baby coupons for coupons you need.
3) Don't buy name brand foods - At the grocery store many of us have been programmed to think that store brand items are poor quality. Many of the store products are just as good and in some cases better than the name brands. They also come at a fraction of the price. Consider trying the name brand item, and if you find it reasonable you can continue buying that version for a nice savings. Don't get stuck in the mindset that everything has to be name brand when it comes to food, unless you find it has a significant difference in taste/quality.
4) Buy items in bulk - Items that won't perish quickly such as cereal, soda, rice, beans and toiletries (toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper) are best bought in bulk when they go on sale. It may seem like you're spending more money at the time, but in fact you'll be realizing savings by not buying these things later on. Also, consider getting a membership to a Sam's or Costco's as these warehouses sell many products in bulk (beyond food) for a good deal of overall savings.
5) Stick to the list - When doing your grocery shopping use a highly-disciplined approach. Before you head to the store browse through the coupon fliers, clipping ones for products you will use. Search through the grocery store's weekly fliers to see what items are on special. Plan your shopping trip so that you'll maximize your savings and only buy the items that your home will need for that period of time. Also, some have recommended leaving other family members at home when you take that trip to the grocery store. When the kids and husband are with you they tend to have a "oh we need this too" approach, that will only add to the final bill at the grocery store.
For even more great grocery shopping tips I highly recommend Living on a Dime - Grocery Shopping On A Budget, which is packed full of great ways to maximize your savings.
Hope these 5 simple tips will help with your savings on grocery shopping! Feel free to share your own ideas for saving money on groceries below!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Living on a Dime Ebook Review - 500 Ideas for Saving Money!
Wow! I have to say my recent small purchase of this living on a dime e-book probably will help me learn how to save money. My goal is to get my life back on track after losing a job while now struggling through the recession. It's hard enough to just get by with unemployment checks, while trying to make ends meet. So when I discovered this lady's book with 500 money saving tips, I figured why not spend a few bucks and see what it has to offer? I was pleasantly surprised and know it will help quite a bit with getting things straight financially.
Basically the book, written by a Penny Pinchin' Mama, is divided up into about 20 different sections. She covers all sorts of ways to save money including ways to save on your grocery shopping, save on utilities, save on home improvements, decorating, cars, clothing, cleaning supplies and more! I found plenty of useful tips presented in this simple to read e-book that will help me save money and hopefully build my savings back up some too. She doesn't sugar coat her writing either or BS, she completely spells out what steps she took to really increase her savings at home.
In her book she tells you exactly how she was struggling just like many of us are to make ends meet. She earned just $12,000 a year salary and had 2 children to care for. She and her children were able to miraculously live off just $5,000 while she devoted the other $7,000 to paying down her debt. Once she had managed to pay off her home and debts, she became ill to the point she had to go on disability. So her story rings true for many of us. It becomes stressful and tough to know how to save money, feed everyone and be able to afford other necessities such as clothing and cleaning supplies, or gas for the car. Taking the advice of this woman in her e-book, I see no reason people won't be able to improve their financial situations by using her tips. You can read more about her e-books here. The one I am talking about is the least expensive one on their site, with 500 ways for you to save money. Enjoy, use her money saving tips, and start watching more money go into your pocket or bank account!
Basically the book, written by a Penny Pinchin' Mama, is divided up into about 20 different sections. She covers all sorts of ways to save money including ways to save on your grocery shopping, save on utilities, save on home improvements, decorating, cars, clothing, cleaning supplies and more! I found plenty of useful tips presented in this simple to read e-book that will help me save money and hopefully build my savings back up some too. She doesn't sugar coat her writing either or BS, she completely spells out what steps she took to really increase her savings at home.
In her book she tells you exactly how she was struggling just like many of us are to make ends meet. She earned just $12,000 a year salary and had 2 children to care for. She and her children were able to miraculously live off just $5,000 while she devoted the other $7,000 to paying down her debt. Once she had managed to pay off her home and debts, she became ill to the point she had to go on disability. So her story rings true for many of us. It becomes stressful and tough to know how to save money, feed everyone and be able to afford other necessities such as clothing and cleaning supplies, or gas for the car. Taking the advice of this woman in her e-book, I see no reason people won't be able to improve their financial situations by using her tips. You can read more about her e-books here. The one I am talking about is the least expensive one on their site, with 500 ways for you to save money. Enjoy, use her money saving tips, and start watching more money go into your pocket or bank account!
How to Save Money Grocery Shopping
With the economic downturn and recession of 2008-09 looming over us, you're probably looking for any possible ways to save money. It's hard enough scraping by with each paycheck, paying bills and then having mouths to feed, and then trying to have something left over for yourself! So one place that is especially important to maximize your savings power is to learn how to save money grocery shopping. Finding the best deals you can, and using other strategies will go a long way towards putting extra money in your pocket and bank account. The main purpose of this site will be to help give people ways to save money on groceries, but also ways to save money in general.
There's several ways you can save yourself money when it comes to groceries. Of course the obvious way is clipping coupons from your Sunday newspaper circulars and fliers. Check out which grocery stores have what items on sale, and see if you can use any of the latest coupons to save even more. Another method is of course finding online money saving coupons to use towards your purchases at the stores. There's plenty of coupon sites made which will provide you with products based on your buying habits, zip code and other info.
Another way to save money grocery shopping is to visit your local bargain store, such as a bargain Mart. At these stores you can find out which day their new items arrive in shipments for certain products, and then buy what you need as soon as it hits the shelves. And don't be surprised if you find quality stuff at the bargain stores. You may even be shocked that some of these stores sell salad dressings, vinegar, olive oil and pasta. So consider looking for the gourmet items that you'd pay top dollar for elsewhere, and buy them at the bargain store to save. You can find bargain or discount grocery stores listed in your local phone book. Shop around and get the best savings you can!
Another way to save money on groceries is if you have a baby to feed you can consider creating food for your baby rather than buying it from the grocery store. Making your own homemade baby food using fresh products, rather than buying the expensive baby food in jars can add up to some nice savings! To do this you can use organic or fresh fruits and veggies including peas, carrots, apples, bananas and pears. You will need to puree the food or blend it in your blender. You may need to cook or steam some of the fruits to make them more easy to mash up. After blending them until desired consistency, you can spoon the homemade baby food into ice cube trays and freeze it. It's a good idea to then store these frozen baby food portions in zippered bags or plastic containers in the freezer until you need to serve them.
There's several ways you can save yourself money when it comes to groceries. Of course the obvious way is clipping coupons from your Sunday newspaper circulars and fliers. Check out which grocery stores have what items on sale, and see if you can use any of the latest coupons to save even more. Another method is of course finding online money saving coupons to use towards your purchases at the stores. There's plenty of coupon sites made which will provide you with products based on your buying habits, zip code and other info.
Another way to save money grocery shopping is to visit your local bargain store, such as a bargain Mart. At these stores you can find out which day their new items arrive in shipments for certain products, and then buy what you need as soon as it hits the shelves. And don't be surprised if you find quality stuff at the bargain stores. You may even be shocked that some of these stores sell salad dressings, vinegar, olive oil and pasta. So consider looking for the gourmet items that you'd pay top dollar for elsewhere, and buy them at the bargain store to save. You can find bargain or discount grocery stores listed in your local phone book. Shop around and get the best savings you can!
Another way to save money on groceries is if you have a baby to feed you can consider creating food for your baby rather than buying it from the grocery store. Making your own homemade baby food using fresh products, rather than buying the expensive baby food in jars can add up to some nice savings! To do this you can use organic or fresh fruits and veggies including peas, carrots, apples, bananas and pears. You will need to puree the food or blend it in your blender. You may need to cook or steam some of the fruits to make them more easy to mash up. After blending them until desired consistency, you can spoon the homemade baby food into ice cube trays and freeze it. It's a good idea to then store these frozen baby food portions in zippered bags or plastic containers in the freezer until you need to serve them.
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