Note: This guest post was written by Tommye White, Sr. Director at Money Management International.
Even though I like to think of myself as a smart shopper, I am like others when I get to the check-out at the grocery store: shocked that my bill is so high for the small amount of groceries I have in my cart.
I feel like I do a pretty good job of purchasing the most for the least amount of money, but I have tried the following three things below to push the envelope.
- I take a quick look at what I have in my pantry and refrigerator before I go to the store. Many times I find that leftover squash or a bit of chicken that I can use to make a new meal with only one or two purchased ingredients. I just jot down what I have on a piece of paper for reference when I get to the store.
- I am starting to buy more frozen vegetables. They are less likely to spoil from my neglect or lack of organization.
- I take a few minutes to look over the flyers at the grocery store. They are usually right by the front door and you can snag one and sit outside or find a quiet corner and just scan them. This eliminates the need to purchase newspapers if you would not otherwise read it. I have also signed up for email notifications from my top two stores so that I receive information about specials.
The good news is I saved about 5 percent of my total grocery bill last week just by being a little savvy.
I am using the ingredients on hand more, cooking a little more creatively, and have a bit more cash in my wallet.
Not a bad deal for only a few extra minutes of my time!
What about you? How do you save money on groceries? Share your tips in the comment section below!
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- Scavengers can save at the salvage grocery store
- Trim the fat from your meat budget
- Extreme couponing
For extra tips for frugal foodies, download our free Cheap Eats eBook!