I’ve always prided myself on being a savvy shopper and the grocery store is no exception. As I’ve mentioned before, my children have hit an all-time record for scarfing down food these days and I find myself with an empty fridge faster than ever.
I’ve tried many different methods over the years for saving money at the grocery store. Below are a few, but I’d love to hear feedback from all of you as to what you do to trim the fat in your food budget.
1. Look at the ads. Every week I pull out the flyer from the grocery store and plan my meals around what perishable items are on sale. For example, broccoli was 88 cents a pound this week at my local store. As a result, I made the plan to eat cream of broccoli soup one night and a chicken divan casserole (main ingredient is broccoli) another night. I hate wasting food because it’s literally like throwing money down the drain.
2. Only buy meats when they’re on sale. I have an issue with whole chickens (I know they’re cheaper, but it grosses me out!), so I prefer to buy the boneless breasts when they go on sale for $1.77 a pound. I’m sure the checker thinks I’m a nut when I buy 10 packages of chicken breasts, but it lasts me until they go on sale again. Everything goes on sale eventually, so why buy at full price if you can freeze it?
3. The No. 10 can is your friend. I started buying more fruits, vegetables, and sauces in bulk cans instead of opening up 3 or 4 small ones to feed the clan. You’d be surprised how fast you can use up a can of green beans or peaches if you incorporate them into your menu planning.
4. Freeze the leftovers. I like to make double batches of family favorites (turkey burgers, taco meat, spaghetti sauce, casseroles, etc.) and freeze several extra meals for those days when I don’t feel like cooking or when I know that I’ll be too busy. It’s great to have three or four frozen meals lined up for “bad days.”
5. Compare prices at Costco. While I am the first one to attest to how great Costco is, it’s also the $100 store for a reason. (In other words, you can’t leave Costco without spending at least $100). Some items really are cheaper there but most are cheaper if you buy them at the grocery store on sale.
6. Play coupon games. I used to be a huge proponent of www.CouponMom.com, (which is free) and I have friends who love www.theGroceryGame.com, but I don’t seem to have the time or energy to invest into coupon clipping these days. Kudos to you ladies who do it! It can really shave a lot of money off your bill.
Question: What do you do to cut your grocery bill?
I buy generic. I always have, (and gotten teased about it) but when you are feeding a family of 9 you can’t, not buy the cheapest on the shelf. Most things that I buy generic are just as good as the name brand. There are a few things that I had to still buy name brand. Peanut butter, and tuna. Then I got really poor, and now I buy generic everything. I do check prices to make sure I am getting the deal also. If I can get the name brand for a few cents more, or if its on sale then I go name brand. But I have no problems with generic.
I’m a huge generic fan too, but I’m picking about certain things like: laundry soap, certain cereals, chocolate and cheese (Tillamook is the best!).
Is there anything the rest of you are you picky about?
I love CVS Extra Care Bucks! Combined with manufacturer coupons, I sometimes come out ahead! I buy all my bath items and cosmetics there. For example – my foundation and power are $10 each = $20. If I wait for their “Buy a foundation get a powder free” special – about once a month or so – I can get that down to $10. Paired with two $2 off coupons (one for each item) it’s now $6. If I have an extra care buck to use… it may even be free! I haven’t paid for toothpaste in over 2 years, and my deoderant is next to nothing.