As families grow, grocery bills tend to double and triple in size. A quick trip to the store to pick up a few items for the family can easily turn into a budget-buster. Here are several tips to help you save money at the check-out while still giving your family the food that they love.
Find out how to get superb savings at the supermarket:
Set a grocery budget, and let it be known
It is a great lesson for kids to understand that there are monetary limits at the grocery store, and if they want something special, they will have to give something else up to get it. Plus, just setting a budget and sticking to it will save money in the long run.
Get the family involved in meal planning
Working from an agreed-upon daily budget, ask each family member to come up with meal ideas for one day. Since your meal plans will be pre-approved, it will help to cut out those late afternoon trips to the supermarket to find dinner ideas that the family will love.
Shop with a list
Before you leave the house, put together a complete list for your trip. Make sure to take a quick inventory of what you have on hand, staples you need to replace, what seems to be going fast, and what ingredients your family will need to make the meals for the week.
Read the ads
Spend a little time reading through the weekly store ads to determine when and where you should purchase your family favorites.
Shop alone
Keeping your trips to the grocery store solitary will help to avoid those little something extras that get thrown into the cart as you go through the aisles.
Stock up on staples
Whether it’s Cheerios or chick peas, if your family goes through an item like water, then buy lots of it when there is a sale. This will help to save you a lot of money from month-to-month and help keep the family happy.
It’s not always best to buy items in bulk
Sometime bulk items are more expensive than their smaller counterparts. Before you buy, be sure to comparison shop so you know you are actually getting a bargain.
Buy smart
Buy more of the foods that everyone loves and will share, rather than more selections of different foods.
Weigh cost and convenience
Prepared items like pre-made sandwiches, salads and even desserts come with a high price. If you have time to make homemade versions of your favorite convenience items, you will save in cost, and often health, due to less preservatives, in the long run.
Make your opinions known
Call the manufacturers of your family’s favorite items and let them know how much you love their products. A friendly conversation with a customer service rep may result in samples and coupons. If they don’t offer, it never hurts to ask. You may also want to find out if they have a mailing list or facebook page that they use to promote special offers to existing customers and fans.
More grocery shopping tips
Grocery store tips for healthy eating
4 Money-saving grocery shopping apps
Jamie Oliver’s healthy grocery list
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