Grocery Shopping Secrets

[KBevangelist]

We go grocery shoppings once a month on a strict budget.

I was wondering if any of you have any secrets to the most for your money out of grocerty shopping?

Might help if we share some.......

KB

[A2JGirl]

I comparison shop. Usually, I check as many sale ads for the area as I can. What ads I don't get in the mail, I check online.

Wal-Mart will honor a sale price from another store, you just have to tell the checkout person what the "comp" price is ("Kroger has that on sale for $1.39") and be prepared to show them the ad. Some will just take your word for it (be honest!). Store brands translate to store brands. Or if they don't carry the brand, and the price is cheaper than the store brand, you can get the store brand at the cheaper sale price.

This time though, I did something different... I went to Big Lots for most of my non-perishables (they have some cool stuff for cheap! Depending on their inventory). Then I went to Kroger for the perishables. They usually have good markdowns on their meat that is getting closer to expiration date... then I can just put it in the freezer and thaw when I want and use the same day I thaw, so the expiration date is a moot point.

I'm looking forward to reading others' tips!

[Karen]

1. Don't go shopping when you are hungry, always eat first. Otherwise, there is a tendency to overspend.




2. Anything pre-made or pre-cooked for the sake of convenience costs more. Purchase the ingredients and pre-mix your own things and store for convenience.

You can do your own tv dinners, cake mixes, pancake mixes, hot-chocolate mixes ect........ Recipes for many things can be found on the internet.



3. While shopping, don't just view things that are at eye level. Often, better buys on different brands can be found at either the lowest or highest level of the shelf.

[RamboPreacher]

meal planning is very important. especially for the once a month shopper. without a very specific agenda for meals and when and for how many, there is no way to plan for and budget for those meals. some like the plan for a seven day, different meal each day, and repeat. some like more diverse meals, and some less.

planning and projecting makes best sense for that tight of a budget. always include enough for the emergency/unexpected - "savings", with the occasional extra meal added as budget allows as well.

[TW]

I have made a detailed inventory of my food stocks. As I use them I mark them down, when I go shopping I only replace what has been used. No impulse buying!!!


TW

[stevenson]

My sister use to belong to one of those online grocery things that tell you how to get bargains. But she got so good at it that she does it on her own now.

She will go in and get an entire grocery cart full and pay something like $5 or $10 dollars. It's crazy!!!! Sometimes they even have to give her money back and she pays nothing!!! Her husband brags about it all the time. I need to learn how she does it!

[Pianoman]

We've got 3 dent & ding stores in our area. (Sorry if you don't! We had 1 in our area & I had to ask around several times before I could find it).

They get items damaged from bigger grocery chains. Ours has just about everything a regular grocery store does. Many items just have a nick in the box - box may have been squished, dented cans, etc. Many grocery stores have bargain buggies with similar items. Just be sure to watch the expiration date & make certain if a box is torn that the inner packaging isn't torn.

Also never underestimate the power of coupons. The better you can organize them - the more apt you are to use them. Many supermarkets have double coupon days. I save coupons for "splurge" items (things I don't need but may want to try) for those days & cash in on the extra savings. Always check the Sunday paper - they usually have a coupon section & you can find a lot of coupons online at places like Walmart, etc.

[rjc]

All these tips are great but also remember:
1) I don't buy something I don't need just because I have a coupon or the item is on sale.
2) I now shop for all my staples at a discount store, produce at the local farmers market and meat at the grocery store. I have a calendar with all my appointments listed for the month and I schedule my shopping for when I am going to be in the area of each store. This saves on gas.
3) I use coupons, from the paper and on-line, wherever I find them.

[KBevangelist]

These are great ideas! Hopefully we will get some more.

Rambo, it is not so much a 'strict' budget, as it is we allot so much for groceries for the month, and it is just part of our overall budget.

We have started using the farmers market alot for veggies. I prefer them anyway.

We do plan out meals.

Always eat before you go, that way you do not over buy.

One thing we have also learned from someone else is Lynda rarely takes me now to go. Our friend shared that when her husband goes they buy an extra 50 bucks of stuff. So we did a test and ours was about 25 more when I went than when i didn't. So I stay at the office now and work

KB

[paul]

One thing we have also learned from someone else is Lynda rarely takes me now to go. Our friend shared that when her husband goes they buy an extra 50 bucks of stuff. So we did a test and ours was about 25 more when I went than when i didn't. So I stay at the office now and work

On that note: If possible do not take the children with you ( infants exempt ) especially teens and pre-teens. the cart seems to just fill itself with every snack in the store and can add up quickly.

[Aboutthere]

When I have left overs I make a plate and freeze them.
I mark them & date them .

one of the grocery stores here puts the ground beef on sale
that was ground the day before. My son-in-law gets there as
soon as they open and he gets it for .99Cent a lb.
He gets me 2 - 6lbs packs & I make patties and
what I need to make meat loaf, and spaghetti freeze it .
Then I vacuum pack it as soon as it is frozen.

The vacuum pack really works. I have had steaks & roast
that have been in the freezer almost a year and they were
still just as pink as they were when I put them in there and
tasted just as good.

I use coupon when I have them.

[Pianoman]

Anyone going to the Assembly - here's the link for -
Renaissance Nashville Hotel - 15% off the food &
non-alcoholic beverage portion of bill at any of their
outlets including Commerce Street Grille, The Bridge
Entertainment Bistro, and Starbucks®

http://www.visitmusiccity.com/visitors/special_deal.display.php?id=60

[Full Quiver]

Don't go on an empty stomach but don't be stuffed either. If your stuffed nothing looks good and you don't get what you need.

Meal planning is the best even when shopping for a month.

I always compare prices and quantity. One price may look good but compared to .20 cents more for another 10 ounces or whatever then the extra cost is better especially if you will use the product.

We use to do coupons back in the day. I am warming back up to them now that fuel prices have sent grocery prices through the roof.