One sure way to get depressed about money is to go to the grocery store. Yes, it is necessary to feed your family, but you do not have to go broke in the process. How can you accomplish this with limited funds available for making the most necessary purchases? First off, clip coupons. While this may be a time consuming endeavor, it will save you quite a bit of money in the long run. To really reap the benefits of cutting coupons, you can use a coupon for products that are not on the coupon as long as the products you purchase are from the same manufacturer. Sound confusing? It is really very simple. Take for example cereal coupons, oftentimes they are for a particular cereal, now if your family does not eat cereal “A” but they do eat cereal “B” by the same manufacturer, you can still use that coupon. The scanners at the stores read the manufacturer’s code not the specific product on the coupon. This same advice holds true for any product.
Check out the labels. Now, not meaning the food label, but the stores pricing label. While you may think it is a good deal to purchase that 32 oz bottle of ketchup at $1.50 as opposed to the 64 oz bottle for $2.00, you are, in fact, spending more on the 32 oz bottle than the 64 oz one. How you may ask? Simply looking at the stores tag at the “price per quart” section and you will see that you are paying $1.50 per quart for the 32 oz bottle and $1.00 per quart for the 64 oz bottle. Think of the freezer as your friend and buy in bulk. Even a single person will benefit from this strategy. You can separate the meat into serving sizes for you family and get more bang for you buck. While you may only save a few cents per pound on the meat, you will save money and time by making less frequent trips to the market.
In addition, you can also freeze cold cuts and sliced cheese. When there is a great sale on cold cuts, purchase a couple of pounds and hold out the amount you will use for one week and freeze the rest. You get a great bargain and you will have fresh cold cuts when you need them. The same holds true for sliced cheese. This tip will alleviate spoiling food and waste. And finally, consider store brands for maximum savings. However, just because you save a few bucks on a particular product does not necessarily mean you are getting the best value. Paper products -towels, napkins, paper plates - are not usually cost saving when buying generic because of the need to use more to get the job done. However, canned vegetables, cereal and syrups are a great way to save money. You do not always have to buy cheap to maximize your spending dollar at the grocery store. Following a few simple tips and taking the time to look at the price tags and you are on your way to becoming the thrifty shopper.
