Grocery shopping on a budget is something that is necessary for the modern middle-class family in this day and age. With all the other living expenses that we must maintain, such as cell phones, insurance, rent/mortgage and utilities, the grocery bill is no different. I mean, we all have to eat to survive!
Let’s not forget the other expenses like, gas for our vehicles, clothes, shoes, vehicle maintenance and medical bills. While everyone must budget their money wisely, it is especially crucial when you have a family. Let me only say this once, I happen to have three teenagers at home and let me tell you, they eat a lot!
It seems like I grocery shop all the time just to calm the feeding frenzy that I have on my hands. I swear that I hear the refrigerator door open and close so many times in one day, I feel that I will actually have to replace the hinges sometime soon! And it’s the same old song and dance, “we have nothing to eat.”
I have to laugh because we have plenty to eat. They just have to learn to pry their cell phones from their hands in order to make a sandwich! Anyways, back to the subject at hand and how to hopefully save you money on your next shopping trip.
Don’t buy foods that will go to waste.
I have made the mistake of getting online and finding a recipe and think to myself, “this should be something that everyone will like.” Haha, wrong! I have wasted more money on ingredients for a meal that nobody in my house will eat then I care to admit to.
The “KISS” method works good for me, which stands for “keep it simple stupid.” I know what my family likes and dislikes. If you prepare a meal for them that they aren’t familiar with, be prepared for them to turn their noses up to it. I found that I will have better luck with tacos or spaghetti than I will with Thai butternut squash red curry or chaw an Mushi.
I will not even waste my time and money on buying ingredients and preparing meals such as these. Know what your family will eat and stick strictly to the foods that will be consumed without hesitation. Don’t waste your money on food that will be going into the trash.
Coupons are obviously designed to save you money.
Knowing the most effective way to use them is extra rewarding in the checkout line. Every once in a while, stores will offer to “double” your coupons as a promotional event.
This will allow you to get the most bang for your buck. Let’s say that you have a coupon for $.50 off a $1.75 jar of pasta sauce, when doubled, the pasta sauce will now only be $.75. Furthermore, most stores will honor their in-store coupons on top of manufacturer coupons. Say you have an in-store coupon for $.50 on the same brand of pasta sauce, that jar now becomes $.25, pretty sweet huh?
The Sunday paper is always packed with manufacturer coupons. Even if you don’t want to subscribe to the newspaper for everyday delivery, it might not hurt to walk into your local gas station on a Sunday morning and pay the $2.00 just for the coupons themselves.
For in store coupons, most stores have an app you can download. You can see sales, promotional events and digital coupons that are offered. I do a lot of shopping at Kroger. So, before I go shopping, I get on their app and download any coupons for items that I could potentially purchase directly onto my Kroger card. The savings are then automatically deducted at checkout.
There is an app called ibotta which is where you can scan the bar code on your receipt. They will refund your money once you reach $20 in savings via Paypal or Venmo. I have never personally used this app yet, but I know people that do. Watch for sales on the foods you eat and be aware of the coupons you have and when they expire. Make a list based on the coupons you have and stick to it.
Stockpiling is one of my all-time favorites
Stockpile on items with a long shelf life. Canned goods, laundry soap, condiments (mustard, ketchup, mayo, etc.), shampoo, conditioner, dish soap, toilet paper, paper towels. These are all things that have a long shelf life when stored in the right environment. This is a great strategy when grocery shopping on a budget.
Most people like to dedicate all or some of their tax returns toward a vacation or something rewarding. I dedicate a portion of mine to stockpiling some of the necessities that I will need throughout the year. I still like to go on a vacation or purchase a little something extra with the extra money. However, I always hang on to a good portion and start to comb the stores for deals on items that I will for sure need.
This is a strategy that I have used for years. Usually, I can get enough of the items with a long shelf life to last me the whole year for $500 or less with the right coupons and sales. I am also a fan of the vacuum sealer. Watch for great deals on meat! If done right, you can vacuum seal the meat and it will last up to 6 months in your freezer.
If you have a large family, I recommend purchasing an energy efficient deep freezer and a vacuum sealer. Then gobble up those meat sales when they come around. Stockpiling is just a good way to stock up on the items you will need when you receive your tax check. This way, you have it on hand, and you don’t have to worry about running out at a bad time.
There are more ways to save when you are grocery shopping on a budget.
These are just some of my own personal strategies that have worked for me. There are multiple coupon sites that provide coupons for the different items that you might need.
You’ll just have to subscribe to them and see if they offer savings on the items you purchase the most. Keep in mind, food is something we all need and groceries are a bill just like any other. Buy only the items you will without a doubt consume and be privy to the maximum ways to save.