Canadian Finance Blog

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20 Tips for Saving Money on Groceries Posted: 12 Oct 2010 02:00 AM PDT Groceries are something that we spend a lot of money on each year. We can't avoid buying food so it's important for us to learn how to save money at the grocery store. The following twenty tips can get you started saving money on groceries: 1. Buy in-season fresh produce. It is typically less expensive than meat, dairy and packaged products. If you fill up your shopping cart with this food then you can save a lot of money at the checkout counter. 2. Buy what is on sale. If you make it a habit to only buy the items that are on sale then you can typically reduce your grocery spending a lot over the course of a year. 3. Use coupons. Grocery stores are known widely for offering coupons. Make sure to take advantage of them. There are a lot of great coupon tips out there that you can learn from. 4. Buy in bulk for items you do eat a lot. If you eat a lot of pasta, cereal or other items that are long-lasting then it's worth it to buy in bulk. Don't buy in bulk if it means that you'll throw stuff away. 5. Also buy in bulk and split the food. You can buy bulk items with a friend to get a low cost without having to acquire a whole lot of food that you won't eat. Split the food and split the cost while still getting great savings. 6. Never grocery shop when you are hungry. This is the quickest way to get lured in to impulse buys for food items that you don't really want to spend money on. Always go to the grocery store on a full stomach. 7. Don't shop when you're feeling emotional. If you're depressed or angry then you are going to be tempted to buy high-cost foods that are not healthy for you. Go to the grocery store in a calm state of mind. 8. Shop with a list. This is another great way to avoid wasting money on impulse purchases at the grocery store. Make a list before you go and buy only what is on the list, nothing else. 9. Go grocery shopping by yourself. Don't take your spouse because you'll get distracted in conversation and won't make smart choices at the grocery store. Don't take your kids because they'll want items that aren't on your list! 10. Refuse to buy non-water beverages. The amount of money that you waste on coffee, tea, soda and juice is probably exorbitant. Save these as special treats when you go out to eat and drink water the rest of the time. 11. Ignore the end caps. The items that are stocked on the end of each aisle are usually there just to tempt you. Don't waste your money on these items. 12. Ignore the food at the checkout counter. It's really not even food – it's candy, soda and magazines. You don't need these things so don't get lured into wasting money on them. 13. Skip the prepared foods. It is almost always cheaper to buy the ingredients and prepare meals yourself than to purchase prepared foods from the grocery store. 14. Learn to look at the value not price. It is important to look at how much of an item you are getting for your money and not just the flat out cost of the item. Two brands of cereal may have the same price but if one contains more cereal than the other then it's actually cheaper. 15. Look high and low. The best deals are usually on items that are on the top and bottom shelves that are harder to reach. 16. Buy non-food items at other stores. Items like toilet paper, dishes, cooking utensils and hygiene products are often marked up at the grocery store. Save those items for a shopping trip to a cheaper place. 17. Be a loyal customer. Shopping at the same store can save you money because you get to know the layout of the store and get in and out quickly without wasting time or money. 18. Check the receipt. There are a lot of errors at the grocery store checkout counter. Check the receipt before you leave the store to make sure that you were not overcharged. Some stores give discounts for items that are rung up incorrectly so this can lead to real savings. 19. Immediately send in all rebates. The savings add up but only if you follow through on sending them in. 20. Supplement grocery shopping with homegrown foods. Grow them yourself in a vegetable garden. Even growing some herbs in a container can save you some money. Alternatively, buy food direct from the farm to reduce food costs while getting healthy food and supporting local farmers. Author Bio: Jessica blogs at freeinsurancequotes.org and Savings.com the leading source of coupons codes. Related Posts: 10 Ways To Save Money On Groceries 10 Tips For Going Green And Saving Money 5 Frugal Tips for Reducing Your Weekly Food Expense 20 Tips for Saving Money on Groceries originally appeared on Canadian Finance Blog on October 12, 2010.

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