How to Save Money on Groceries

If you can find small ways to cut back in several areas of your life, your savings can really add up. At iMoneyCoach, we are all about helping people save money, save time, and work towards financial freedom. We all need to eat. Thus, we must all buy groceries – so I have compiled a quick list of some great ways that you can save money on groceries. Taking a couple extra steps here and there can end up saving you hundreds of dollars.

• Coupons. Spend time browsing the ads in the newspaper and cutting out coupons for things you normally buy. Not all coupons are good deals, so make sure you aren’t clipping them to spend more money for a brand name. There are also many websites online where you can find printable coupons. Check with your local grocer first to make sure they will accept those printed coupons.
• Make a list and stick to it. Impulse buys are easy in a grocery store, so before you go, make a list of what you need to get and commit yourself to only buying those items. It might even help to plan out your weekly menu so you can be sure you have all the ingredients (while you are at it, plan your menu around items you can use a few times – you can buy a large package of chicken and use some one night for chicken tacos and the next night for a chicken-veggie casserole. This way you are saving money by not buying all new ingredients for each meal).
• Shop full. Speaking of impulse buys, you might end up spending a whole lot more money if you go to the grocery store with an empty stomach. This can be multiplied if you happen to be there on sample day because those tiny little samples will taste heavenly, and you may start throwing more food (and more expensive food) in your basket than you need.
• Use a calculator. Bigger isn’t always better. With a calculator you can determine how much your food costs per ounce. And it will help you spot those items where the manufacturers are changing the packaging so you think you are getting a slightly better price, but you really end up getting a lot less product!
• Get in and get out. Again, avoid those impulse buys. Don’t linger at the store, thinking in the back of your mind how good a bag of chocolate chip cookies would taste right now. Get in, shop from your list, use your coupons, and head home.

Following these tips can end up saving you hundreds on your grocery bill each year. Couple that with the money you are saving on gas (see last week’s post!), plus the money you are saving in other areas of your life (watch for more blogs on how to do this!), and you will see how all these things can add up to big savings. It can help you reach your financial goals faster, whether that means getting out of debt or putting away more for retirement.

Tags: coupons, groceries, save money