How to Save Money Grocery Shopping

Groceries are a huge expense for most households and with the cost of items such as milk, fruits, and meats on the rise, feeding your family can sometimes seem impossible. Here are some tips to save money when grocery shopping and get the items you need even when money is tight.

Start with a list. Make a grocery list before shopping for food. Stick to only purchasing items on that list. This will save you a lot of extra money that you would normally spend if you went to the grocery store without a plan. Since you don't have extra money to blow on groceries you don't need, taking a grocery list to the store will keep you on track and within budget. You can get a free printable grocery list. Check the resource list below.

Estimate how much you can spend on groceries and estimate the prices of food on your grocery list. Figure out a total before you even go to the grocery store. Bring only that amount with you or maybe a few dollars more to be safe. Take a calculator to the store so that you can add up the amounts of groceries that you put into your cart. That way you won't go over your budgeted amount.

Sign up for weekly ads from your local grocery stores. Add yourself to the mailing list at grocery stores you like to shop. You'll get the ads a week before the sale and be able to coordinate with your grocery list. You can usually find meats, frozen foods, cereals, and soda cheap this way. Grocery ads also often coordinate with the Sunday paper coupons.

Buy the Sunday paper and clip coupons. Coupons are a great way to save on grocery, especially since most grocery stores (except Wal-Mart Super Centers) double coupon prices up to $.99. Use the grocery coupons with your weekly grocery ads and save even more. You can also get on the internet and print free coupons from various sites. Many grocery stores except these coupons, but if they don't Wal-Mart always will. Check the resource list below for sites.

Purchase grocery coupons on eBay. If you aren't up to clipping all your own coupons, or just don't have the time, you can always buy grocery coupons on eBay. Ebay sellers have lots of coupons for sale that you can purchase for $2.00-$5.00 (depending on how many they are selling) in bulk. Shipping is usually free and all you are paying for is the eBay seller's time and energy to cut the coupons for you. You'll be amazed at how many coupons come in the mail when purchasing from eBay!

Track prices of groceries. Keep your receipts each time you shop and check to see if another store offers a lower price on your favorite items. Grocery stores are very competitive and do not want to be under sold. If you find an item that sells for less at another grocery store, take the ad and your receipt from the store you purchased your item and ask to be reimbursed. Most stores will gladly give you the difference because they want to keep you as a customer.

Try buying generic. Generic brands are always much cheaper than name brand grocery items. If you can live without some of your favorite brands, going generic will save you a lot of money. Even better, try buying some of your basic items like cereal, crackers, pop, water, and coffee at a local Dollar Store. These stores are able to purchase items for less and can sell items cheaper. They still carry name brand groceries which are cheaper than those in a regular grocery store.

Check the entire shelf. When buying grocery items, be sure to look over the entire shelf for the best prices. Grocery stores keep the most expensive foods at eye level since this is where most of us shop, especially if we are in a hurry. The cheaper and healthier items are always toward the top and on the bottom of the shelf. Take a little extra time to scour the shelf for the best grocery prices.

Tips & Warnings:

• Keep track of the prices of your favorite items when they are not on sale, that way, when a store advertises them for less, you'll know if you're truly getting a deal or not.
• Never take extra money in case you want to buy more...stick to your budget and you will save money...keep track of how much you spend each time so that you know exactly how much you'll need to budget for the next time.
• Never grocery shop on an empty stomach...everything looks too good and you'll be tempted to go overboard.
• Bulk items are not always better...check prices before assuming that a larger box of cereal is a better deal than the smaller size.