please give me your grocery savings tips

[Anonymous]

Wanting to create a budget that allows me to quit working and live on husband's income.

If at home, I would be willing to (better) clip coupons, shop around, etc.
Can you help me out with your best food savings advice?

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Don't enter the store. If we run out of toilet paper I end up spending $80 - $120. It's crazy in there.

[Anonymous]

1.Don't let coupons fool you into buying more expensive processed foods or smaller sizes. Use coupons for things like cereal, and soups.
2. Sometimes even with the coupon the larger size is cheaper by ounce.
3. Cooking from scratch is usually much cheaper.
4. Menu planning is key so you can buy in bulk and balance between inexpensive items without feeling like you are back in college.
5. Only buy seasonal fruits and vegetables, they usually taste better and are on sale.
6. Save coupons for when Giant provides dollar doublers. Look for triple coupon days at other stores. Use coupons when items are on sale.
7. When something is on sale stock up.
8. Trade time for money. You will save more if you compare sales at different stores. This means more trips and you have to stick to the list to not oevrspend but an item you like will probably be on sale within two weeks at one store.
9. Realize that grocery prices do go up. If you are changing your budget factor in a 5% increase each year. Gas prices affect grocery prices. Unlike gas prices grocery prices tend to be sticky and stay up as they test consumer willingness to pay the higher prices. During recessions, people cut back on going out to dinner and spend more on the grocery store so they do well and prices can stay up.
10. Consider freezing meals. You can save time making two rather than one and use more bulk ingredients.

[Anonymous]

Watch for sales - Buy one get one, etc. Stock up on meat when it's on sale. Buy store brands for canned items and other items. Definitely clip coupons. Try to time your purchases with sales and coupons. Shop at places with double or triple coupons. Harris Teeter does double coupons up to .99 and sometimes even has triple coupons. Look for coupons online even if you don't seem to have the coupon you need from clipping out the paper. Drop by Starbucks or Corner Bakery on a Sunday and take the coupons that people leave from their Sunday paper (thus foregoing the expense of the paper). Make a list and stick to it. Shop weekly not daily. I'm agnostic on Costco/BJs but others swear by it. Good luck - I save, on average about 1/3 off my food bill by doing this - and I am not nearly as attentive and radical as most - and would probably save more if I had the time - i.e. if a SAHM devoted to the timing that it takes to get the best sales (i.e. looking up what's going on Sale on Sunday - and making two or three trips to whomever have the best sales.)

[Anonymous]

Echo the though of buying seasonal fruits and vegetables - also, better for the environment, as well as being better tasting. IF you need items out of season for some reason, frozen will probably end up tasting better and being cheaper. Also agree with the fact that cooking from scratch and making double portions for leftovers for lunch etc. is much cheaper than eating out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't enter the store. If we run out of toilet paper I end up spending $80 - $120. It's crazy in there.

LOL

[Anonymous]

i agree with the coupons. use them when/where you can double and triple them. and don't buy the stuff you dont need just because there's a coupon. a lot of times when i find coupons for restaurants/dining out, i will use those as a treat for going out to eat. but typically you should eat at home to save money.

at costco, i like to stock up on nonperishable items and frozen stuff.

it's interesting, but if you buy more produce than processed goods... it's actually cheaper.

we also cut costs by buying less red meat which tends to be the most expensive protein.

[Anonymous]

Here is my secret - I only buy what is on sale. I plan my menus based on this. I buy very little processed food - only things like canned and dried beans, flour, sugar, pasta, and other pantry staples. I buy only fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, milk, and OJ - and based the purchases on the sales circular. For example -- from Harris Teeter this week, I will be buying, OJ, broccoli, sweet potatoes, mangoes, butter, shrimp. All on sale. This week's menu will include make a shrimp and broccoli stir fry and a sweet potato and black bean soup. I make enough to last a few meals.

I am usually shocked at how little I spend on groceries. I am able to feed an army on as little as $30-40 dollars shopping this way.

[Anonymous]

Eat more vegetarian options -- MUCH cheaper!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is my secret - I only buy what is on sale. I plan my menus based on this. I buy very little processed food - only things like canned and dried beans, flour, sugar, pasta, and other pantry staples. I buy only fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, milk, and OJ - and based the purchases on the sales circular. For example -- from Harris Teeter this week, I will be buying, OJ, broccoli, sweet potatoes, mangoes, butter, shrimp. All on sale. This week's menu will include make a shrimp and broccoli stir fry and a sweet potato and black bean soup. I make enough to last a few meals.

I am usually shocked at how little I spend on groceries. I am able to feed an army on as little as $30-40 dollars shopping this way.

Same here. If pretzels aren't on sale, then I don't buy them. If apples are on sale, I stock up.

Plus, I use my coupons with them. I also comparison shop - just take 10 minutes to compare the weekly circulars from nearby stores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Plus, I use my coupons with them. I also comparison shop - just take 10 minutes to compare the weekly circulars from nearby stores.

is there an app for that? a google groceries or something useful?

[Anonymous]

Well there's a way to make money - there should be an App for that...