How do you cut your grocery bill significantly?

Question

I would like to know the "frugal" way to grocery shopping. Which supermarkets in the southeast (preferably Florida) is the most economical? Is purchasing the Sunday edition ($1.00 for the Tampa Tribune, for instance) for the coupons really worth it? Share all your cost effective tips with me, please. I shop at Publix for all my needs, and it can get quite expensive despite I absolutely adore the service I get. Sometimes I buy groceries for people who are economically disadvantaged, and buying these families groceries in addition to mine is getting very expensive. I am not complaining since I want to continue to help them but at the same token I want to know how to save lots of money with groceries and other items of necessity. Thank you in advance as I appreciate all the advice I can get on this matter.

Answer 1

Coupons can help, if you buy name-brand items. If you stick to generics, or fresh produce and meats, you're not going to do as well with them.

What I do is, I have list paper with columns for store name, item, price, and coupons. On Wednesday, when our grocery ads come in the mail, I lay them all out on the table. I pick out the 5-10 items from each ad that we'll actually use and eat, that are a screaming deal, and I write them down on my paper. If I have a coupon also, I note that in the coupon column.

Then, I break out my personal organizer. While consulting my great little list of killer cheap prices, I make out a menu of foods using mostly those ingredients, and some other things I have, or that are reasonably priced. Sometimes I add more expensive meals when there's not much good stuff on sale, or when I'm just sick of eating whatever's been on sale lately.

Now, here's the best part of the whole process. I pack up my handy dandy price list, ads, and menu, and take the whole mess to Walmart, where they price-match for me. One store, everybody's deals. Find out if your preferred store does price-matching, and if they don't, pick up a comment form and notify their corporate offices that it's an important service.

And since you're in the habit of picking up food for the less fortunate, especially mind your sale ads, and stock up lots on things that are easy to store. My mama propped up her bed with those feet you can get at Linens & Things or wherever, and got some under-bed storage bins, and she just buys up canned foods by the 24-pack when they go on sale, like the sales where canned veggies hit a dime a can near Thanksgiving. Then, when she comes upon a situation where others need help, she grabs things from under there, along with fresh purchases.

But my best trick is, buy a freezer. When strawberries dropped under 75 cents a pound, I bought 30 pounds. Sliced them up, froze them on a cookie sheet, bagged them while they were frozen. Same with any other fruit that comes on a great sale. My kids eat frozen fruits now, instead of frozen sugar for desserts. Healthier, and way cheaper... and they actually like it better.

Answer 2

I don't know what stores are in that geographical area, but there have to be the equivalent (if differently named) stores that are in this area. I have cut my food bill by one third by shopping at Save-a-Lots and Aldi's instead of Giant Eagles. You can also save quite a bit by buying in bulk. The store for that in this area is called Sam's Club -- an off shoot of Walmart. If you are trying to save and are buying for some others families to help them out, you could certainly benefit from the bulk shopping. I have found that I save much more by cycle purchasing (buying what's on sale when it's on sale, not when I need it) and the use of a good, large freezer and basement pantry shelving units to store it than I do by using coupons. The time spent doesn't weigh in with the savings of coupons for me. The only time the coupons were worth it was when I had two kids in diapers, because the diaper coupons were a large savings. Avoid buying processed foods. Buy staple foods and cook. As often as possible, cook large amounts, serving some for dinner that night and freezing for future meals. Whether shopping at Publix (which I have been to while on vacation) or another store, try to buy the store brand for the best savings. Also, it pays to "study" the sale flyer and make your list and then stick to it. Any impulse buys each visit to the grocery are likely to cost you a lot in the long run. Also, if there is a food pantry in your area, you may be able to best help the families you assist by making regular "controlled" cash contributions to the food pantry and then picking up and delivering to the families FROM the pantry stock. (I volunteer at a local pantry.) The reason is that the pantry makes its purchases at special low prices, often untaxed, and they also receive store donations and major corporate donations. The families you help could benefit from this much more than the amount you are able to help them at this point.

Answer 3

Here's my big secrets... I shop several grocery stores and will only purchase items on sale. You'll be surprised that you can sometimes find milk for under $2 a gallon. I avoid convenience stores... they sell Gatorade, for example, for $1.59... I can get it at Walmart for 89 cents. My local grocery store this week had Gatorade for 69 cents, so it does pay to shop around. I also tend to buy less meat (which is healthy) and more fruits and vegetables (which are far less expensive than meat). I personally hardly ever use coupons... they generally aren't the product I really want anyway.

Answer 4

Buy stuff in bulk.
Clip coupons and/or find a store that takes competitors coupons.
Make a list of acceptable unit prices for certain items. For instance toilet paper is sold in all kind of different packages, but I will only pay $5 for equivalent of a 24 roll pack so I have to do some multiplying or dividing.
99cent store have surprisingly good dry goods, but don't get anything else as the hospital bill could negate your savings.

Answer 5

I live in Florida too, and can totally relate to this, have you tried shopping at SaveAlot? This store is like Aldi's up North. We shop there for the things that we go through fast, Pop, chips, mustard, ketchup, I don't buy my meat there though, I shop at Sam's for that, since Wal-Marts meat dept, is all shipped in pre-packaged and is sitting in mainly salt water to keep it fresh. Sam's actually has butcher's on duty, I bet you could ask them to cut up one of those big Pork Tenderloins or RIbs and they would divide it for you in seperate packages, if you buy for others too. SaveAlot would really save you money when you are buying for others. Hope this helps. I always stock up when I see items that are really a bargin at other stores, like Target or Wal-Mart. You could buy those big bundles of Paper Towels and Toliet paper and split them with the people you buy for also. That would be alot cheaper.

Answer 6

Coupons work, but try buying generic. Don't by non nutritional food like snacks and ice cream. Stay away from precooked meals. Dice your own tomato's instead of buying caned diced tomato's.

Answer 7

Do not buy any ready prepared meals, buy from markets and look out for special offers such as buy 1 get 1 free.

Answer 8

Shop at a place like a groccery outlet, or foodmax.

Answer 9

Either buy less or take a pair of scissors to the receipt. Either way will cut your bill. :)

Answer 10

No Problem,
Coupons are the answer!
Many are available on line!
Let your fingers do the walking!