I could use some money saving tips especially for the grocery store?

Question

We are selling our home and buying a more expensive home and I want to save more money for a down payment I already have some saved but we are spending 700 dollars a month or more just in gas and groceries

there is just my husband and my self

Answer 1

We easily save $100 per month on groceries and household items. We only use coupons for items we regularly buy unless it is a full-price coupon, which makes it free.

While we use coupons for all of our shopping, we rarely use online coupons because the newspaper coupons are much more valuable. For example, why use a 25-cent coupon online when the newspaper has a 75-cent coupon for the same item?

Here's my best advice:

1. Invest in 1-2 Sunday newspapers and clip out the coupons.

2. For the coupons you use most often, go to eBay, where you can purchase extras at a very reasonable price. In our household, we focus on high-dollar items like coffee, milk, juice and hard cheeses. We usually pay no more than $1-$3 for 10-20 coupons, including shipping (a first-class stamp and #10 envelopes). The coupons we don’t use are resold to neighbors or co-workers, which recoups our eBay costs.

Here's a direct link to the listings: http://health-beauty.listings.ebay.com/Coupons_W0QQ_trksidZm37QQsacatZ82567QQsocmdZListingItemList

3. If you go online, here's a couple web sites we do frequent for product news, trials, recipes and, occasionally, a coupon:

http://www.pg.com/en_US/products/index.jhtml

http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf?e=email

Answer 2

Opt for the store brands instead of name brands - they can be considerably cheaper and with some, you won't be able to tell the difference. Canned and frozen vegetables for example. A can of Dole manadarin oranges cost 99 cents at my grocery store, the store brand is only 59 cents, but they taste the same.

Invest a little money on Sunday's to buy a newspaper and clip coupons. Some grocery stores will double the discount, so instead of a dollar off, you might get two.

Also buy your meat in bulk and divide it into smaller portions in ziplocs when you get home. Bulk meats or family packs will be less per pound then the smaller packages.

Try to cook most of your meals instead of buying premade foods or frozen dinners or prepared foods - these often have a huge mark up and will add up quickly on your grocery bill.

Also, if you are looking at meat and see a package that is marked down for quick sale, go ahead and buy it. As long as it goes in the freezer when you get home, it's still fine. Stores will mark down meats a day or two before the sell by date, but the meat is still good.

Most of all, make a list and stick with it! Before you go to the store, make a list of what you need to get. then when you go shopping, take the list (and coupons!) with you. If you realize your forgot something important (like milk or toilet paper), you can still get it. Otherwise don't buy anything that is not on the list. Stores are set up to tempt you to spend more on things that may not be on your list - soda, chips, etc. Just pay attention to what is usually on end caps, in the front when you come in or right before the check out. These are prime areas to target shoppers to get things they may not necessarily need to get.

Last, but not least, don't go on an empty stomach. You will end up grabbing all kinds of stuff you probably wouldn't have gotten otherwise. Be sure to eat a snack before you go and maybe even take a drink if you are tempted by the coolers with sodas and waters at the check outs.

Answer 3

Check to see if there's a Walmart near you. I've found that their prices are lower than regular grocery stores. In addition, their brand-name products are good too.

Take a hard look at what you're buying. Is it mostly convenience foods or do you buy the ingredients and make it yourself? The ready-to-go convenience foods will cost more in the long run. Don't buy fruit that is out of season and more expensive. Look for cheaper cuts of meat and marinate them before cooking and use a crock pot which will slow cook the meat. Stay away from the deli department - their prices are way too high. Go back to your childhood and eat peanut butter and jelly. The peanut butter is nutritious and tastes good too.
You have to make sacrifices if you want that house and if that means hot dogs and beans, so be it. Just realize that as your salaries go up, you can go back to eating better foods.
Good luck!

Answer 4

I have a family of 5 and spend around $500 per month in groceries and gas. The key is to make a list of what you need from the store before you go. Make sure you check your cabinets and refrigerator before you go so you don't spend money on items you already have. Second, NEVER, shop when hungry! Very dangerous, because you buy things on a whim instead of what you have on your list. Next buy some store brands, they are usually just as good as name brand products. Next, buy fruit and veggies from a farmer's market or a farm stand. Fresher and more cost effective. My final suggestion would be to shop around for the deals. I never buy paper products from the regualr grocery store, they cost more. Go to Walmart for those items, or even Target, they are much cheaper! Good luck!

Answer 5

If you are within 2 hours of a border town, then every other month or so, spend a weekend in the US on a grocery shopping trip- the cost of groceries is less than half.

Unfortunately, you cannot bring raw meat or produce across the border.

For example, my boyfriend in Oshawa spends $10CAD on a pound of Blue Cheese, I pay $4 USD when it's on sale here, so I stock up for when he/I visit.

Just make sure you spend 48 hours to maximize your $200 exemption, and bring friends with you, the exemption is per person, not per vehicle. You will be shocked at how much food you can buy in the US. BTW, this works with clothing as well, I can buy men's slacks at Kohl's for $30USD on sale that cost $80CAD - and that's before GST and HST!

Answer 6

cut out all prepared and tinned foods, buy only in-season fruit & veggies, whole chickens and fish from farms or markets where possible, lots and lots of lentils, spices, beans and big sacks of rice - get creative in the kitchen, it's beautiful food really, the unprocessed food, highly nutritious and not at all a "poor mans option". The money savings are amazing.
Chinese supermarkets are great places to shop on the cheap.
And for the gas.. get a more economical car, consider LNG conversion if fuel is available.
and when you've got your bigger house you'll be wanting to plant a beautiful veggie and herb garden :-)

Answer 7

I know I am not gal, but this question sound interesting. I will used several method to save money and do shopping. First I will do monthly calculation and find out how to save that money that I need instate of skip meal. I am more likely to change my meal to cheap and healthy rather then skip meal. Then from there I can plan how much and hoe long I need to save the money. Some time I choose easy month installment without interest.

Answer 8

In addition to all the tips about buying store brands and finding the cheapest local stores, try www.grocerygame.com

Grocery store specials often run in cycles, as do their coupons. This website helps you track the cycles and match up the coupons with the sales, so you can get items for free or greatly reduced prices.

Answer 9

Eat before you go to the store
Don't even go down the aisles without food. Food only.
Make a seperate trip for cleaning supplies etc.
Use coupons
Some generic brands are just as good as the others like with peas and that sort of thing

Answer 10

Personally I dont think it is worth trying to save money at the grocery store- it just doesnt add up to much and I rather have food that tastes good. Just dont buy alcohol or tobacco products.