Grocery Shopping Tips That Saves Money

Everything becomes more expensive today. From gas to food, our hard earned money is being challenged to stretch further. Now, we might be able to bicycle around the city, if we can not put gas in our cars. But we have to eat. There is no getting around that. So we must find ways to spend less on food while still getting the things we need to feed our families. Here are six tips to save money the next time you go grocery shopping.

1. Clip coupons. They put them in the newspaper for a reason. If there are new items to try, use a coupon for a discount. If you like it, you've saved money. On the other hand, if you do not take a liking to it, you did not pay full price. For me, coupons save on average ten dollars per visit. It is money in my pocket that can go towards gas for the car.

2. Buy more products than prepared foods. It's easier to buy a box of macaroni and cheese, but is cheaper? A big box of macaroni and cheese and and a block of cheese will be more servings for your family than a box of macaroni and cheese. The next time you go shopping and pick up a box or a bag of already prepared of an already prepared product, ask yourself if you can do that at home for less money. If you can, then put that back on the shelf in favor of cheaper products.

3. Buy in bulk. Consider the food you use most often. Cereals, meats, vegetables, condiments, fruit juices, and paper products can be purchased in bulk usually lower in price at Costco, BJ and Wal-Mart. If you have a coupon, you can save even more money.

4. Do not buy when you are hungry. It's really a no-no. Shopping on an empty stomach means you buy more things than you need. You are more likely to pick up a bag of chocolate chip cookies or donuts when the growling in your stomach starts.

5. Take a shopping list with you. This is another protection against picking up things that are too expensive. Check your cupboards and refrigerator to see what you need and write them down on a piece of paper. Remember, the goal is to stick to the list as much as possible.

6. Purchases products in the same stores. This is more of a relief of frustration. In a new store, you spend most of your time looking for things and walking up and down the aisles, which often leads one to forgetting an item or two. Going to the same stores in itself makes you more familiar with prices, so you can estimate your bill as you write your grocery shopping list.

The price increase does not mean a lean dinner table. There are many ways to make your food dollars to go further, and if you take time to implement the ideas mentioned above and others of your own, you'll save money every time you shop.