If you feel like your monthly food bill keeps going up, it's probably not your imagination. Food prices are rising and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
Table of Content
3: Pay Attention to Your Attitude
5: Know When Not To Use the List
6: Supermarkets Are the Place to Buy Food
7: Match the Prices of the Competition
So What Should Shoppers Do?
Here are seven great tips for cutting food costs. It takes a little effort, but it will pay off when you're standing in line at your favorite stores.
1: Start Sticking To Coupons
Check your local newspaper for coupons for food and non-food deals. Some households make a game out of it where those who find the most valuable coupons are rewarded with prizes. If you look hard enough, you may find items with coupons worth up to $1. If you don't subscribe to a daily newspaper, you should consider subscribing. It can be a very worthwhile investment. If possible, subscribe only on weekdays. Most newspapers have a food special on Wednesdays because that's when the coupons appear. You can also get coupons online. I like two sites: valuepage.com and smartsource.com.
2: Always Make a List
If you shop without a list, you almost always make impulse purchases that can add significantly to the food bill. Start by making a weekly menu list, taking into account the coupons and special offers you found in step 1. Then create a shopping list based on this menu. Don't shop for the basics. If you must buy household items, try to buy those for which there are coupons or special offers in the store. This means cooking for yourself as often as possible.
3: Pay Attention to Your Attitude
Many experts say that the biggest mistake people make when shopping is their attitude. For example, never shop before breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you are hungry, you will always buy more. Don't shop when you're tired or angry, because then you'll tend to reach for expensive snacks. When you are angry, you tend to turn to unhealthy foods. So if you've just had a fight with your boss or a bad conversation, don't go shopping.
4: Make a Notebook
Prepare a page for each product the family regularly buys. Write down how much you always spend on that product. If there is a particularly good deal on an item, note the time and place. This way, you'll know if a store's sale or promotion is just advertising or a real bargain. If you find items that your family uses all the time, don't hesitate to buy them. If you buy these items at discounted prices, you can easily save 15-20% on groceries.
5: Know When Not To Use the List
When it comes to food, stick to the farmers' market. Buy what's fresh, cheap, and in season. Then adjust your menu accordingly. You'll get a good deal and your family will have access to fresh produce.
6: Supermarkets Are the Place to Buy Food
Avoid buying non-food items in grocery stores. Laundry detergent, toothpaste, and pain relievers are more convenient to buy at supermarkets, but they probably cost more. Instead, look at the prices of these items at Walmart, Kmart, Super Target, and Walgreens. You'll find that you save $15 to $20 a week by buying non-food items at the supermarket.
7: Does Your Store Match The Prices Of The Competition?
If you find an item you need at a store you don't shop at, ask the store you do shop at to match the price. For example, a store across town, where you don't usually shop, sells turkeys for 29 cents a pound, while the price in your store is 59 cents. Don't be afraid to ask the store owner for 29 cents. This is a particularly effective way to save on items where coupons are scarce, such as meat and vegetables.
About Author:
The author has completed his education in marketing and started his career as a digital marketer. He is a content writer by profession. And he would love to add multiple things to his knowledge that he can add to his writing style. He writes about Indian grocery in Canada.
