With all the many expenses it takes to maintain a household, grocery shopping for a family can be one of the biggest.  We all have to eat, right?  Fortunately, there are some simple ways to reduce your grocery shopping costs.  Follow these tips:

• Try to plan in advance – By knowing what you need, you will be able to buy in bulk which is almost always less expensive.  This way, you can also cut your shopping down to once a month.
• Clip coupons – Investing $1.50 in the Sunday newspaper could save you $20 or more on a shopping excursion.  You can also get online coupons by visiting www.coolsavings.com, www.myclipper.net and www.on-linecoupons.com.  You can also log on to your supermarket’s online Home page for coupons.   IMPORTANT:  Be sure that coupons don’t entice you to buy items that you don’t really need or want.  Just because you have a coupon for it, doesn’t mean you have to buy it.  You are defeating the money saving purpose
• Consider store brands and generics – You may find the generic brand’s quality equal to or sometimes better than the national brands and they are generally less expensive.
• Stock up on sale items – If an item you use is on sale, stock up.  This of course, is only best to do with items that you use on a regular basis and which have a long shelf life.
• Create meals based on what you have and what is on sale – Use weekly flyers to see what is on sale.  Plan your meals around them so a major portion of your food budget will be purchased at the lowest prices.
• Fancy packaging always costs more – Look at top and bottom shelves for the best bargains.  Stores often put the fanciest and most expensive packaging at eye level.
• Know when your store marks down goods that expire – Grocery stores usually sell day-old bread for 10-50 cents less.  There is nothing wrong with day old bread.  Stock up on these items whenever possible and freeze them.
• Always use shopping lists – This keeps you on a plan and stops repeat trips and impulse buying.  Estimates are that people spend as much as 40% more on impulse purchases when they shop without a list.
• Try to shop when you are alone – Having your kids with you will often boost your bill.
•  Never shop hungry or tired – If you can’t shop during the weekdays, try shopping after dinner hours instead of right after work when you are tired and hungry and the stores are overcrowded.  Studies show that people spend 10% more if they shop on an empty stomach compared to a full one.  If you’re tired you’ll buy more sweets and more high-carbohydrates instead of more nutritious foods.
• Check receipts – Do this before you leave the grocery store. Computerized scanners are only as accurate as the information that is put into them, which can sometimes be incorrect or omit the sale price.
• Shop at your local dollar store – Do this for your health and beauty aid items for prices lower than supermarkets or drug stores.  They often have a pretty good variety.
• Avoid shopping at convenience stores – You’ll pay some of the largest product mark-ups on the goods bought there.
• Always send in for those rebates on purchases – Whether it’s $5 or $50.  Every bit helps!

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