Tired of clipping coupons, but you still want the best deals while shopping? Try out these top 10 ways to shop smarter and save. Following these techniques, both your stomach and wallet will stay full.
1. Don’t Shop From the Middle of the Shelf
Product placement in grocery stores comes with a premium price tag. The national brands and most popular items are conveniently placed at eye level and are easy to reach. Shop the top and bottom shelves to find the best deals. Look for store brands, generic and private labels. These items are just as good if not better than national brands and they almost always come with a lower price tag. Many of the products are actually made by the same manufacturers as national brands, only ending up at the store with a different picture on the same can.
2. Cut Costs With Your Knives
Don’t buy already cut-up produce. These items usually contain a preservative to keep them fresh after they are cut and you are paying a premium for this processed product. By learning how to use your knives efficiently, keeping them sharp and knowing what knife is best for a particular task, you will enjoy cutting items and cutting your bills. This also goes for meat products, as well. Instead of buying a package of boneless chicken breast and a package of thighs, buy a few whole birds when they are on sale and cut and package the pieces into portions that are easy for your family use. To sharpen your knife skills, sign up for The Cutting Edge class which will be offered this spring. Check upcoming newsletters or the Classes page on our website for more info as it comes available.
3. Stock Up the Savings
When the items you use more often are on sale, stock up on them. Non-perishable items such as pasta, grains, sauces, canned goods will keep for months, some even years. When box brownie mix and pasta sauce are on sale for $1.00 rather than $2.50, I buy a dozen of each and store the extras on a rack in the basement. When the stock gets low, I make a note of it and look for the next sale. Get to know the trends in grocery advertising; they usually run in 8-12 week cycles offering low prices without even needing coupons. Buy enough of what you need and wait until the next sale to replenish your stock. The time of year is also a factor for some items. Stock up on baking items around the holidays; you can get the best deals on soda pop around graduation time. At Thanksgiving, buy two birds – one for the holiday meal and a smaller one for dinner at a later time. In the spring around Easter time, buy extra eggs and hard boil some for easy snacks and additions to salads. The key is to stock up on whatever is on sale each week, and then next week you can draw on your reserve items in the freezer and pantry to avoid having to buy those things at full price.
4. Don’t Meal Plan; Shop the Sale
I know this may sound counter productive. Yes, meal planning has its benefits but the drawback of strict meal planning is that you have your set of recipes and grocery list and you buy the items needed no matter what. You can help this by stocking up on the non-perishable items, but you could still be paying premium non-sale prices for fresh meat, dairy and produce when it is not on sale. The best way is to shop the sale for the most expensive items, usually meats and dairy, and make your meal around these items. By developing your palate and knowing how to substitute items, you can make tasty and inexpensive meals.
5. Make a List
Shopping with a list will help you avoid impulse buys. Go to the store knowing what you need. Don’t browse through every aisle. Go directly to what you need and move on. Get in and out as quickly as possible; this will not only save you money but time, as well. Most weekly grocery ads are available online, so you can check out what you need in advance. Make a list of the sale items you want and stick to it.
6. Stretch the Meat
Proteins are usually the most expensive parts of a meal. Instead of giving every person his or her own steak or chicken breast, buy less and slice the meat before you serve it. By slicing the meat, it visually looks like there is more giving the illusion of a bigger portion. Make it a complete meal by serving larger portions of hearty grains and vegetables. Try participating in Meatless Mondays with a great pasta dish like 4-Cheese Italian Stuffed Shells or Sweet Potato Burritos.
7. Don’t Shop When Hungry
Our eyes are always bigger than our stomachs. When we are hungry everything looks good and it is easy to overbuy and impulse-buy those items that you normally would not purchase. If you must shop at these times, keep a granola bar with you as a snack before you shop. A full stomach will keep your mind clear to only purchase what you need.
8. Stop Wasting Food
Did you know 40% of the food in the United States goes uneaten? Shop wisely and only purchase items you know your family will consume. Purchase perishable items sparingly to cut down on items spoiling. If you make larger meals, portion them out as easy meals for lunches or freeze items properly to be eaten at a later date. If you have produce that has been in the fridge for a while, mix up a homemade soup.
9. Only Buy What You Need
Just because something is advertised at two for $5.00 does not always mean you need to purchase two of them to redeem the price. They are using marketing to make you think you are getting a better deal. It sounds better to say 2 for $5.00 rather than $2.50 each. This works fine for non-perishable items that you are looking to stock up on, but be careful when it comes to fresh items that can spoil easily. If you know your family will only go through one bag of lettuce or one bunch of grapes do not buy two, as you will end up tossing out the spoiled food later and your money along with it.
10. Eat in Season
Just because fresh berries are available all year round does not mean you should be eating them all year. Pay attention to items that are currently in season. For example, only eat fresh berries in summer, load up on squash in the fall, citrus in the winter and greens in the spring. Items that are in season will always taste better because it is their natural growing cycle, and they will be less expensive. In the off-seasons, look to frozen and canned options as these will usually be better quality, fresher and less expensive. Also try growing your own. Even if it is cold, you can keep a small herb garden inside, and if you are short on space, a small patio garden with items such as tomatoes, peppers, lettuces and herbs will save you a bundle in the summer.