Grocery shopping is a necessity of life. It’s right up there with housing and transportation as far as necessary expenditures go—but unlike stopping to fill up at the pump, grocery shopping takes time and can be unexpectedly expensive. What are some ways to save money while grocery shopping?
Saving money while grocery shopping doesn’t take a calculator or a lot of special tricks. Mostly, all it takes is a little foresight and maybe a recipe or two to work from. (Rule number one, though, is don’t go shopping while you’re hungry!)
One of the great things about planning ahead to save money while grocery shopping is that it usually ends up saving you time at the grocery store, too.
Here are some grocery shopping tips to help you save time and money.
Meal plan
The most helpful grocery shopping tip to save time is to meal plan. This means knowing in advance a few meals you’re going to make for dinner, lunches and breakfast so you have an idea of what you need before going to the store.
Also important is to check the house before you leave to make sure you don’t already have some of the ingredients in your fridge or pantry. After all, you don’t want to end up with three jars of nutmeg.
By making a plan and checking what you have on hand in advance, you can avoid unnecessary expenditures. That will help keep your costs down. Having a grocery list can help save time, especially if you know what store you’re going to and if you organize it for the most efficient way to shop there.
Use every bit
Another way to save money on your grocery bill is to use every bit of the groceries. You can get creative with this. For example, if you’re making a roast chicken, consider using the carcass to make chicken stock. You can also save vegetable ends in the freezer and throw them into the stock for more flavor, too.
You can also consider making extra portions for lunches throughout the week. This will help save time and money at the grocery store since you won’t have to buy many extra items for lunch. Sandwiches and salads are a great way to use up leftovers and make them into another meal.
Shop the sales
Another way to save money at the grocery store is to shop the sales. If you need a particular item and you see one that’s on sale, maybe it’s worth giving it a shot—especially if it’s less expensive than the brand you normally buy. You can also look online or at the store’s weekly sale list to see what’s on sale this week and use it to help with your meal planning.
It’s also good to shop for groceries at a store you know will have what you’re looking for. For the best selection and quality, pay a visit to Horner’s Midtown Market today. We look forward to seeing you soon!