Managing to eat healthy while staying within a food shopping budget can be a challenge. This is why it is so important to learn how to save money on groceries. Feeding a family on a tight budget can be tough and the foods that are the cheapest are often the least healthy. The trick to maintaining a healthy diet without busting your food budget is to plan ahead and to stick to what you plan to buy when you head to the grocery store.
Snack Foods
Limiting snack foods is one of the easiest ways to save money on groceries. Snack foods are usually very expensive, due in part to the fact they are taxed higher than foods that are considered necessities. Prepackaged snack foods are also some of the unhealthiest options in the grocery store. Instead of buying expensive, prepackaged snacks, plan to eat fruits and vegetables for snacks. The more you prepare food at home, the cheaper it will be. Remember, in many cases you are paying for convenience.
Location, Location, Location
In addition to limiting snack foods, you will need to be flexible when shopping. Unless you live in an area where there is only one grocery store, you should be willing to buy different items from different locations. When a store has a sale on something your family likes to eat, stock up. You can also visit a few different stores during a shopping trip. This is especially helpful if you are shopping with coupons. You can match your coupons to the sales at the store for the deepest discounts on groceries.
Coupons
Coupons are one of the best ways to save money on groceries. Even if you do not pair coupons with sales, you can still use a coupon to get great discounts on food. In addition to clipping coupons from fliers you receive in the mail, you can also find coupons online. For example, Coupons.com offers a wide selection of printable coupons that can be redeemed at reputable stores like Publix, Sam’s Club, and Walmart. Manufacturers also offer coupons for their products. If you like a certain product, look at the company’s website or follow the company on Facebook or Twitter. Loyal customers are often rewarded with discounts on popular or newly released products.
Sales
Most grocery stores have sales every week on certain items. The sale items are either listed in a flier or posted on the store’s website. Consumers can also find information about sales by visiting the Grocery Guide, which offers a vast collection of the most recent sales in a number of popular grocery outlets. When you plan your grocery shopping list, gather your coupon collection and the weekly ads from the stores where you plan to shop. You can create a list filled with the cheapest items at each store and make your meal plan based on the items that are on sale. You will also want to stock up on canned items and dry goods when they are on sale. These items rarely spoil and you will save money on groceries by buying them when they are at their lowest price.