Save Time and Money on Your Grocery Shopping
>> Wednesday, February 14, 2018
One of the biggest expenses facing many families is the weekly grocery bill.
Not only is it outrageously expensive, but it continues to increase as the children grow up and eat more and more. This is especially true for anyone with teenagers. That is why it is so important to do everything you can to stretch your food budget dollar.
Before shopping, create a grocery list. You can type up a standard list with all of the items you buy weekly along with blank spaces for extras. Keep it organized according to the way you shop the store’s aisles. Keep a memo pad on your kitchen counter where family members can write down things as they run out. Inexpensive wholesale custom notepads from retailers like USA Custom Pad work nicely. Add items from the pad to your list. Grocery lists help you avoid impulse items.
Create a Weekly Menu
Take the time to sit down and make out a menu that includes a meal for every night of the week. As you decide what to make throughout the coming days, jot the ingredients you’ll need down on your grocery list. A menu allows you to have a clear vision of what food is needed without over buying or having to run back to the store mid-week. Every time you enter a grocery store you are opening yourself up to impulse purchases. Keeping these trips to one per week saves money.
Reward Programs
Take advantage of store reward programs as well as credit card rewards. Stores often give rewards that can be used towards future purchases, a discount on gas, or for exclusive sales. Paying for the bill with a credit card will quickly earn you airline miles, hotel points, or cash back, but you have to make sure you are paying off your statement in full each month. Carrying a balance defeats the purpose of any rewards they give you.
By following these tips you can save extensively on your weekly grocery bill. It is time consuming, but it is so worth it in the end. Use the extra savings to build your savings account, go on the annual family vacation, or to help out with any number of other household expenses.
