Roberta W. Marini With rising prices and high inflation, grocery shopping has become much more expensive than it used to be. However, with a few tricks, you can save a decent amount of money from your grocery trips. Here are a few tips that will help make grocery shopping easier and cheaper!
1. Don’t Shop at Just One Store
The very first tip is not to shop at just one store. Everyone has a favorite grocery store that helps them get done with their grocery in one go. But shopping from one store only usually limits your chances of saving money. What you need are different options. The more options available, the more the chances of saving money.
For example, your choice of grocery store might be well-known for its meat products. But, their household items might cost more than your local budget store. Check out multiple stores to see where you get the best deals for different items. Yes, it might add an extra 20-30 minutes to your grocery trip, but it will help you save a decent amount of money as well.
2. Plan Meals Ahead of Time
One of the biggest reasons we tend to forget the important items we should’ve bought in our grocery store is because we don’t have our meals pre-planned. If you go grocery shopping on a weekly basis, try to plan your week’s meals before you go.
Another great tip is to create a grocery list with all the items on it. This will help you buy the stuff you need. It’s always better to categorize the list, for example, you can create one section for household items and another for grocery bakery items.
3. Look Around for Deals
The trend of paper coupons might have faded, but grocery stores still offer some amazing deals on their products. These deals and promotions can help you save on everything from shampoos to eggs. For example, many stores offer a 2-for-1 on items such as shampoos.
You can buy yourself two or more bottles if it’s a catch for the price. You’re likely to use it up eventually before its expiry date. So the next time you go, you won’t need to purchase it at its full price.
4. Make Sure of Rewards And Loyalty Programs
Most grocery stores offer a rewards system that requires you to pay for your groceries with a specific credit or debit card. In return, you are rewarded points that can be used towards getting discounts on your grocery bill. Likewise, some grocery stores also offer a loyalty program which is usually free to sign up for. Upon joining, you can receive member-only discounts that automatically deduct at checkout.
5. Bring Your Own Bag
Try to carry a reusable shopping bag with you when you go for groceries. A lot of big grocery stores now offer discounts for bringing reusable bags. Depending on the state and city, stores such as Whole Foods Mart and Target can offer you around a 10% discount for each reusable bag you bring.
