Have you ever wondered how you can save money at the grocery store?
Let’s be honest for a second. The prices in grocery stores have skyrocketed lately, and we find ourselves having to shell out more and more money every time we visit the store. Due to inflation, the prices have risen by about 12% when compared to last year, and this seems to be the trend for the time being. Even those who are well-versed in the art of frugal shopping appear to be concerned about the new rising prices.
10 Big Money-Saving Tricks To Use While Grocery Shopping
And while there is nothing we can do about the prices, there are lots of ways in which you can make sure you are saving money when you are going grocery shopping. From being more mindful of what we are buying to making sure we don’t spend money on things we don’t actually need, we have gathered the best tricks to help you!
Let us know if you’ve already practiced any of these or if you have any others to share with the rest of us!
#1 Look for wholesale but don’t go too far
It’s well known that when you buy in bulk, you will generally be getting the best price per item. However, there is a limit that you should impose on yourself, especially if you cannot resist what seems to be a good deal. Wholesale stores are known for good prices, but if you don’t end up managing to use all the products you have bought, then you’re essentially throwing money out the window.
A good way to make sure you’re not taken in by the attractive deals is to stick with buying the basics wholesale (things like pasta, rice, flour, canned goods, cleaning supplies, and even some types of pet food). Those items will not spoil easily, and since they are something you will use often, the deals will make sense. For anything else, make sure you don’t overbuy.
#2 Do not fall in love with just one certain store
You also should not be falling for the convenience factor. The store closest to your area may not be offering you the best deals or even the lowest prices for the quality of the products. You should compare that week’s prices online before you go shopping, and if you have to drive 5 minutes longer, it should not be a problem in the long run because it will save you money.
Moreover, you can alternate the stores you visit according to your needs. You can research in the morning when you’re drinking your coffee. The good bets are Lidl, Aldi, Costco, and Walmart. But a good rule of thumb is to check all the stores in your area to make sure you haven’t missed an offer.
You may think that you are getting a deal when you see the discounted price on certain products or bulk purchases, but it may not always be the case. This should be what makes you decide whether to get a certain item at one store when compared to another, and yes, this also includes warehouse clubs!
You may be inclined to just go with the lowest number, but depending on how many items are in the bundle, you may actually be spending more than intended on one product. If you’re getting a pack of 60 granola bars at Costco for about $10, then it would end up being about 16 cents per bar. That unit price should be what makes you decide where you are buying things, as a lower unit price will generally mean you’re saving money.
You should find the unit price also written on the price label, but it is generally smaller and tucked in a corner. This is also the case online, where some stores will also show you how much it is per unit underneath the big total even before you decide to add the products to the cart.
#4 It’s better to be shopping alone
It may be a more boring experience if you go to the store by yourself, but it is better for you in the long run. Going with family or friends means that you are not as focused on the task at hand, which will lead you to pay less attention to what ends up in your cart. This is going to lead you to spend both more time and money at the store than you initially intended.
Save your cash and stick to your schedule better by going alone to the store, so you can be careful with what you’ve planned on buying and how much you allocated from your budget to that grocery run.
#5 Save money by eating before going to the grocery store
You may have been aware of this before, but research has actually proven that you are more susceptible to overbuying items when you go to the store hungry, and this includes items that are not food! This is probably linked to the fact that when you are famished, you are more likely to act on impulse. In the end, you will be prone to adding anything that seems appealing to you at the moment to the cart.
From processed foods to pre-packaged ones, you will end up spending way more money than needed and accidentally ruining your health as well. Do yourself a favor and eat before you go grocery shopping!
I hope you found these tips helpful to make better choices at the Supermarket that will help you to save this expensive Holiday season.
