Healthy Spending at the Grocery Store
With the current state of the economy causing us to carefully watch where our money goes, it’s a great time to re-evaluate spending. I often find myself stopping at the grocery store at least 3 times a week. I justify this by telling myself that at least I’m not eating out. And yes, there is some validity, but I still need to curb my spending even at the supermarket. How much do you spend in a week or even a month on groceries? Do you even attempt to use coupons? Are you buying things you just don’t need. By saving money in the supermarket, you will have more funds to use on other things. There are a lot of ways to cut down on your spending. Try a few of these tips and watch how quickly you will save on a regular basis. There is no time like the present to start clipping coupons from the Sunday paper!
Create a food budget. Look at the amount you currently spend on food every month (including eating out). Next, decide how much you can realistically spend for food every month. Stick to that number. If you decide to go out to eat, make it a special treat, not a regular habit. Once you add the cost of the meal, the tip, and transportation, it can get pricey.
Make a shopping list. Write out everything you will need from the store ahead of time. This will help you to stay within your budget and not buy random items. Also, think about the meals you will prepare for the week and add the ingredients to your list. This will also prevent you from stopping at the store mid-week where you may do additional spending.
Start at the perimeter aisles in the store. Then make your way to the inside aisles. The healthier and non-processed foods tend to be located in the perimeter aisles. However, stores are getting smarter and placing junk food in these aisles. Stick to your list and you will be fine.
Buy in bulk when possible. Buy your staple foods in bulk and keep them in your pantry or freezer so they’re always on hand. You’ll pay less per serving when you buy large amounts, and most dry goods will keep for a long time. This is when Costco or Sam’s Club comes in handy.
Buy in season. Pay attention to what foods are in season and purchase those first. If you can go to the farmers market or local farm stand and buy fresh food in season, than that’s great. A lot of times we like to have berries in the winter, but they are not in season in the colder states. As a result, we pay more for having them from California or elsewhere.
Eat before you shop. Don’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach! It will cost you a lot of money in the end. You will more than likely pick up items you normally wouldn’t buy, if you weren’t hungry. If you can’t avoid it, then at the very least make sure you have your list!!
Avoid processed foods. These types of food are generally expensive and not nutritious. The same is true for “ready to eat” frozen foods. Even the healthier versions of these meals are high in sodium. If it’s a must have, wait until the items go on sale.
Go green! Use re-usable bags to bring your groceries back. Many stores are offering them now. You will bring only what you can fit in those bags. With plastic bags, you lose track of how much you are buying.
