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Saving Money at the Grocery Store

Admit it: you never thought the folks at Super 1 Foods would be giving you tips on how to spend LESS at the grocery store, did you?

 

Everybody wants to save money, and a few tricks in the grocery aisles can leave you with more extra cash in your wallet.

 

Many money-saving grocery tips begin at home. Planning before you get to the store sets the stage for success, but once you are inside, there are plenty of other ideas you can try.

• Use coupons whenever you can. Organize them by product type, expiration date, aisle location or alphabetical order to  help you find what you need. The Sunday newspaper is often the best source for great grocery coupons. You can save more than the cost of the paper with just a few purchases.

• Make a menu before you shop. If you decide what you’ll be fixing for dinner each night this week—even just the main course—you’ll be sure to have those ingredients on hand. You’ll feel much calmer knowing that supper is planned, and this will save frantic dashes to the store or calls to the pizza parlor!

• Make a shopping list before you go to the store. Include the things you always buy, sale items from the weekly flyer and all the foods for your week’s menu.  Arrange your list by store sections or store aisles so you don’t miss anything. Put a little star by items that have a coupon.

• Don’t shop when you’re tired or hungry. These are the two worst shopping emotions because they lead to rushing and impulse buying. If you’re relaxed and comfortable, you can take the time to compare labels, look for the best bargains and make some creative combinations.

• Shop alone. When children, friends or a spouse accompany you to the store, it’s harder to concentrate on what you’re doing. They may tempt you to buy items that aren’t on your list, or they may cause you to lose focus. If you’re trying to stick to a list and stick to your budget, shop alone.

• Find a quiet time to shop. Every store has its own personality, so there’s no sure-fire way to be sure when that is. But with a little trial and error, you can find a time of day when crowds are smaller and shopping is peaceful. It’s tough, though, when your schedule only allows you to shop at a certain time—often the after-work crunch time.

• Be open to new ideas. You have a menu, a list and coupons, but keep your eyes open anyway. You may find an unadvertised sale, or even a special purchase where you can really save money if you buy a different brand or size of an item. This is a bonus you don’t want to miss!

• Ask for help. The Brookshire’s staff is trained and ready to assist you. If you have a question about types of apples, if you’re unsure which cut of meat will be best on the grill, or if you would like to try different types of sliced ham for your sandwich, just ask! Educated shoppers are smart consumers and we want you to feel like you can learn anything you want to know!

Published 08/22/08