Grocery Shopping Tips

Enjoying Your Trips to the Grocery Store

The grocery store is like an oasis for me, really, it is.  Most people probably don't feel the same way that I do because to a lot of people, grocery shopping is a chore that needs to be done, kind of like cleaning a bathroom.  

But for me, the grocery store is a place where ideas come alive.  I love the challenge of grocery shopping for my large family and spending as little as possible!  

$75.00 a week is my budget, and I have seven people currently living in my house (my father lives with us temporarily).  This is challenging because I have to feed everyone, all of their meals, for what most people spend to fill their gas tanks.  It can seem like a daunting task, but with these simple tips and tools, it is much easier than it seems.  

1.) NEVER shop without a list and stick to it.  This is so important!  If you shop with a list you are much more likely to get everything you need (saving you from having to stop later in the week to grab something you forgot.), and less likely to impulse shop (which can cost you so much more in the long run.)  

2.) Shop around.  Meat is my main motivator for shopping around.  I like Wegman's for their family pack pricing, but I also look at the store ads for the other stores in our area to find the best price for meat.  We eat chicken, beef, and pork in our house.  I also purchase ham and turkey when I find them on sale.  I scan the ads online when I am planning meals for the week to find the best price.

3.)  Try Aldi, Save-a-Lot, Price Rite, and other low cost retailers.  90% of my shopping is done at Aldi.  I like Wegman's and would shop there all of the time, but I spend a lot more when I do.  Butter, Milk, bread, and cheese are all available at Aldi for less.  We eat a lot of these items in our house, so it makes sense to shop there.  Yes, you have to put a quarter in for a cart, and you have bag your own groceries, but last week I did all of my grocery shopping for the week at Aldi and spent $54.00.  You can't beat that anywhere else!  

4.) Have your coupons ready with your payment. If you use coupons (and you should if there is a great deal!) have them ready with your payment at the checkout.  It makes for a much happier shopping experience for both you and the people waiting behind you.  

5.) Forget Name Brands (unless you have an awesome coupon and you can save $$).  This is not easy, especially when your significant other is the one who is attached to his Cocoa Puffs.  But good generics offer the same quality and benefits to their name brand counter parts, for a much cheaper cost!

Going to the grocery store prepared helps to make the trip a lot more pleasurable, especially if you have children with you.  I cross items off the list as I go along to make sure that nothing is forgotten.  Have a calculator handy to add up the cost as you go so that you are not only prepared at the check-out, but also to rethink the items that you placed in your cart that weren't on your list. (Don't feel bad, we all do it!) 

Happy Shopping!