10 Easy Ways To Save On Your Grocery Bill
Today, saving money at the grocery store stretches far beyond clipping coupons out of the Sunday paper. While using coupons is one great way to save money it’s not the only way. Many of us simply don’t have the time it takes to clip coupons, but with the help of technology and a few simple strategies you can help reduce the hit your bank account takes after your weekly shopping trip. Here is a list of 10 easy ways you can save money on your grocery bill.
Watch the Price Scanner
Grocery stores make mistakes. Whether the scanner isn’t updated with the current sales price or human error occurs, keep your eye on what you’re being charged. You’d be surprised by how this can save you a few bucks here and there.Don’t Be A Brand Snob
“Off Brands” are sometimes just as good. As a matter of fact, some of these “off brands” are made by the same companies you’ve come to love. The generic items are often less expensive and just as good as the name brand items.Clean The Fridge First
I’m sure I’m not the only one who has bought something at the store, only to find out same item, unopened, tucked away in the back my fridge. By cleaning out your refrigerator before heading to the store you can ensure this doesn’t happen.Check The Daily Deal Sites
Recently, Groupon was featuring a deal where you get $20 to Whole Foods for just $10. The daily deal sites are a good place to look to help cut your grocery bill and there’s no clipping involved.Take A Rain Check
If your store runs out of a sale item ask them for a raincheck. This will allow you to get the sale price once they restock the item.Get A Grocery App
Staying organized is half the battle to saving money. There’s an app for everything these days, even grocery shopping. Here are a few of my favorites:- Grocery Gadgets: This is a shopping management app that will save time and money by keeping you on task at the store. You log your shopping items by using the barcode scanner or by typing them into the phone. While you’re shopping, Grocery Gadget pays attention and learns what order you check the items off your list, saving you time or reordering your list according on your next shopping trip. The Lite version is free and the Full version is just $4.99.
- Zip List: Zip List is a free app that lets you upload your shopping list to the Zip List server so that you can access it from anywhere. This app lets you share your list with friends and family which is a nice if someone else is doing the shopping. Another nice feature is the ability to arrange the store aisles where products are found which allows you to zip through the store.
- Grocery IQ: Grocery IQ is an iPhone app that can sync with a fully-featured website. You can organize items by aisle so that they are in the order you would find them in the store. The one thing Grocery IQ has is a built-in scanner which allows you to scan the item without any typing. This app is free!
- Green Grocer: The Green Grocer app is fun and useful. As you are checking your items off your list, you can give your iPhone a quick shake and all the unchecked items will rise to the top of the list. You can also share your list with friends and family via the built in email system. This app will cost you $4.99.
Don’t Shop Hungry
This one might be obvious, but nevertheless it’s a money saver. Going to the grocery store on an empty stomach is going to cost you. Shopping while hungry often leads to buying more and spending more.Shop Alone
I don’t know about you, but my experience is that I always spend more when my kids are shopping with me. If possible, try schedule time to go to the grocery store without the kids and see if it helps you save some dough.
Michal Cheney is a personal finance blogger who writes for several top personal finance blogs, such as Dough Roller and Go Banking Rates. She enjoys writing about money management, getting out of debt and planning for retirement. Her practical approach encourages folks to get serious about their relationship with their money.
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