It’s been a pretty eventful year for consumers, with inflation and supply shortages affecting the economy in all sorts of ways. This article will go over simple changes you can make at the grocery store to save money. Keep reading below to find out more on how to become a better shopper.
Plan Your Trip
A good first step is to do basic budgeting. Go over your financial statements to get an idea of how much you spend on food each time you shop. This will give you a better idea of what changes you need to make.
Set a spending limit for each trip to the grocery store, and go through what you already have in your kitchen. No sense in spending money on things you already have, after all. Plan your meals out for at least a week, including snacks in between meals. This will keep you on track and not over spending.
Cut Expenses
It’s going to the little things you do consistently over a period of time that adds up to savings. Always make sure you’re comparing prices between stores, and sign up for their loyalty rewards program. Discount supermarkets and online grocery stores are a great way to save money, especially on bulk items like flour, salt, sugar, and grains.
Consider other brands when shopping, too. The store or generic brand name will always be cheaper than the premium brand. So figure out which foods you absolutely want to keep for premium brands, and which foods you wouldn’t mind saving money on. You may be surprised to learn that the cheaper option won’t always taste worse either.
Other Tips
Buying in bulk will always get you a lower price per unit. This means your supplies last longer and stretches your dollar value. Unit pricing is an important strategy to become a better shopper, so be sure whatever item you’re buying is the most cost efficient.
It may sound funny, but never go shopping when you’re hungry. We’re only human after all, and our state of mind can always influence our actions. You can easily go over your budget by wanting to eat everything in sight.
Happy Shopper
The more you plan ahead for your trip to the supermarket, the better you’ll fare at the checkout line. Make sure you have a budget, a list of items you need, and do enough price comparison to find the better deal. Consider shopping online too, Fresh Direct has a huge inventory and easy to use site.
