I hope you benefited from this week's blogs about meal planning. I just want to help you understand that you can go to the store and purchase everything you need for a week of meals. You can start saving today!
What if we could save money at the grocery store and use it for other things, like back-to-school expenses, summer activities, vacations, Christmas, college savings, or unexpected expenses? Grocery shopping is a major family expense. Though not everyone notices, monthly food bills make up a large share of our spending.
The average American spends about 11% of their monthly net income on food. Go ahead and do the math: for the average U.S. family this can be $5,000-plus. These food dollars include groceries as well as eating out. We all know that grocery store food purchases are much more economical than restaurant purchases, so let’s walk through the planning phases of eating meals at home.
First, think about a convenient time for you to go to the grocery store. In some families with two parents, it may be easier to divide and conquer by sending one parent to the store and leaving the children at home with the other. It is important to remember that 5 p.m. is not a great time to visit a grocery store no matter when you shop or where you live. So plan a time to shop, and try to go alone - this will save you time and money by keeping you focused.
Once you have decided when you will buy groceries you can decide how much you may need. On average, we spend $34.00 each time we walk into a grocery store, according to the grocery store surveys. This means if you don’t get everything you need the first time, you will probably spend additional money on each subsequent visit. This brings us to the next step.
Plan the menu. Decide what your family will eat until your next trip to the grocery store. Instead of wondering and wandering, use the meal planner at MealEssence.com to create your menu. Then you’ll know what you need to purchase. Once the menu is determined it is easy to make a shopping list.
Make a list. It is a fact that people who make a list and stick with it will spend less money at the grocery store than people who do not use a list. (Generating your personalized shopping list on MealEssence.com makes it easy to do and fast!) Lists are good for many reasons, but mostly to ensure you get everything you need on the first trip, so you won’t need to return for a single purchase. You are now ready to go to the grocery!
Eat before going. Have a snack to curb your appetite. Hungry people are more likely to spend more during a shopping trip.
Use coupons and weekly ads. Most grocers will honor competitor ads, so be sure to take them with you to avoid trips to multiple stores. Coupons can be found online for so many products. Once your list is complete, check out some coupon websites and print the ones that match up with planned purchases. Beware of coupons that entice you to buy something you didn’t plan for…this is why coupons benefit manufacturers.
Shopping alone. The best way to avoid unnecessary purchases is to go alone. Even a well meaning spouse can undermine savings. Children—to be sure—will lead to unnecessary purchases at the checkout. We have all been there; done that!
Compare prices. Name brands aren’t always better quality. Many generic items can be purchased and used without compromising value or quality.
Read the unit price. Not everyone can quickly calculate the per pound price when looking at the package price. Comparing unit prices can show you which item is really the cheapest and best deal. It is so easy to think you know the best deal because it is the lowest price, but sometimes manufacturers package in smaller quantities, such as sugar (of late they are packaging sugar in 4# bags as well as 5# so I pays to check).
Finally, use cash or at least stick with the budgeted amount. With a shopping list to give you a clear idea about what should be bought, it’s easy to estimate how much you’ll spend. Leave credit cards at home and take only the needed amount of cash, plus a little bit more (just in case). Now there is simply no chance to overspend! Paying with cash is a great way to avoid impulse purchases or stockpiling. Buy only what is needed and planned for. Just because it’s on sale does not mean you need it. Follow the plan!
While a lot of money is spent for grocery shopping by each family every month, overall expenses can be reduced. Plan, compare prices and brands, and follow your shopping list. Let’s start saving money today!
Read more:http://personalbudgeting.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_save_money_on_grocery_shopping#ixzz0LO0xl2Wu