How to Save Money on Groceries
Groceries are a big chunk of the average person and families pay check and being able to cut some money from them can lead to you having a little extra for other things, such as saving. So, here’s how to do so.
Endeavor to Shop Less Often
Consider scheduling two primary shopping trips monthly, making additional store visits once a week just to buy perishable items. This is the advice of “Instant Bargains” author Kimberly Danger. Statistics show that single individuals and couples without children are the most likely to make multiple shopping trips per week, treating the experience more as entertainment than a necessary household task. Trips of this nature produce a 23 percent rise in the chances of making ill-advised impulse purchases, whereas planned shopping excursions produce a drop of 13 percent in such expenditures.
Plan Meals a Week Ahead
This is not to suggest that savvy shoppers must make new and different meals every night of the week, but instead, it makes good sense for shoppers to think about choosing ingredients that offer more than one application. Mary Ostyn, the force behind “Family Feasts for $75 a Week” encourages families to consider creating a single big meal which will produce leftover components that an be used in again in pasta dishes or perhaps in healthy salads. Here is a good meal planner.
Remain on Task While Shopping
Danger asserts that a single grocery shop should require no more than a half an hour each week. Shoppers who tend to stroll the aisles and take their time often spend greater amounts of money than they otherwise would. Those who focus on efficiency and speed have an 82-percent lower likelihood of making impulse purchases than other shoppers. Deliberating for a lengthy period in the grocery aisles often causes unnecessary purchases. Couples who shop together often egg each other on to buy things they simply do not need, boosting their overall grocery bill considerably, according to “Why We Buy” author Paco Underhill.
Watch For Great Sales on Meat
While it often seems as though groceries keep getting more expensive, there is no need to cut corners to the exclusion of great meats. Careful shopping often reveals terrific cuts that are available at bargain prices. Do not fall victim to the erroneous assumption that sale meats are of lower quality than others. Because meat can always be frozen, it really does pay to buy in bulk and divide into freezer-friendly portions. This technique alone can produce upwards in $800 annually in savings for a typical family.
If you are into increasing your protein intake then these cuts can be perfect as many of them are lean and can be very tender when slow cooked. Such meats can be very healthy and really help your drive. Many supermarkets also provide protein shakes, which if bought smartly can be a good way to increase protein intake. If you want to look online, then here list of current muscle food discounts – these will help keep prices down.
Certain Aisles are the Most Budget-Friendly
Shoppers will be amazed by the deals available in the freezer aisles. Vegetables and fruits found here are ideal, because only the amount truly needed must be used at a given time. An average home sees roughly 460 pounds each in year in wasted fresh produce, something which can be avoided by using frozen more often.Steer clear of convenience breakfast items. Eight out of every ten families overspend on pre-portioned oatmeal and packaged cereals, which cost far more than bulk cereals or fresh eggs, which can be boiled in advance for a quick, healthy start to the day.