If you are tired of spending insane amounts of money on groceries each week and feel like as soon as you buy it, it’s gone, this post is for you!
Are you tired of spending insane amounts of money on groceries each week? Do you feel like as soon as you buy it, it’s gone? Yeah, you know that people spend hours and hours clipping coupons, driving all around town to every store, and buy dozens of packages of the same product. But, what does that really get you?
A friend of mine who is a new mom asked me this very question. She is a stay at home mom to two rambunctious little boys under three. She wanted to know how she could decrease and stretch her grocery budget to help her overall household budget.
Before I had two children and dreams of working from home online, I would do the same things. I would buy a dozen of each item I had a coupon for, after collecting dozens of coupon inserts from apartment complex recycling bins. I enjoyed the thrill of hunting for the next deal and being able to bless others with my extras, when they needed them. It was one of a few hobbies I had and I spent several hours each week maintaining my system.
I just don’t have time for that these days. I am a married, working mom with two active children. And, I write here. I have a system for getting everything else done, so why wouldn’t I have one for saving money on groceries that was just as efficient?
You can save hundreds of dollars on your monthly grocery bill in just thirty minutes each week by applying these four simple rules.
The first rule is to browse around this site. You can shop at your favorite store and be instantly alerted to sales, coupons, and promo codes.
The second rule is to buy before you need it. Stick with me for a minute. Stop waiting until you are out of or almost out of an item before you purchase it. As I stated in How to Blow Your Shopping Budget, you will be at the mercy of the grocery store if you wait until the last minute, because you will have no choice but to pay the price they advertise.
Instead, you should save time by writing down things as they get low, before they run out. That way, you can be keeping an eye on the best prices for that item and purchase an extra or two, to last until the next sale. Time required: 10 minutes
The third rule is plan your meals. If you wait until you’re home from work to decide what’s for dinner, the chances are slim that things will go well. A menu plan is your roadmap to getting your family fed during the week ahead. You need one, even if you think you don’t. Look at your schedules, cupboards, and refrigerator. Decide what will be available for breakfasts, plan what to take for lunch to work or school, and plan the family’s dinner.
This way, you know what you will need from the grocery store before going. This saves you time, because you only do it once a week. Once you get the hang of it, you may only do it once a month or repeat a set monthly menu. Learn how to Improve Your Meal Planning in Just 10 Minutes. Time required: 10 minutes
The fourth rule is to shop what’s on sale. As you are planning your meals, consult your store’s sales flier. Which meats, grocery, produce, and frozen items are on sale? Work those into your menu. Oftentimes, brands will promote sale items in the Sunday coupons, too. So, the item will be offered at a discounted price by the store and you will receive another discount from the manufacturer in the form of a coupon.
This is another way to save time because you’re not shopping the whole store. It focuses your efforts on items that will save your family the most money and stretch your budget the furthest. Time required: 10 minutes
Give it a try this week. Spend 30 minutes writing down things as they get low, plan your meals, and shop what’s on sale.
How much money did you save in just 30 minutes? Share your results in the comments.
More Resources to Help You Save Money on Groceries:
I love your tip to buy before you need it. I have started setting aside $30 from our grocery budget a week to stock up on staples when they are on sale. I think this strategy is really going to save us a lot of money over the course of a year.
LOVE these tips! I’m always looking for ways to save more on groceries! Thanks so much for sharing at Merry Monday!
Yes! I use all of these ideas to save money on groceries each week. Every Monday I sit down and look at the sales ads and any coupons I have available. I plan my meals for the week around what is on sale, and I pay attention to when items we always use like toilet paper, paper towels, etc. go on sale and get them whether I need them yet or not. It saves so much money to buy when it’s on sale rather than when you need it. Even better if you can combine the sale with a coupon!