I heart food. People might eat for comfort, but cooking is my therapy. I was shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond this weekend with my boyfriend Eric. We only needed to pick up a Brita water filter but, of course, I had to make my lap around the store. As usual, I got sucked in at the kitchen department. I love appliances and gadgets, bake ware and frying pans. I can’t wait till I get a house with a big kitchen that I can fill drawers and countertops with everything that I buy from the kitchen department.
Since I love to cook, I’m spending a lot of time in the grocery store. Obviously groceries prices have skyrocketed recently due to gas prices making the cost of transporting the goods go up. There’s a variety of tips and tricks that I do to help me save money every week at the grocery store without searching for coupons:
1. Pick a day, and stick with it. Every week, I do my grocery shopping on Sunday. I make Eric go with me, that way there is no ‘but you didn’t get me the right soda!’ We also keep a running list on the fridge of things that we need to pick up next week, as well as planning out what we’re making every day.
2. Know what you can spend. Eric and I know that we can only afford about $80 a week between the both of us. Once in a blue moon we go over, but more often than not we spend a little less- which we put towards something fun. Its also nice to know that every week we stay within our limits.
3. Plan! You know how you go through your pantry and you’ll come across an obscure can of veggies or a box of potatoes and you weren’t quite sure why you bought it to begin with but now you’re stuck with it? If you plan your meals out for the entire week not only will you always use up what you buy and be rid of random groceries, but you’ll also be far less likely to impulse buy ingredients that just mean more money spent now and more confused looks later.
4. Use your resources. Every week, I check out Publix’s online sales circular. You can also find them at the front of the store. I pretty much buy everything based on what is in that paper- and I always save at least $20-$30 and only spend about $70. If pork chops are on sale, then I’m making schnitzel! There is always a huge variety of meats, veggies, dairy, and dry goods that are on sale, so don’t think that shopping out of the sales circular means cashing out at the 10 items or less aisle.
5. Do your research! Always be on the lookout for places that have great deals. Check out your local farmer’s market or produce outlet, then compare prices to where you regularly shop. There is a great little farmer’s outlet by my house that sells the exact same tofu that you can find at Publix- about $3 cheaper. And because its so cheap, Eric and I regularly substitute it for meat. Keep in mind that if you have to spend a bunch of gas to make numerous trips to get your shopping done, then its not worth it.
6. Read the fine print. You know those little numbers by the price on the label for the items on the shelf? Read them! If you ever have a question about whether to buy in bulk or if one brand really is cheaper than another, refer to the little numbers known as the unit price. Example: You need to buy plastic baggies and you see one box going for $4.99 for 20 and another box for $5.25 for 25. Box 1 goes for 24.95 cents a bag, and box 2 goes for 21 cents. See?
7. Go big or go home! Don’t be afraid to buy in bulk. The unit price will be cheaper (less packaging=lower cost to produce the goods), and if you have the Tupperware lying around to pack your lunch then use it! Yogurt is much cheaper when you buy the large container then scoop out a portion and put it in a little container to travel.
8. But don’t overbuy. Once again, this goes back to planning. If corn is on sale, but you’ve already got enough veggies to feed a herd of cattle, don’t buy it! What good is delicious, fresh corn that you got on sale when its just molding in your fridge because you didn’t cook it soon enough? Think of those starving children on the commercials that come up when you’re watching your favorite sitcom! And don’t be afraid to speak up and ask sales associates to split packages of meat and veggies. That’s part of their job, and its better to save the money than let the food go to waste.
9. Generic is not a dirty word. When I’m shopping and I see the private-label next to the national brand, I pretty much always buy the private-label. Not only is it a ton cheaper, but its practically the exact same product due to government regulations. For example, when you’re looking for aspirin, be sure to check the active and inactive ingredients. The active ingredient is the only thing that matters. If a product is an OTC, like aspirin, then the active ingredient in the private-label has to be the exact same amount as the national brand. Make it a point to buy everything that you can private-label for 1 week, and see if you’re world is falling apart. I guarantee that you’ll be too busy smiling over all the money you just saved.
10. Don’t be lazy! Convenience foods are priced more because that’s exactly what they are offering- convenience. Compare the price of the block of cheese to the little bag of the shredded kind. You’ll be taking the extra 5 whole minutes that it will take to shred that block of cheese by hand. Also, see step 7 about separating your food yourself rather than buying something in a ton a little containers (yogurt, for example).
11. Think outside of the box. I’m a die-hard meat-a-tarian. If it doesn’t have some sort of meat it in, then its not a complete meal. Meat can be really expensive, though, so making sure you’re getting your daily dose of protein can require some out-of-the-box thinking. I’ve started to replace ground beef with ground turkey and a can of black beans to make burritos and chili- SO GOOD! Not only is turkey cheaper, but by throwing a can of your favorite beans in with mix you’re also making more that will make great leftovers. Protein-rich beans are also high in fiber, which is something that many people do not get enough of in their diet. Omelets aren’t just for breakfast anymore- eggs are a great source of nutrients and practically cost less than a quarter each. Tofu, depending on where you buy it, can also be a great alternative (see step 5).
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