10 ways to save on your shopping bill

[Bournecrazy]

1) Make a list
If you find that every week your trolley is full of impulse buys, make some time to sit down and plan what you really need. This way there will be less temptation to pick up things you won’t really use. You may also discover items that you could live without, reducing your bill even further.

2) Grab bargains
You will usually find meat, bread and other fresh products reduced for quick sale just before their sell-by date. If you have a reasonably large freezer, you can freeze most fresh items for later. Just make sure you are buying items you will actually eat and are not just buying them because they are cheap.

3) Bulk buy‘BOGOF’. No, not an insult, it actually stands for ‘Buy One Get One Free’. Supermarkets are very good at these offers and you can take advantage. Providing you’ve got the storage space, stock up when essential items like toilet roll, washing powder and beer are on special. Just beware of bulk buying items with a limited lifespan or that you don’t actually use that often, otherwise you’ll be wasting instead of spending.

4) Try own brand goods
Supermarkets produce a range of own brand goods, covering everything from pasta to tea. In many cases, you won’t notice the difference in taste but you will notice the difference in price. Basic items such as flour and rice are often produced by the same supplier as other ranges but just in different packaging.
When to buy own-brand

5) Downsize
In many cases, smaller shops, and the farmers’ markets that are springing up everywhere, are cheaper and fresher than the supermarkets.

6) Cut down on luxuries
If you are really determined to shave some money off your bill, reduce the number of luxury items you buy, such as chocolate and alcohol. In many cases, this will cut down the pounds you spend in the shop and the pounds in weight you put on at home.

7) Eat seasonally
Foods that are in season are in more plentiful supply and therefore cheaper. Simple really. The Eat The Seasons website provides an up-to-date list of what’s growing right now and what you can do with it. You are also doing your bit for the environment as many out of season foods are brought in from abroad, generating a carbon footprint in the process.

8) Grow your own
It is amazing how many vegetables and fruits you can grow in your back garden or allotment. From tomatoes to runner beans to strawberries, you can have the satisfaction of eating what you’ve grown.

9) Eat more veg
Meat is generally among the most expensive items on a shopping bill. Cut out a couple of meat dishes a week in favour of some seasonal vegetable meals and you will save. It may well turn out to be beneficial to your health as well as your wealth.

10) Use your reward points
If you don’t like theme parks, spa breaks or the other discounts the various reward cards offer, use your points to get money off your shopping. Pound for pound, it offers as good value as some of the other offers. Just don’t spend the money you have saved on items you don’t need later.

Found this on Msn.UK, think it might help people with there budgets

How many of these steps do you take?

[Momto2Boyz]

I have number 11~

Shop alone! When I shop alone, I stick to my list and I don't end up with any budget busters in my cart! When I take the kids or DH with me (and yes, DH is sometimes worse than the kids), they beg for convenience foods that I would otherwise never glance at without them there! And somehow, sometimes, I end up giving in and these things end up in our cart!

[Bournecrazy]

oh i made that mistake last time and BF came along, i worked out he spent 13.00 on 'stuff' if he wasnt there i would of been on budget with the shopping list i had done.

[DonnainME]

I agree with all of those, including #11.

But I do have #12. - Use coupons but only on things you plan to buy. Sometimes you can get the name brand item cheaper than the store brand by using manufacturer coupons (or rebates, OR both).

[Bournecrazy]

feel free to update list there are many things that can be done extra

[shadowfax]

Don't shop hungry-eat before you go you'll buy less junk food.
Read nutrition labels. Sometimes this will actually talk you out of buying something you don't need but think you want.
Compare volumes to prices.
Keep a running tally of what you have spent. Don't discount the coupons you will use.

[Bournecrazy]

good ideas, thanks

[elphie]

my price book is my best tool for saving at the grocery store. I have a small notebook I keep in my purse at all times that has items divided by category (meat, dairy, dry goods, etc.) For several weeks I would sit down with my receipts after shopping and write down the prices of food (foods listed down the side of the page and stores I frequent across the top). My Aldi column has their everyday prices and any items that I can't get at Aldi (borax and the bread we like) are listed under the store with the best price I've found. I also list the best sale price I've found at other stores. When I am out shopping and I see something that seems like a good deal I can take out my price book and compare. I have been sure about many "sales" only to pull out my book and find that Aldi is cheaper or local sales are better.

[Jill B.]

I look at grocery flyers and make a list of things on sale that I want to purchase. I match up coupons with sales and write it all down.

[MomK]

Great Advice! DH did the shopping last week. Not only did he buy a lot of "luxury" (i.e., frozen, junk) food items, he also did not strictly follow the list! GRRRR! He does things like buying Sunny D instead of regular oj. I'm glad he's willing to do the shopping, but I wish he'd stick to the list.

Thanks for the reminders!

[divinemsn]

I would add a #13. Leave the Spouse at home.! Whenever I go shopping with my hubby he tries to blow our budget. I allow him a few things not on my list so I dont make him feel bad.

[Lady_V]

Dress comfortably.

Yup... I noticed if I am dressed in comfy clothes and shoes, I take my time to look for the better prices... when I am in 'pretty clothes and insane heels' I just grab and dash.

[momof2joys]

Great tips, thanks everyone!!!