Your best money saving tip in the grocery store

**mylittle4** · 11-23-2002, 11:08 PM

Ok I am having a problem staying within my goal for food shopping so I thought for my sake and each others we could give what we think helps keep our food budget down. Besides leaving the kids at home. LOL.
I guess mine would have to be buying store brands.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 11-23-2002, 11:11 PM

I buy a lot of things in bulk because it's much cheaper than paying for the packaging. I invested in Tupperware years ago and use that, but you could also save peanut butter jars for the same thing.

I also don't necessarily buy the largest size of a product. I factor in the amount of the coupon and often the smaller size is a better value! Are these the stroy problems that gave you nightmares in math class? LOL

**captclearance** · 11-23-2002, 11:20 PM

Watch when they ring up your groceries...... You'd be amazed how often the price is wrong !!!!!!!

**PrairieRose** · 11-23-2002, 11:22 PM

Look above and below eye level for alternative, better priced items. The name brands are usually at eye level.

**justjenn** · 11-23-2002, 11:26 PM

*Coupons are only good when they beat the generic/store brand's price. I usually combine mine with sales.

*Shop with a list, and stick to it.

*Pay attention to the loss leaders. Stock up on something you know you use a lot when it goes on sale.

*Set a goal.

**Jenlee** · 11-25-2002, 02:16 PM

Shop the outside perimeter of the store. Produce, meat and dairy are where your necessities are and the inside aisles are where the convenience aisles are. I have found that if I stay out of some aisles, I don't spend as much. Especially if dd is with us!!

**SewCrafty** · 11-25-2002, 02:24 PM

I don't do this, but I plan on it.

Shop with only cash, do not take your debit card (something I am very guilty of). This way you cannot over spend!

**Karla** · 11-25-2002, 03:41 PM

Make your menu before hand, then you will know exactly what you need. Then stick to your list, but also watch carefully and have a few extra bucks with you, if something is on sale at a good price use your extra cash to pick it up for later use.
In my area we don't have double coupons or loss leaders (bummer) so I'm careful about what I spend I buy a lot of generic - store brands, use coupons if it gets me a good deal. Also for me it helps if I stay away from the chocolate isle!!!

**QuilterMom** · 11-25-2002, 05:59 PM

Loss leaders! (The best thing to stock up on here in no double coupon land)

**MJsLady** · 11-25-2002, 06:22 PM

Well
I rarely go when hungry.

watch the shelves! Just becuase x was $ on Monday doesnt mean it hasnt gone up to $$ on Tuesday!
I noticed this at walmart on Ro-tel tomatoes. They had a big roll back sign, was .72c now .68 cents. Well I have bought them there since the center opened and they have never been .72, they were always .58.

If you need bakery items, search the day old racks.

If you want to make banan bread, go to Albertsons and get the 5lb bag of over ripes for .99 Instead of .39 per lb. Most tiems ther are many good ones still in there

**aylasmommy** · 11-26-2002, 01:01 AM

Not only watch for wrong prices, but for them ringing up things more than once

This happened to me on my last trip, i got 2 12 packs (which had a limit of 2 at that sale price) for some reason he rang up three! So i was charged a whole 5$ for it instead of 2$ that it was on sale for, on top of getting charged for nothing

It also happened at safeway, they rang up a chunk of cheese FOUR times! it was expensive too!

Try to know the price your groceries should total so that it's easier to notice these things..

I like to stock up on whatever is really cheap that way I never have to buy it again for a very long time.

keep an eye out for coupons on the shelves for products you buy..

When potato's go on sale I buy them, they are so versatile..baked potato, baked french fries, fried potatoes, mashed potato's, potato salad ...

stock up when your meat goes on sale..then clean it, cut it, and freezer bag it

Watch the reduced item bin, or for reduced to clear items on shelves

**NYC Girl** · 11-26-2002, 08:57 AM

I don't want to repeat all the great suggestions that were posted already and it looks like everything has been covered so I'll add....

1. Don't be afraid to try something less expensive. If you don't like it, at least you tried.
2. Ask yourself if you can make it for less money.
3. Don't shop when you're pressed for time. It's easy to overlook a bargain when you're rushing around the store.
4. Shop alone.
5. Ask for rainchecks when a sale item is not on the shelf.
6. If something, that you always use, is on sale and you also have a coupon for it, buy it even if you don't need it right then, as long as you can freeze it or it will keep in your pantry for a while.

Great thread!!

**OntarioMama** · 11-26-2002, 08:00 PM

My grocery store also takes a large percentage (30 to 40%) off fresh meat that is more than a day or two old. Usually they mark the meat down first thing in the morning, every day. I can get bargain meats in the morning and plan my evening meal around that purchase. They are even more of a bargain if they were on sale that week anyway.

Laurie

**Mom23boys** · 11-27-2002, 10:12 AM

Great tips ladies!
Here are a few more:

*Check your pantry to see what you already have. Don't spend money on things you don't need.

*Make a price book, and frequently refer to it.

*Shop for items BEFORE you run out of them. If you run out of an item you'll have to pay whatever the store is charging that week.

*If you go to the supermarket early in the morning (before 9am) you have a better chance of getting mark down items. Local stores in my area mark down fresh veggies and fruits, frozen items, milks, and meats.

*More often than not, the best sales are on the front and back of your supermarket flyer.

*Stockpile, Stockpile, Stockpile! If a product you use is on sale, buy as much as you can afford and store to last you until the next sale. This is a BIG money saver!

*After shopping, send off for rebates to get items free, or nearly free!

**TheCottageRose** · 11-27-2002, 03:51 PM

The Price Book is KEY to shopping smart!

Loss Leaders aren't always losses, the Price Book will generally tell you the truth behind the adds.

Great posts!

Melissa