Remember my Grocery Shopping 101 post about what to do before you leave the house? Well, here’s how to save money when you arrive at the grocery store.
Rethink Quantity
Do you really need that huge bunch of bananas or a whole pound of deli meat? Buying in bulk is not always the most cost effective option if the food is never eaten! Instead, I buy what I need for the upcoming week. For instance, I buy 1/2 pound of deli meat, which is usually more than enough for my husband and my lunches for the week. Plus, if we run out, we can always pack something else for lunch, which is much better than throwing away spoiled deli meat.
Buy More Fruits and Vegetables
Research from the American Dietetic Association shows that when families add more fruits and vegetables to their diets, their waistlines get smaller and their food budgets shrink by 25%. Plus, fruits and vegetables score at the top of the NuVal scale. Broccoli and spinach, for example, both score 100!
Stock Up On Your Favorites
You’ve probably heard the old “make a list and stick to it” tip when grocery shopping. It’s a great piece advice, and I usually keep in mind, but I also make sure to stock up on my favorite products when they go on sale. My husband and I plow through Teddie Peanut Butter and Quaker Old-Fashioned Oats like it’s our job, so when they go on sale, I made sure to buy them even if we haven’t run out yet. I know that we’re going to use these items at some point, so I might as well stock up and save a little money.
Shop More Often
If you have trouble eating the fresh produce that you buy at the grocery store, try supplementing your major weekly shopping with a small trip mid-week to restock your produce. This way, your fruits and veggies will not go bad before you’ve had a chance to eat them. Throwing out food is just like wasting money!
Utilize Reusable Bags
Most stores will take $0.05 or $0.10 off your bill for each reusable bags that you use for your grocery shopping. In addition to benefiting the environment, you’re saving money. If you always forget your reusable bags at home, try leaving them in your car. I leave all of my reusable bags in the backseat of my car, so I never forget to bring them to the grocery store.
Take Advantage of the Competition
Most supermarkets will match other retailers’ sales, but many don’t advertise this. Ask your grocery store’s manager if the store has a policy. You could save a few bucks!
Developed by an independent panel of nutrition and medical experts, the 
Great tips! I have reusable bags in my car, but still manage to leave them them half the time when I hit the store. I need to work on that.
@Arlene – I used to do the same thing! Now I just keep the bags in the trunk of my car. After I unload my groceries, I immediately place the bags by the door, so that I see them on my way out later on in the day or the next morning.
I have been doing really well with grocery shopping lately… except in the bar/cereals/grains department. I keep buying something new to try, having a little bit, then trying something else new. I need to re-implement the old rule of not buying a new one until the old one is eaten!
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[...] shopping. It’s a great piece advice, and I usually keep it in mind. However, I also make sure to stock up on my favorite products when they go on sale. My husband and I plow through peanut butter and oatmeal like it’s our job, [...]