Price Accuracy Guarantee at Vons/SafewayI took a picture of the Vons/Safeway policy while at self check out. They have a Price Accuracy Guarantee, where if you are overcharged and the item is less than $5, it will be free. And, if it was more than $5, you will get a gift card and price adjustment.
Ordering Groceries from AmazonIf you need groceries an alternative would be ordering off Amazon via Amazon Fresh or Amazon Whole Foods. It is free shipping if you spend $35 or more for Amazon members.
Faster Economical Grocery ShoppingArmed with your list, pick up frozen food first. Yes, it sounds crazy, but knowing that your frozen items might melt, you will now be propelled through the market and out the door. You won't dawdle looking at items you do not need but might be tempted to buy.
Drying Out Wet Shopping BagsHere in Oregon, single use plastic bags have gone the way of the beta. I am glad. I had a particularly soggy shopping today today, and I came upon a trick that you might want to modify. I happened to have a wicker basket that I got and it was perfect for up-ending the wet bag and letting it drain.
Divide Bulk Purchases and SaveBuying food in bulk can help save money but not if you throw half of it away because it goes bad. I buy cheese and meats in larger quantities if the price is low enough. Dividing my purchase into more manageable servings and freezing helps me save time and money.
Hidden Treasure When ShoppingWhen I make my grocery list, I put how much I'm willing to spend next to each item. If I catch something on sale or have a coupon for it, it's like a hidden treasure. I put the difference in savings. Also, I keep my lists in a spiral noteook. I can look back to see how much I paid for an item, and I can usually tell what items I have on hand so I don't buy stuff I already have.
Free Expired ItemsI went to Sprouts today and an item on my grocery list was parmesan cheese for a baked chicken dinner. I came across this brand called BelGioioso on sale for $2.99. Sounds great because there's parmesan cheese as well as 3 other cheeses so I could make pizza too, but when I checked the expiration "best by" date, it had already passed, 7 days ago!
Shop at Salvage StoresSalvage stores are a great way to save some money, while having terrific stuff. A salvage store is a local establishment that buys out of date and possibly shelf-damaged stuff from local supermarkets or grocery stores.
Keep Groceries Organized to Save...To keep my groceries organized so I know what I have and don't have, I have been doing the following:
Use Calculator to Get the Best PriceCalculator shopping was popular back when hand-held calculators first became cheap and easy to get. Nowadays, I rarely see anyone shopping with a calculator, but there are many good reasons to use one.
Buy Frozen Chicken BreastsLike most of you, I have noticed the huge jump in prices at the grocery store. I have a trick to save money on chicken that I will share.
Baking from the Discount Grocery ShelfI recently started checking the discount shelves at my local supermarkets. I have found some really good savings from time to time. Earlier this year I picked up a couple of bags of Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix.
Keep Purse with Shopping BagsI don't know if you have this problem, but I do. I try to use reusable grocery bags as much as possible but I forget to bring them into the store! Same with my coupons and sometimes even my shopping list!
Use Phone as Shopping ListI am always losing my shopping lists. Since I always have my phone with me, I put my list on my phone's notebook. As I collect the groceries, I delete them off the list. It also helps me to stick to the list, with less impulsive buying.
Great Value Packaged at Del MonteDel Monte is the producer of Great Value canned fruit, I worked for a trucking comapny that hauled it, and it comes for various DelMonte plants around the country but, a lot is from California.
Extend Milk By Adding WaterMy family drinks 1% milk. My husband accidentally bought whole milk. My children complained that it was "thick" and they didn't like it at all. I diluted it with water and they were able to drink it.
Use Notepad on Cellphone for ListsI keep my grocery list on the "notepad" of my cell phone, so that when I go to the store, all I have to do is check on my phone to see what I need. No more forgotten grocery list at home.
Creating a Grocery ListI use a system that I learned while I was a restaurant manager and by the nature of my job "had" to control food cost.
Kuerig K-Cups Vs. Ground CoffeeMy husband got a Kuerig for his birthday. While the K-Cups are very convenient, we wondered how they compared to using ground coffee in the My K-Cup basket. A box of K-Cups contains 18 cups. Our bag of Tully's coffee weighed 12 ounces and we were able to get 25 cups of coffee.
Superchill Foods Upon Return from Grocery StoreUse a timer and freezer to superchill foods to retard spoilage. Place milk, juices, non-frozen meats, and half and half in the freezer for 1/2 hour upon returning from the grocery store to get the temperature down to a fresh 35-degrees.
Save Gas By Shopping LocalEight years ago we retired to a tiny town with a small local grocery store. The prices were high and the produce was poor quality, so we developed the habit of checking the weekly ads and doing most of our shopping at the supermarket 20 miles away.
Saving Money on Groceries Without Running All Over TownDo not overlook the value of using stores that match their competitor's ads. This is seldom advertised so you have to ask. Because I live in a rural area it is not always practical nor do I have the time to do extreme couponing.
Buy and Store Larger Sized Food PackagesSmaller sized cans of vegetables are intended to attract buyers who cook for just one or two people. The convenience may seem nice but buying small size cans means you're actually paying more for the item than if you purchased a larger can.
Stock Up On Sale Peanut ButterPeanut butter usually goes on sale in August as part of the "back to school" sales. Usually stores have sales that when matched with coupons will lead to jars for a $1 or less.
Keeping Groceries ColdKeep a cooler in your car to keep your frozen purchases, meats, and dairy items as cold as you can. If you forget, buy some frozen spinach to help keep things at the proper temperature.
Prime Chicken Parts for LessBuy whole chicken and clean and cutup. Buy several of them to get a pack of prime parts like the breast at only 69 cents a lb. instead of $2.00 a pound.
Shop Multiple Grocery Stores in One TripI always place a large portable ice chest in my car when I shop. No ice is necessary if it has a good seal on it. I am able to go to multiple stores and pick up their loss leaders on one driving trip.
Make A Tally Mark For Each Dollar When ShoppingI always use a list when I shop but sometimes the amount of sales tax would trip me up. I found that if I tally a line for each dollar the item costs. and tally up to the next amount.
Coupons vs. Store BrandsI like to clip coupons for products I use regularly. I've noticed that even with a coupon, the name brand item may still be more expensive than the generic store brand.
Getting Food Home From the Grocery StoreWhere we live, it's at least a 20 minute drive home from the closest grocery store. So it never fails, whenever I buy cold foods, they are warm by the time I get home, and frozen foods are melted.
Circle Your Shopping Wagons FirstHave you noticed that all the fresh, least processed items are on the walls of the grocery store? Meats, dairy, produce, baked goods? This is where the majority of your healthy shopping is, along with the freshest seasonal items.
Stock Up With Meat SalesI wait on our local Winn Dixie to have their "buy one get one free" sales on meat. This definitely saves our budget a lot of money.
Keep Grocery List in Cell PhoneI use the "note" section in my cell phone for my grocery list. I carry my phone everywhere so I am certain not to forget my list.
Organizing Your Grocery ListIn between shopping trips I jot things down on a list, then the day before I go, I organize that list. When I make my grocery list, I divide it into sections the same way the store is laid out where I am going.
Grocery Prices Jump 10 CentsMy most favorite remark about food and the economy is that each time I go into the grocery store, the prices have jumped 10 cents on any item.
Remembering Reusable Shopping BagsEven though I'm doing better at remembering to bring my reusable bags with me when I shop, I still forget! And when I'm in a hurry and don't have time to run back to my car to get them, it's maddening!
Plan Your MenusI have a friend who budgets wisely every month. She has raised 2 children and gone back to school herself with what she saved. She owns her own home and about 4 acres of land.
Best Time for Deals on MeatThe best time to shop for meats is about 3 pm on Saturday afternoon, providing the store is closed on Sunday. Today, Saturday, for example I bought 3 roasting chickens at half price because the expiration date is Sunday.
Check Deli For Gourmet Clearance ItemsSome of our grocery stores have a gourmet food section in their deli. This is a great place to pick up some things that you normally wouldn't be able to afford
Placing Order at Deli CounterWhen I go to a big grocery store, it is such a time waster standing in line at the deli counter. Now, before I leave home, I write the order on the back of a business card. When I get to the deli, I just tell them I'll be back in 20 minutes.
Use Sales Ads at a Competing StoreIf there are several good deals/sales at different stores, and you don't want to drive all over town, check to see if one of the stores will honor the other ads.
Bring Ads When Grocery ShoppingWhen grocery shopping, take the ad for the store you are using with you. I recently bought three bags of a known brand of frozen vegetables that were on sale. When I took them out of the freezer, I noticed the sale price was not posted anywhere.
Keep Organized With Shopping NotepadsI keep notepads in the kitchen where I also keep the ads from the various grocery stores. On the notepad, I make a list of what's on sale at which grocery store.
Organize Your Shopping List By AisleWe have all heard that you should make a list before heading to the grocery store, but that list needs to make sense, or you'll spend your whole time running back and forth through the store.
Buy Meat In BulkWhen buying ground hamburger for my family, I have found that buying in bulk and freezing is a great way to save us money. I have learned that if you buy a package of hamburger that is about 6 pounds, you can separate the meat into quart size ziplock bags (a pound a piece).
Buy Cheese Ends For Shredded CheeseI buy cheese ends cheap, shred them in a food processor, and use as toppings on all kinds of food. I also use the shredded cheese to make mac 'n cheese, etc.
Buy Soda (Pop) By the CaseI had been upset for a long time that name brand pop (or at least Coke in my area), was only sold in 12 packs. I used to buy by the case (24 pack), but all of the sudden they disappeared and I was paying about the same for half as much pop!
Beware Misleading Produce PackagingI just purchased red grapes in the plastic clam shell package from Sam's Club. While washing them, my mother noticed that they were two different variety. The few on top were plump. The rest were regular to small sized grapes. Let the buyer beware.
Product Review: Barrilla's Piccolini PastaI love Barrilla's pasta and noticed that they have a new line of pastas. They are 'mini' pastas called 'Piccolini' and come if five shapes: Farfalle, Fusilli, Penne, Ziti and Wheels! So many recipes truly could use smaller sized pasta!
Store A Collapsible Cooler In Your CarI keep a collapsible cooler under the seat during the warm season. When I remember, I stick a regular insulated cooler in but if I don't remember, I always have my collapsible one to fall back on. Living 60 miles from town, it is a must
Reducing the Cost of Feeding a FamilyI was in the grocery store yesterday and was talking with a lady in the dairy section about the rising cost of food. She was very upset that her kids were eating her out of house and home.
Use Grocery Sanitary Wipes When ShoppingDid you know that the supermarket is dangerous? This goes for any cart-pushing, scooter-riding establishment. Ask yourself if you've ever felt at some kind of risk in the grocery store (besides being run over by some kid racing around with a cart)?
Watch for 20% Off Total Grocery SalesMost coupons are not that great as you get caught up in buying other products or buying more than you need regarding food & then it goes to waste. However, recently we had a local retailer advertise a sale for 3 days, everything in the store 20% off!
Walmart Matches Competitor's AdsWondering if many know that Walmart will match competitor's sale prices. All you need to do is bring in the ad flier from the competitor and they will match the price at the register. Just a note, they do not honor "buy 1, get 1 free" sales and the item to be price matched.
Use a Memo Board for Unusual Grocery ItemsI keep a small memo board on the side of my fridge to write down those things you run out of that are not normally on your grocery list. Kraut, capers, special spices, brown sugar, molasses, cranberry sauce, the sort of thing.
Shop Restaurant Supply StoresA restaurant supply store is different than a warehouse-type store like Costco. The one I shop at is called Cash and Carry. These allow anyone to purchase without a card. The difference with restaurant supply is that they cater to restaurant owners.
Make Your Shopping List On The GoTape a piece of paper on the inside of the cupboard. Divide it into spaces for lists: cleaning supplies, canned goods, bathroom, other. When you remove the last bag/can/box of food, write it on the paper in the appropriate space.
Magnetic Grocery List On RefrigeratorI have one of those clear see- through magnetic frames; the kind that pulls apart half of the way as you insert whatever picture you might like. Well instead of a picture, I put a blank piece of lined notebook paper in it.
Bulk Bargains in the Meat DepartmentWith grocery bills going through the roof, I am always on the lookout for ways to trim mine. I always look for bargains in the meat department and last month found a real money saver.
Weigh Bagged Produce in the StoreWhen buying bagged produce in a store, weigh it first. Sometimes you can get more than the label states.
Shop Once a WeekOver the past few months I have stuck to a simple rule: Grocery shopping once a week. If you are not in the store, you cannot spend money, you can't fall prey to slick marketing and "buy more, save more" types of incentives.
Find the Biggest Fryer for RoastingI never understood what exactly a fryer chicken was, until I read this explanation in our local newspaper a while ago: " a roasting chicken is a large fryer, relabeled and sold at a higher price.
Carry an Insulated Shopping Bag in Your CarFrugal and Green! Purchase one of those heavy duty insulated shopping bags and keep it in your car for when you're grocery shopping. I find it especially helpful here in the South, during the summer.
Saving Money on Passover GroceriesPeople tend to really over-spend for the week of Passover. There are so many things we "need" for the holiday; Passover mayonnaise and ketchup, Passover cookies and cakes, Passover mixes for pancakes or soups, Passover frozen blintzes and ice creams.
Shop a Day Later Each Week to SaveDo your grocery shopping a day later each week, Monday one week, Tuesday the next etc. You save a week's grocery bill every seven weeks. Eat before you shop. If you are hungry, you will be tempted to buy items you don't need.
Getting The Most From Your Warehouse Store MembershipI think we will be joining Costco soon since a friend just shared this cost saving information with me. Most people know that prescription drugs are much cheaper there and you don't have to have a membership to access this service.
Bag Your Own Groceries to Save Time at HomeI bag my own groceries. I put all the cold stuff together. Canned goods together. Bananas and fruit together, toothpaste and toilet paper together and so on. It's easier to put the groceries away when you get home. You use less bags.
Shop for Spices in the International AisleShop for spices and flavorings in the international foods section of your grocery store. You could get twice as much for half the price. Recently I purchased almond flavoring, ginger and onion powder this way, saved a few dollars on each.
Use a Well Organized List When Grocery ShoppingWhen shopping for groceries and household supplies, having a well organized list is one of the best money savers (and time savers) that we've tried.
Save Money With The Pick 5 Meat ProgramOne of the best ways to save money on your meat bill is to find a food store that has a pick 5 meat program, you can buy any 5 meat items for $19.99. Look for the packages that run $5.00 or more if you were going to buy off the pick 5. You can save as much as $5.00 to $6.00 buying a pick 5.
Ask Butcher To Make Sale Roasts Into Ground BeefEvery few weeks the different grocery markets have London broil and top round roasts on sale. What I do is go to the butcher at the market and tell him/her that I want 10 or 15 or 20 pounds of the roasts made into ground meat.
Frozen Foods at Dollar TreeI recently found that my local Dollar Tree carries high quality brand name frozen foods. I got Green Giant steam in the bag vegetables for a dollar a pack, which is much less expensive than at my local supermarket.
Play Your iPod While Grocery ShoppingI have hated going to the grocery store recently. I keep getting depressed with the high prices! I went today after I went for my morning walk at the track. I continued to listen to my music with one earpiece of my iPod in.
Start Stocking Your Pantry For The HolidaysAlthough it may seem too early to think about the Holidays, they are just around the corner. There are always special recipes and favorite foods that are only prepared for these holidays.
Buy Frozen Spinach To Keep Your Groceries ColdI stopped at the grocery store on my way home from work and bought a package of pork chops for that night's dinner. I was concerned about keeping them safely cold in my hot car because I had other stops to make before I got home about two hours later.
Buy Graham Cracker Crumbs to SaveGraham cracker crumbs are an essential for lots of "quick baking". I used to buy the cheapest boxes of crackers, and pulverize them to get crumbs for my recipes.
Take Your Forgotten Coupons to Customer ServiceHere is an additional way to use your coupons: Have you ever not purchased an item you needed because you had left the coupon at home, necessitating a trip back to the store at a later date? OR worse yet, paid full price, grumbling all the while?
Invest In a FoodsaverWhen buying food, buy bulk if possible. I splurged a little this weekend and bought a Foodsaver. It sucks the air out and seals my food so it will last longer. Then I went out and bought a lot of meat and divided it up into meals and sealed it.
Buy Small Amounts of Veggies at the Salad BarWe love salad, and the healthier the better. Here is a great money tip I use constantly. I will buy my main "green", such as romaine, or iceberg, etc. But I will go to the salad bar and get spinach to make the salad even more nutritious.
Tips For Staying Within Your Grocery BudgetGroceries continue to go up and I have been determined to not go over my grocery budget. Here are several things I have started doing to stay within our food budget.
Website for Buying Grocery CouponsThis is not a recipe, just a tip to save money. Go to grocerygame.com. You can "buy" coupons for just about anything you need. For example, pay 7 cents for a coupon to save a dollar. It's really cool. You gotta check it out.
Clover Valley Soups at the Dollar GeneralIn case you haven't noticed, the price of a single can of name brand soup has gone up so high that a person trying to budget can't hardly afford it.
November Best Grocery BuysNovember Best Buys: Apples, Beef, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chestnuts, Cranberries, Fish, Lamb, Onions, Oranges, Oysters, Pears, Pumpkin, Sweet potatoes, Tangelos, Tangerines, Turkey, Turnips, and Winter squash.
Buy Sale Baking Products Now For Next YearNow is the time to buy baking products for the year. Stock up on cake and brownie mixes, nuts (esp. pecans, I buy several bags and put in the freezer) and chocolate chips (we eat chocolate chips right from the bag as a snack when you just need a little chocolate, or on ice cream).
Saving Money on FlourTips for saving money on flour from the ThriftyFun community. Post your own ideas.
Shopping at Stores that are ClosingA new Super Target store unofficially opened here Wednesday (soft opening). The same day they had a wall to wall sell out of display items at the Target that was closing down.
Grocery Shopping Tips To Save MoneyMy grocery shopping is always a chore. We used to spend two to three hundred dollars a week for a family of five. I resolved to cut that back now that I have only one kid at home.
Write Prices On Grocery PurchasesWhen shopping for groceries and personal items, I write the price with a permanent marker discreetly on the packaging when I place it in the cart.
Buy Frugal Extras When You ShopWhen you go to the grocery store, pick-up a couple of frugal extras for your pantry, or to give to your favorite charity. Stores are always having sales or specials on canned goods.
Limit Your Grocery MoneyBefore heading out to shop, make a list. Put a list of items you want, plus the sale price and any coupons you have. Total the costs before leaving the house and only bring that much money.
Keep Track of Prices on Common PurchasesKeep a small list of what you pay for items that you buy often. Then, when you're at another grocery/department store, you'll know if their special is really a special.
Keeping Track Of The Grocery Bill When ShoppingI usually have my grocery list and check off items as I put them in my basket. Instead of a calculator, I just put a slash mark on my grocery list, for the price of the item, rounded out to the dollar.
Stock Up When Groceries Are On SaleOne thing I do is watch the grocery store flyers to find items that I think is a good price. I watch prices real close, I may have a coupon , maybe not.
Top Shelf RuleWith three children under four, going to the store is a major event and I hate having to go more than once a week because I forgot something or we ran out of something before shopping day. The "Top Shelf Rule" has helped out tremendously.
Print Grocery Coupons From The InternetI have always been an occasional coupon clipper, but it always seemed like taking the time to cut out each coupon was more trouble than it was worth. Fortunately, I have found a much easier way to get coupons, on the Internet.
Thrifty Shopping TipsOne way to lower your food bill is by shopping at several stores, but not just grocery stores. If you are fortunate enough to have a bakery outlet store in your area, you can find great deals on everything from bread and buns to tortillas and cakes.
Two Buck Chuck - Cheap WineIf you have a party or just like to drink wine, try 2 Buck Chuck from Trader Joe's. Great tasting and, for $2.00, it a deal. Prices do vary so in your area it may go for $3.00 or $4.00.
Keeping Track Of Prices From Store To StoreI usually buy EAS low carb protein individual beverages at Sam's, but occasionally see them on sale at the grocery stores. Then I stand there, trying in vain, to recall the price paid at Sam's.
Stock Up On Whole Hams After EasterWhole hams are on sale for only .99c a lb.! So now is the time to stock up a little bit and have the butcher quarter your whole ham.
Supermarket MistakesWatch the display screen at the register as your groceries are being rung up. If you are overcharged, speak up. Before you leave the store double check the receipt and make sure that the prices were correct.
Ask The Deli To Slice Precooked MeatI buy the precooked (smoked, honey glazed, oven baked, etc.) turkey or ham in the meat department when they are on sale. Then I bring them to the butcher department or the deli department (You may have to purchase it first, just bring them the receipt.)
Make Your Own Convenience FoodsI do my grocery shopping once a week, with a list and coupons to save all I possibly can. When I get home, I take all my veggies and wash them and separate them into meal size packages.
