Shopping for Groceries on a Budget

Quite a while ago, I decided to write an article on groceries. Well, back by popular demand... here it is!

One of my favorite columns from my old site is the column about grocery shopping. I recently took my own advice. I went to Aldi's. I realized just how much money I had been wasting by just doing all of my shopping at one store.

Aldi's doesn't have everything that I need. What it does have is cheaper than the other stores though.

My Mother-in-Law seems to do very well with her budget. I have always been very impressed with how she handles her money. Although I have picked up tips from her in the past, I felt to do this subject justice, I should ask her directly for tips for this letter.

Everyone buys groceries! So, let's talk about it. How do you buy groceries on a budget?

1. NEVER shop when you are hungry !
2. Make a grocery list that you add to throughout the week.
3. Don't impulse buy. Stay with only what is on your list.
4. Shop only once a week. Don't go out to pick up extra items.
5. Limit the stores you shop at to three. More stops will not save you money because of gas consumption and the value of your time.
6. Try one new recipe a week. A variety of foods in your menu will deter the urge to eat out frequently. Make sure to put all the ingredients on your shopping list.
7. Using coupons is good. But only use coupons for those things that you would normally buy.
8. Keep a running total as you shop, rounding up to the nearest nickel. Every five dollars, add in tax. (Personally, I round up to the whole dollar so I don't have to put tax in and I know that I haven't overspent.)
9. Buy generic when possible according to the taste of your family.
10. Bulk buying is also good. Don't buy more than you would normally use up because of spoilage.
11. Always use your leftovers. Be creative with your leftovers so they seem new.
12. Try to shop in the middle of the week. (non-busy times for the stores)
13. Your grocery budget should not be more than 25% of your net income.
14. Dining out should be included in your grocery money.
15. Advertised specials: BE BOLD ! When it is not available, get a raincheck !

Further note: Now that I have moved, Aldi's is no longer available. How do I save money?
1. I clip the coupons from the Sunday paper, avoiding the ones I know I do not use.
2. I check the sales to see if any of the coupons line up with a sale.
3. The first store I go to is the one that doubles coupons.
4. The second store I go to is a "Dollar General". They also take coupons.
5. Rarely do I need to go to a third store.
6. Before shopping, I make up a menu for the week. This helps me to only purchase those items that I will be using within the next week. If I see an excellent sale, I do shop a little ahead.

Budget Groceries Page Borders