Grocery Store Money Saving Tips

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December always sneaks up on me and my banking account.  I always try to save extra money for buying gifts but I often forget about all the extra food costs that I accrue during this month.  Baking and holiday parties take a toll on our monthly food budget.  This year I am ready.   I have adjusted my monthly food budget and have brushed up on my grocery shopping money saving skills.

One of the most important steps in saving money at the grocery store is pre-planning.  Before you even drive off to the grocery store make a weekly/monthly menu plan, take inventory of what you have in your pantry, and make a shopping list.  Also, shop when you are not hungry and when you do not have to take children with you, if possible.  If your children do go along, involve them in shopping.  Have them help pick out fresh produce or find a specific product that is on your shopping list.

Grocery stores are in the business to make money.  Grocery store layouts are designed to maximize their profits.  They set up fancy displays at the end of the isles that scream “buy me,” but buyers beware:  These items are typically higher in price.  Also, items located on island displays and on the middle of the shelf are typically more expensive products.  Becoming aware of these grocery stores marketing tactics will result in you walking out of the store with more money.

Here is additional money saving tips:

  • Compare products carefully.  Brand name foods are usually not the best buy.  Store brands and value brands are often less expensive and taste just as good.
  • Large packages are usually less expensive than smaller packages.  Use unit pricing to help you decide which is better.  Remember that a large package is not a better buy if you will not use it all before it goes bad.
  • Buy fruits and vegetables in season for best quality and lowest prices.  Frozen, canned and dried fruits and vegetables are also good choices.
  • Stock-up on sale items only if they are foods you regularly use and if you have room to store them.
  • Compare convenience foods to foods you can fix yourself.  For example:  Refrigerated or canned juices are generally more expensive than frozen juice concentrates.
  • Watch the scanner.  Often the checkout scanner is wrong, the checker will be more than willing to input the appropriate price if you catch a mistake.

If you have additional grocery shopping money-saving tips please share it with the rest of our readers by posting a comment.

Try this tasty, inexpensive and quick recipe.  It is one of my family’s favorite meals and is sure to become one of your family’s favorites too.

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Easy on the Pocket Chicken & Biscuits
4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 (7.5 oz.) tube refrigerator biscuits
  • 1 (10 ¾ oz.) can cream of chicken or cream of celery soup
  • 1 (10 oz.) package frozen peas, green beans or mixed vegetables
  • 1 cup cooked chicken, diced
  • 1/3 cup low-fat milk

Directions

  1. Bake the biscuits as directed on the package. Split biscuits in half.
  2. In a pan, combine the vegetables, soup, cooked chicken, and milk.
  3. Spoon chicken mixture over split biscuits.

Nutrition Information per Serving: 380 Calories, 11 g Total Fat (17% DV), 4 g Saturated Fat (20% DV),    45 mg Cholesterol (16% DV), 1200 mg Sodium (50% DV), 45 g Total Carbohydrate (15% DV), 3 g Dietary Fiber (13% DV), 5 g Sugars, 23 g Protein, 40% Vitamin A, 25% Vitamin C, 15% Calcium, 20% Iron.

Source of Recipe: The Cook’s Helper, 2nd Edition.

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