32 ways to save when grocery shopping
Ablang
By Bankrate.com
# Trim your food bill by as much as 19 percent simply by shopping at a
couple of different stores.
# Don't "crisis cook." Shopping after work for the day's dinner gets
expensive. Plan a weekly menu before shopping and watch your grocery
bill shrink.
- advertisement -
# Don't waste money on prepared foods. Instead, prepare meals ahead of
time and freeze them, or double a recipe when cooking, and freeze the
second for a hectic day coming up.
# Take the farmer's market approach: Buy produce that's fresh,
inexpensive and in season. With less middlemen involved, you get good
buys and your family gets the freshest food.
# The highest markup items on the shelves are at about chest level.
Reach up or kneel down to select the cheaper house or generic brands.
# A grocery store's main aisles, like the paths to milk and bread, are
usually strewn with high-priced land mines. Avoiding those pricey
areas will really help.
# Try to shop when you're alone. Those little helpers can quickly
boost your bill.
# Shop early in the day. You get through the store faster with your
list and spend less.
# Avoid shopping for food when you're hungry; you'll buy more.
# Don't grocery shop when you're tired, you'll buy more sweets, more
high-carbohydrates. When you're angry you go for crunch food, the junk
food.
# Buy on the markdowns and save as much as 20 percent.
# Read your newspaper's weekly food section for local grocery sales
and menu ideas.
# Clip coupons. You'll also find coupons in women's and general-
interest magazines.
# Scout coupon swap-boxes, generally found at (surprise!)
supermarkets, but also at some public libraries.
# Take advantage of in-store coupon displays and the machines that
spew them.
# Log on to your supermarket's online home page for coupons.
# Call the toll-free numbers on your favorite products' labels and
tell the customer-service rep how much you enjoy them. Some reps will
offer cents-off (or even free) coupons for the product itself; if not,
ask.
# Nab a newsie. Does your newspaper vendor just dump the inserts in
unsold papers at the end of the day? If so, would he mind tossing a
few your way?
# Check out the wealth of national-brands coupon-offering services on
the Web. They can save you money -- even the ones that charge nominal
fees.
# Seek out supermarkets that will double -- some super stores even
triple -- the face value of manufacturers' coupons.
# Try for triple plays. That's when you use a manufacturer's coupon
and a store's own coupon.
# Some retailers guarantee that if the item doesn't ring up at the
correct price, you get it for free or at a discount. Pay attention to
the details.
# Avoid purchasing nongrocery items, such as painkillers, contact lens
solution, etc., at a grocery store. You usually pay more.
# Always get a rain check if a sale item is gone.
# Know when your store marks down goods that expire, like meat and
bread. The deal: Use them that night or freeze them.
# Check your store for a small section where they discount products
that aren't as popular as the manufacturer had hoped. This area can be
a gold mine for bargains.
# Shop with a calculator. That way, you can figure whether the unit
price for a case lot is really cheaper than buying one of the same
item.
# Request price matching. Find a store in your area that will honor
all competitors' ads. You'll save money, time and gas.
# Beware of "discount store syndrome." Just because you're in a
bargain store doesn't mean you're getting the best price on every
item.
# Check your receipts. No matter how careful you or the store staff
might be, mistakes happen.
# Always send in for the rebate on a purchase whether it's $2 or $50.
It all adds up.
# Put your savings to work. Whether it's a trip, a car or a savings
account, have some specific goals for the money you're not spending on
food.
http://www.bankrate.com/nltrack/news/cheap/331Ways/DailyLife/groceries.asp
AllEmailDeletedImmediately
"Ablang" <ron...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1184292809.6...@g12g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> 32 ways to save when grocery shopping
> # Take the farmer's market approach: Buy produce that's fresh,
> inexpensive and in season. With less middlemen involved, you get good
> buys and your family gets the freshest food.
you'd be surprised at how close they price to the market prices. but it
should be fresher. and watch out for "farmers" who aren't farmers.
> # Try to shop when you're alone. Those little helpers can quickly
> boost your bill.
better yet, lear to say NO. it'll come in handy for lots of other things.
> # Clip coupons. You'll also find coupons in women's and general-
> interest magazines.
but only for items you'd normally use. and using a coupon on crap
still gives you crap.
> # Log on to your supermarket's online home page for coupons.
i've actually had these rejected.
> # Nab a newsie. Does your newspaper vendor just dump the inserts in
> unsold papers at the end of the day? If so, would he mind tossing a
> few your way?
one of the advantages of delivering the sunday paper: coupons forever.
The Real Bev
> "Ablang" <ron...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1184292809.6...@g12g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>> 32 ways to save when grocery shopping
>
>> # Take the farmer's market approach: Buy produce that's fresh,
>> inexpensive and in season. With less middlemen involved, you get good
>> buys and your family gets the freshest food.
>
> you'd be surprised at how close they price to the market prices. but it
> should be fresher. and watch out for "farmers" who aren't farmers.
Around here the "certified" farmers' market prices are worse than the
supers, but the stuff is a lot nicer and there are exotic varieties you
don't see elsewhere. The place to save on produce is at the small ethnic
markets.
>> # Clip coupons. You'll also find coupons in women's and general-
>> interest magazines.
>
> but only for items you'd normally use. and using a coupon on crap
> still gives you crap.
The nature of coupons has changed -- there used to be coupons for REAL food,
but not it's mostly cosmetics/personal care crap. I don't even look at
the slicks any more.
>> # Log on to your supermarket's online home page for coupons.
>
> i've actually had these rejected.
"But it's in the computer, it must be right..."
>> # Nab a newsie. Does your newspaper vendor just dump the inserts in
>> unsold papers at the end of the day? If so, would he mind tossing a
>> few your way?
>
> one of the advantages of delivering the sunday paper: coupons forever.
See above. Worthless, unless you think that $2 off on a $6 disposable razor
is a good deal.
--
Cheers,
Bev
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
'Politics' comes from an ancient Greek word meaning
'many blood-sucking leeches.' -- Mark Russell
gjensen
emailaddress....they send them to me by email. Really helps save
grocery money
http://print.coupons.com/gmsa/Login.asp?pid=12248&ZID=vg99&NID=10
> http://www.bankrate.com/nltrack/news/cheap/331Ways/DailyLife/grocerie...
val189
>
> By Bankrate.com
>
> # Trim your food bill by as much as 19 percent simply by shopping at a
> couple of different stores.
I've tried this - waste of time and gas - you have to scout em before
you can make a decision and have to hit store #1 twice.
> # Seek out supermarkets that will double -- some super stores even
> triple -- the face value of manufacturers' coupons.
None in my area - haven't seen that since the early eighties.
Chloe
news:1184519874.2...@n60g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> On Jul 12, 10:13 pm, Ablang <ron...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 32 ways to save when grocery shopping
>>
>> By Bankrate.com
>>
>> # Trim your food bill by as much as 19 percent simply by shopping at a
>> couple of different stores.
>
> I've tried this - waste of time and gas - you have to scout em before
> you can make a decision and have to hit store #1 twice.
Huh? Can't you just go to the store and buy the specials or loss leaders,
and go home?
Usene...@the-domain-in.sig
>
> "Ablang" <ron...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1184292809.6...@g12g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> > 32 ways to save when grocery shopping
> > # Try to shop when you're alone. Those little helpers can quickly
> > boost your bill.
> better yet, lear to say NO. it'll come in handy for lots of other things.
When I was a kid, I would have immediately got whupped upside da
head, if I acted like some children I see at my local
supermarket. I'm not saying that it was good. But I learned
about acting civilised in public places.
> > # Clip coupons. You'll also find coupons in women's and general-
> > interest magazines.
> but only for items you'd normally use. and using a coupon on crap
> still gives you crap.
No, you misunderstand... Saving money is good. And Twinkies
taste good. So a coupon for ten cents off Twinkies is double
good. I bet that it even reduces the cardiac and body-fat impact
by half. Duuuuhhhhh...
--
Want Privacy?
http://www.MinistryOfPrivacy.com/
val189
> "val189" <gwehr...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
Nah - I stick to a list and don't buy loss leaders if not in the
plan. Same principle as using coupons for stuff I normally don't
want.
In order to truly comparison shop, how could I avoid that 3rd stop?
Many years ago, I made a list of ten nat'l brand, not-on-sale items
and bought one of each on the same day at the two big competitors in
town. There was not a penny difference in the two TOTALS, altho the
prices on each item may have differed by a cent or two.
Chloe
> On Jul 15, 5:47 pm, "Chloe" <justsa...@spam.com> wrote:
>> "val189" <gwehr...@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
>>
>> news:1184519874.2...@n60g2000hse.googlegroups.com...> On Jul 12,
>> 10:13 pm, Ablang <ron...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> 32 ways to save when grocery shopping
>>
>> >> By Bankrate.com
>>
>> >> # Trim your food bill by as much as 19 percent simply by shopping at a
>> >> couple of different stores.
>>
>> > I've tried this - waste of time and gas - you have to scout em before
>> > you can make a decision and have to hit store #1 twice.
>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> Huh? Can't you just go to the store and buy the specials or loss leaders,
>> and go home?
>
> Nah - I stick to a list and don't buy loss leaders if not in the
> plan. Same principle as using coupons for stuff I normally don't
> want.
>
> In order to truly comparison shop, how could I avoid that 3rd stop?
I'm still not sure I understand, but I guess by keeping a price book and
buying items at whichever store sells the individual item for the lowest
price.
I do most of my grocery shopping at Aldi and Sam's now, but if I were still
shopping mostly at traditional style groceries, I'd be planning my week's
meals around the loss leaders, which I'd have identified from the stores'
ads before I ever made up the list and set out to shop. But I think you must
use a different system.
Rod Speed
>>>> 32 ways to save when grocery shopping
>>>> By Bankrate.com
>>>> # Trim your food bill by as much as 19 percent
>>>> simply by shopping at a couple of different stores.
>>> I've tried this - waste of time and gas - you have to scout em
>>> before you can make a decision and have to hit store #1 twice.
No you dont. You can keep track of the best prices ever seen for the
stuff you use much and buy those when you see the best prices again.
>> Huh? Can't you just go to the store and buy
>> the specials or loss leaders, and go home?
> Nah - I stick to a list and don't buy loss leaders if not in the plan.
More fool you.
> Same principle as using coupons for stuff I normally don't want.
Pity about the stuff you do normally use.
> In order to truly comparison shop, how could I avoid that 3rd stop?
You just keep track of the best prices you see when
you shop at various stores for your routine shopping.
I know what the best prices are for the stuff I buy much of and
see which stores are offering what in their flyers before I go out
and use that to decide which of the stores I use since they are
all near enough to the same distance away from my house.
> Many years ago, I made a list of ten nat'l brand, not-on-sale items
> and bought one of each on the same day at the two big competitors in
> town. There was not a penny difference in the two TOTALS, altho the
> prices on each item may have differed by a cent or two.
Makes a hell of a lot more sense to be buying the non national brands
and buying only when they are on sale instead and if you do that, you
will find that you save a hell of a lot over your stupid approach.
Rod Speed
Makes more sense to keep more stock on hand so the week's loss leaders
dont determine the week's meals except with seasonal fruit and veg.
> But I think you must use a different system.
Yeah, no system at all, just mindlessly buy whats on the list regardless of price.
Wota terminally stupid system.
TwoAllBeefPatties
Don't buy food from China right now. In fact, buy locally produced
food or just do not as much if the bill for local food is too much.
Rod Speed
> Rod Speed <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote
> Don't buy food from China right now.
I'm selective about food from china. Some of its safe.
I dont eat much seafood and avoid that from china, essentially
because they do undesirable stuff with antibiotics and preservatives.
> In fact, buy locally produced food
I dont bother to do that.
> or just do not as much if the bill for local food is too much.
I'm rolling in it, I always eat what I feel like eating, the cost is never a consideration.
Tho I do choose to buy at the best prices, just because thats a mindset thing.