How to Grocery Shop Cheap

Have you ever wondered how to grocery shop cheap? The answer will vary from household to household depending on what you like to eat, and how much money you have to work with.

There are a few basic strategies that will help you slash your grocery bill when money is especially tight, although the most important thing to remember is this

What you do not put it in your shopping cart; you do not spend money on.

I can almost hear you all saying, “Well, duh! But, I have to eat something!”

Of course you do, and the first thing you should do to avoid spending money is to go shopping in your own pantry and freezer. Even the most depleted household will have something on hand already. Consider anything you have leftover from previous weeks to be a bonus. It’s like found money and something to be glad of, not frustration.

Your main goal is two-fold. First, avoid wasting money by using anything perishable so you aren’t wasting your grocery dollars on food that ends up in the trash. Second, anything you already have on hand is an item you will not need to buy and spend money on this week, so you can free up a few dollars for other items to add variety to your diet. Having a few extra dollars for goodies and extras can make a big difference when money is really tight.

BigOven.com has a really cool database for ingredients and leftovers. Just tell the wizard what ingredients you have on hand and up pop more recipes than you could imagine. Tip: If you are stuck for ideas on what to make out of sale grocery items, this is the place to go for ideas! You can find all sorts of easy and really delicious recipes here, and I use this resource a lot myself when I want to try something new.

Now that you have a loose plan for the items you already have, what do you still need to buy? Forget about what you would like and focus on your needs. Cereal is cereal right? Does it matter if whatever you buy is not your all time favorite for a week or two? Does it matter if the cereal you buy is a store brand instead of the name brand you usually get? You get the point, focus on needs and try to work in as many wants in as you can.

Write down what you still need and how much you need to buy for the week. Need, need, need…I can’t stress the point enough. Most of us are so brand conscious that it is hard to remember that there is a difference between wants and needs at times…I’m guilty too!

Once you have an idea of your needs, hit the sales circulars and see what is on sale. Ask yourself if you can justify each purchase if your budget is exceptionally tight.

Make sure as you write your shopping list that you pay attention to covering all your needs and total the list as you go so you will know how much you are spending for the week. Here are a few things to consider as you write your list:

1. Did I find a way to work in all of last week’s perishables before they were wasted?
2. Do I have enough volume of food to feed my family for the week with reasonably sized portions?
3. Are the items I am purchasing varied? Do I have some perishables, some frozen and canned goods, enough meat, and enough variety to satisfy everyone in my family?
4. Did I allow for a few treats? Making sure you have a few goodies helps to avoid the boredom of a basic diet.
5. Did I allow for any special dietary needs in the family? Food for the pets, dietary restrictions and allergies?
6. Is my list reasonable in everyway?

One more thing, once you have written your list, don’t forget to squeeze every last penny of savings out of your purchases. Have a look through your coupons, to make sure you are not missing any savings.

Now you know how to grocery shop cheap. Don’t waste anything, shop in your own freezer and pantry before grocery shopping, write a list, buy only what you need and what is on sale, don’t forget your coupons.

Happy cheap grocery shopping!