Week 4 - Tackle Grocery Shopping: Annual Savings $1800
One of the largest monthly expenses in our household is food. Last year, we spent an average of $1,050 a month on groceries. My goal was to get this down to $600 per month. As a family of 4 with one child still in diapers (an extra expense), conquering this goal required some strict guidelines and rules.
1) Start using coupons. Yes, everyone knows that cutting coupons is time consuming and cumbersome, but those savings add up. A key factor to remember when using coupons is not to splurge on items you would not typically buy just because you have a coupon. Also, make sure that you compare prices to ensure that you are not over-paying just to use the coupon (i.e. a generic brand may be cheaper than the brand name, even after applying the coupon).
Check you grocery store for their coupon policy. Some stores will accept competitors’ coupons or match pricing. Most will allow you to combine a manufacturer and store coupon for the same product, resulting in a double coupon savings.
The best place to find coupons is your local paper. There are also websites out there that will allow you to print coupons from home, such as Coupons.com.
2) Buy generic. There are a few exceptions but for the most part generic products are usually just as good as the name brand (even made in the same factory). If you are really a fan of a brand, my suggestion would be to at least try the generic once. You may be surprised that you cannot tell the difference. Buying the name brand is typically a mental philosophy that is hard to break.
Here’s some feedback from my personal experience with generics :)
In one shopping trip I noted the difference of each generic item verses the normal name brand item I normally purchase. On sixteen items, the savings added up to $7.86 or 17%. Here was the result:
Name Brand Generic Savings
Shredded Cheese $2.69 $2.15 20%
Butter $3.54 $2.99 16%
Frozen Vegetables $1.34 $1.09 19%
Frozen Hash browns $2.79 $2.29 18%
Laundry Detergent $8.99 $7.99 11%
Napkins $2.99 $2.49 17%
Anti Bacteria Wipes $2.14 $1.72 20%
Pancake mix $2.54 $1.57 38%
Chocolate Chips $2.69 $2.19 19%
Juice Boxes $2.69 $2.44 9%
Apple Juice $2.79 $2.09 25%
Spaghetti $1.22 $0.77 37%
Spaghetti Sauce $1.77 $1.34 24%
Cream of Ckn Soup $1.32 $1.02 23%
Chicken Broth $2.29 $1.79 22%
Apple Sauce $1.77 $1.52 14%
As the year passed, I became less and less brand loyal as I experimented with different generic items. In the end, here are my personal recommendations:
Generic Thumbs Up: Generic Thumbs Down:
Pancake mix Paper products
Syrup Frozen pizza
Coffee Napkins
Body wash
Tortilla Chips
Apple Juice
Apple Sauce
Soups
Broths
Fruit Snacks
Sour Cream
Diapers/Pull-Ups
Laundry detergent
3) Determine where to shop. It’s very easy to comparison shop since most of us buy the same products from week to week. So, take a list of 10 – 20 items and keep track of their cost from store to store to determine which one offers the best prices. When you compare items of different sizes or weights (such as produce), be sure to look at the “price per” which is typically located on the display and on the receipt.
Comparison shopping can also lead you to club stores, such as SAMS, or online stores such as diapers.com or soap.com. The key to using these websites is to wait for promotional free shipping.
4) Review the store ad before beginning your shopping, preferably before you make your shopping list. There are additional coupons, sales, rebates and special offers that could save additional money. Again, remember that the items on sale do not always represent the lowest price and should not be purchased unless it’s something you typically buy.
5) Plan your meals based on the coupons you have or the weekly grocery store sales. This is a simple technique that can bring variety to your dinner table and allow you to save money at the same time.
6) Pick one night to go meatless. Meat is expensive, so pick a meal that does not require this – like a pasta or a vegetarian dish.
7) Make a list and stick to it. Over-buying leads to over-spending, so if you have a plan on what you need to buy before you go, you will not be as tempted to splurge on the spot. Impulse items add up quickly.
8) Stock up. When sales or special offers occur on items you buy on a frequent basis, stock up. Don’t go overboard, especially if the sale is offered on a regular basis.
9) Buy from the top and bottom shelves. Stores strategically place items at eye-level, so don’t forget to look over the entire section when selecting your item.
10) Study sale patterns. Start writing down discounts and you will notice certain items go on sale on a regular basis. For example, it you notice boneless chicken goes on sale the 3rd week of every month, you double up and save.
11) Make meals that are left-over friendly like soups and casseroles. I personally enjoy making meals in the crock pot. It allows me to come home to a ready made dinner and usually will last for 2 or 3 meals.
12) Water down juices. I do this for my kids all the time and the formula is usually 1/3 juice and 2/3 water. Don’t spend extra money on items labeled with “more water” or “less sugar” – do it yourself.
13) Avoid pre-packaged foods. While these are convenient, they are more expensive. Take some time once a week to separate the food yourself. Re-use the plastic bags for additional savings.
At the end of the year, I did not quite meet my goal and averaged closer to $750 per month (which still boggles my mind). The savings was still quite significant as I spent $1,800 less than the year before. This is only a first step as next year I plan to implement the same techniques to become more disciplined with my shopping and savings.
Making these adjustments to your shopping and eating habits are not easy; they require constant work, re-evaluation, education, and a new mind set. If you only incorporate a few changes at a time, the goals are much more achievable, but any change that saves money will add up to a savings. I encourage you to stick with it. If you don’t have time to go through the adds, paper or even your pre-cut coupons, skip a week or two and pick it back up when you can. The more you do, the more you can save but it’s important to note that these techniques should be applied to your personal lifestyle and schedule. Do what works for you to save when and where you can. In the end, you will be fulfilled with the results and doing something is better than nothing at all!
All data found on this website is Copyrighted by MOMTHATSAVES. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
One of the largest monthly expenses in our household is food. Last year, we spent an average of $1,050 a month on groceries. My goal was to get this down to $600 per month. As a family of 4 with one child still in diapers (an extra expense), conquering this goal required some strict guidelines and rules.
1) Start using coupons. Yes, everyone knows that cutting coupons is time consuming and cumbersome, but those savings add up. A key factor to remember when using coupons is not to splurge on items you would not typically buy just because you have a coupon. Also, make sure that you compare prices to ensure that you are not over-paying just to use the coupon (i.e. a generic brand may be cheaper than the brand name, even after applying the coupon).
Check you grocery store for their coupon policy. Some stores will accept competitors’ coupons or match pricing. Most will allow you to combine a manufacturer and store coupon for the same product, resulting in a double coupon savings.
The best place to find coupons is your local paper. There are also websites out there that will allow you to print coupons from home, such as Coupons.com.
2) Buy generic. There are a few exceptions but for the most part generic products are usually just as good as the name brand (even made in the same factory). If you are really a fan of a brand, my suggestion would be to at least try the generic once. You may be surprised that you cannot tell the difference. Buying the name brand is typically a mental philosophy that is hard to break.
Here’s some feedback from my personal experience with generics :)
In one shopping trip I noted the difference of each generic item verses the normal name brand item I normally purchase. On sixteen items, the savings added up to $7.86 or 17%. Here was the result:
Name Brand Generic Savings
Shredded Cheese $2.69 $2.15 20%
Butter $3.54 $2.99 16%
Frozen Vegetables $1.34 $1.09 19%
Frozen Hash browns $2.79 $2.29 18%
Laundry Detergent $8.99 $7.99 11%
Napkins $2.99 $2.49 17%
Anti Bacteria Wipes $2.14 $1.72 20%
Pancake mix $2.54 $1.57 38%
Chocolate Chips $2.69 $2.19 19%
Juice Boxes $2.69 $2.44 9%
Apple Juice $2.79 $2.09 25%
Spaghetti $1.22 $0.77 37%
Spaghetti Sauce $1.77 $1.34 24%
Cream of Ckn Soup $1.32 $1.02 23%
Chicken Broth $2.29 $1.79 22%
Apple Sauce $1.77 $1.52 14%
As the year passed, I became less and less brand loyal as I experimented with different generic items. In the end, here are my personal recommendations:
Generic Thumbs Up: Generic Thumbs Down:
Pancake mix Paper products
Syrup Frozen pizza
Coffee Napkins
Body wash
Tortilla Chips
Apple Juice
Apple Sauce
Soups
Broths
Fruit Snacks
Sour Cream
Diapers/Pull-Ups
Laundry detergent
3) Determine where to shop. It’s very easy to comparison shop since most of us buy the same products from week to week. So, take a list of 10 – 20 items and keep track of their cost from store to store to determine which one offers the best prices. When you compare items of different sizes or weights (such as produce), be sure to look at the “price per” which is typically located on the display and on the receipt.
Comparison shopping can also lead you to club stores, such as SAMS, or online stores such as diapers.com or soap.com. The key to using these websites is to wait for promotional free shipping.
4) Review the store ad before beginning your shopping, preferably before you make your shopping list. There are additional coupons, sales, rebates and special offers that could save additional money. Again, remember that the items on sale do not always represent the lowest price and should not be purchased unless it’s something you typically buy.
5) Plan your meals based on the coupons you have or the weekly grocery store sales. This is a simple technique that can bring variety to your dinner table and allow you to save money at the same time.
6) Pick one night to go meatless. Meat is expensive, so pick a meal that does not require this – like a pasta or a vegetarian dish.
7) Make a list and stick to it. Over-buying leads to over-spending, so if you have a plan on what you need to buy before you go, you will not be as tempted to splurge on the spot. Impulse items add up quickly.
8) Stock up. When sales or special offers occur on items you buy on a frequent basis, stock up. Don’t go overboard, especially if the sale is offered on a regular basis.
9) Buy from the top and bottom shelves. Stores strategically place items at eye-level, so don’t forget to look over the entire section when selecting your item.
10) Study sale patterns. Start writing down discounts and you will notice certain items go on sale on a regular basis. For example, it you notice boneless chicken goes on sale the 3rd week of every month, you double up and save.
11) Make meals that are left-over friendly like soups and casseroles. I personally enjoy making meals in the crock pot. It allows me to come home to a ready made dinner and usually will last for 2 or 3 meals.
12) Water down juices. I do this for my kids all the time and the formula is usually 1/3 juice and 2/3 water. Don’t spend extra money on items labeled with “more water” or “less sugar” – do it yourself.
13) Avoid pre-packaged foods. While these are convenient, they are more expensive. Take some time once a week to separate the food yourself. Re-use the plastic bags for additional savings.
At the end of the year, I did not quite meet my goal and averaged closer to $750 per month (which still boggles my mind). The savings was still quite significant as I spent $1,800 less than the year before. This is only a first step as next year I plan to implement the same techniques to become more disciplined with my shopping and savings.
Making these adjustments to your shopping and eating habits are not easy; they require constant work, re-evaluation, education, and a new mind set. If you only incorporate a few changes at a time, the goals are much more achievable, but any change that saves money will add up to a savings. I encourage you to stick with it. If you don’t have time to go through the adds, paper or even your pre-cut coupons, skip a week or two and pick it back up when you can. The more you do, the more you can save but it’s important to note that these techniques should be applied to your personal lifestyle and schedule. Do what works for you to save when and where you can. In the end, you will be fulfilled with the results and doing something is better than nothing at all!
All data found on this website is Copyrighted by MOMTHATSAVES. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.