Saving Tip #2: The Grocery Store

Nothing stresses me out more than grocery shopping! Planning the meals, making a list... that stuff is no
problem. But actually entering the grocery store, finding what I need, and getting out alive… That's a whole different story!

More than surviving the grocery store, how do you get in and out of there on budget?

(I shop weekly, but some people might find it easier to shop bi-weekly or monthly.)

• Step 1: Make a menu. 

The single most helpful thing I find when it comes to groceries is making a weekly menu. I will pick six or seven recipes that use similar ingredients. Like if I need to buy a random ingredient (such as cottage cheese or heavy whipping cream or kale), I will try to make sure it will be completely used up in all of my recipes. That way I am not wasting ingredients that I would not purchase regularly or cost a little more money. 

• Sometimes to save time, I will double a recipe so I don't have to cook the next night. Or pop it into the freezer and save for a rainy day!
• Once you make the menu, plan on sticking to it! You are going to spend the money on this food. Don't let it go to waste. 
• Look at your calendar. I can't tell you how many times I have planned a week's worth of food to find out that I wasn't going to be home three nights that week. 

• Step 2: Make a grocery list & shop your pantry.

Now that you have a menu, write down all of the ingredients that you will need to make those meals. But before you head to the store, check out what you have in pantry, refrigerator, or freezer. Don't buy parsley if it is already hanging out in your pantry.  I don't have the space or money to double up on ingredients that I won't be using that week. So I will just mark those ingredients off my list, then if they are already owned. 

• Step 3: Develop tunnel vision. 

One of the most repeated suggestions to saving money when grocery shopping is to not shop when you are hungry. Another common one is - stick to the list! Don't sabotage yourself by throwing tons of extra items that you don't need into the cart. Develop tunnel vision. Tell yourself you can only purchase the items on the list, so as you walk down the aisles, look only for those items. 

Coming soon: Next month I will have tips on saving on individual grocery items.