As I mentioned in the last post, it’s very important to limit your trips to the grocery store. This cuts down on the number of impulse buys you might make, gas costs, and time wasting. Here are some other ways to make the actual grocery shopping process more frugal.
Have a budget
....and stick with it. Do not, do not, do not go over it. If you need to carry cash and leave your debit card at home to accomplish it, do it. You’ll be less likely to throw in that extra candy bar if you know it will tip your total. Remember, you know what you need, and you’ve looked at the sales. I usually slightly overestimate the prices in case I don’t know a certain price…and, since we don’t have sales tax, that’s usually enough.
Don’t forget the list
I list an estimate for each item when I make my list. As I walk down the aisles, I check the list and keep a running tally in my head. It is also helpful to organize your list according to department, but I haven’t quite gotten to that point yet. This means I’m still often inefficiently backtracking because I forgot…again…that the foil is at the back of the store.
Shop at odd times
I prefer to shop on weekdays or late at night. Nothing makes me rush through shopping and make unwise choices like a crazy, crowded store.
Be aware while shopping
While I do stay focused on my list, I do let my eyes wander while I’m looking for items to see if I notice anything else that might be helpful in the future. I pick things up, examine recipes on the back, price compare, etc, and make mental notes that will help. This does not mean to buy these things on impulse…though I’m still working on that. ;) I also use this time to price check to see if there are cheaper brands or if buying a larger size is actually more economical.
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