by Sita

Created on: August 08, 2008   Last Updated: August 22, 2008

It isn't as hard as you may think to save money on groceries. With the cost of everything rising, it becomes more and more important to know some of the "secrets" to saving a dollar here and there, or perhaps more. Start with something we all need to buy-food.
Many chains of grocery stores offer membership or bonus cards that give customers a discount. While some stores, like BJ's or Sam's Club, are more geared towards bulk purchase and have memberships that cost money, there are usually other stores that offer a similar card or membership for free. It only takes a few minutes to fill out the form, and it's a good place to start. One grocery store near me has such a program that allows you to earn points for your purchases that convert into earned discounts off of gas- a HUGE help in this era of ever-rising gas prices.

With your membership in hand, scout the Sunday paper. Most newspapers offer a coupon section. Keep an envelope or an organizer for coupons separated by type- I use a small divided case intended for bills, and have labels such as "cleaning products", "hygiene", "cat food", and "groceries". If you find there are products you buy all the time, check out the manufacturer's website. Chances are they have a place to sign up for mailed coupons and offers, or coupons that you can print right from home.
Next, check the sales papers. Look for sale items- especially things that you use all the time that can be stocked up on. If it's a good price, or it's on sale and you have coupons, grab a few extra if it is something that will last.
Once you're actually at the store, there are still more things you can do to save money. Avoid buying premade foods or pre-cut vegetables, cheese, or lettuce- usually it is more expensive this way and the product doesn't last as long. Instead, get some zip-lock bags and store excess yourself. Sometimes what you're paying for seems to be those fancy packages, or a time-saving product that in reality, doesn't save that much time. Also, compare brand names to store brand prices, and compare price per pound. Often, even when smaller boxes or bags of something is on sale, it is still cheaper by the pound to buy a larger box. The same goes for things like ground hamburger. It only takes a few minutes to separate a larger package into smaller sections at home, but the price is generally a lot better if you buy it in a larger amount.
The bulk food section is also a great place to save. Baking goods, dry products, and sometimes even cookies and snacks can be bought in bulk. That way, you can get only what you need instead of the size it comes pre-packaged in, and usually at a better price.
In this day and age, it's often easier to just run to the store to grab what you need as you need it, but taking a little time to plan it out beforehand can save a lot of cash. There's also no rule that says you must do all your shopping at one grocer. Get familiar with who has the best prices where, and keep your coupons in the car with you just in case you do have to run to the store. There are many ways to save money on groceries, and none of them take very much effort at all once you get in the habit of doing them.

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