by Joshua Horn

Created on: February 18, 2009

In these tougher economic times, with rising prices and shrinking wallets, shopping on a budget is a critical skill for everyone. The best place to save money is at the grocery store, where extra expenses can add up quickly. With some thrifty shopping and some proper planning, you can easily save lots of money at the grocery store while providing even healthier options for your family.

The most important thing you can do to save money on your grocery budget is to decide what you actually need, rather than just what you want. Use this to create your shopping list. Things like potato chips, soda, bottled water, and candy are not necessities by any means. They are often very expensive when alternative snacks and beverages would be far cheaper. Learn to prioritize your shopping list, then eliminate the things that are not necessary.

Bring this list to the grocery store and shop for only those things on the list. Take advantage of bargains and coupons, but learn to only buy bargains on the things that you were planning on purchasing anyway. Many times people buy things because of the sale price, though they would not have purchased it otherwise. Avoid these unnecessary purchases whenever possible.

Also, train yourself to shop on one particular day. If you shop weekly, then pick one day that you do all your shopping. If you make a trip every time something is missing, it is more likely that you make some impulse purchases during those trips. By minimizing the number of trips you make, you can learn to ration food better and stay away from impulse purchases.

Do a full comparison of the prices of your common purchases. Investing in a membership to a wholesale club can be very good, but not if the bulk prices are actually more expensive than the prices of the generic equivalents at your local grocery store. Make a list of the things you buy regularly, and compare their prices at a wholesale club and/or the other grocery stores in your area. When you do buy at your grocery store, buy the biggest container or family pack available (if you think you will use it). The price per unit generally decreases as the number of units increases. This is especially good for purchasing meats. You can wrap and freeze the meat you won't use right away and you will save money in the long run.

Besides purchasing in bulk, cooking in bulk can really help you ration food and learn to eat better portions. If you make a stew, soup, casserole, or something similar, then just make extra. Serve the amount you want to eat, then save the rest in microwaveable containers. These make good lunches for work or school, and you can minimize the amount of cooking you need to do. Coming home from work exhausted can often lead to fast food or takeout, but having ready-made meals available makes it easier to eat quickly without breaking the bank.

You can also save a great deal of money by changing your eating habits. Meats are among the most expensive items on any grocery list. By reducing meat consumption to one meal a day, you can reduce your fat consumption and save lots of money. Fresh vegetables can be expensive out of season, but are still cheaper than meats. Potatoes, rice and pasta are very cheap and make great sides for most meals.

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