by Debbie N

Created on: March 29, 2009   Last Updated: April 02, 2009

Without a doubt, utilizing coupons is a great way to save money when shopping, but coupons are not the only way to stick to a budget and certainly not a necessity for econonmic shopping. There are many ways that a mindful shopper can walk in to the grocery store, sans coupons, and not break the bank.

Make a Shopping List

Bargain shopping starts with planning and list making. Never go to the grocery store without a plan of action, because it is so easy to get sidetracked by all the delicious foods in their pretty packages. Not having a list is the easiest way to get in trouble and buy things that are not needed.

Write a shopping list of everything the household needs for the week, including food, cleaning supplies, medicines, and any other necessary items. Without a list, it is so easy to go down the aisles and impulse buy. "Oh, look at that cake, how delicious, I think I'll get one of those". "Oh, I remember reading about that book! I don't need it, but it looks good; I think I'll buy it." Impulse buys happen when wants and desires take over needs. There is nothing wrong with an indulgence every so often, but when trying to save money, impulse purchases spell trouble with a chocolate frosted T.

Budget

If possible, set a budget for the month with how much will be spent on groceries and do everything possible to not exceed the budget. Make sure to add in everything that could possibly be needed, even if not needed on every shopping trip. A tactic that can prove to be successful is to withdraw from the bank or ATM the amount of money to be spent on each shopping trip. Leave the credit cards and debit cards at home, so that once the cash is gone, it's gone. There won't be any other resources to tap in to, and therefore the budget can't be exceeded.

Eat Before Shopping

One of the most important things to be careful of when grocery shopping is to not go to the store hungry. Talk about impulse buys! Not only will that cake find its way in to the shopper's cart, but a gallon of ice cream, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup are sure to accompany it. Shopping when hungry is a big mistake all around. It will thin the wallet and fatten the waistline; two things most people try to avoid at all costs.

Utilize Discount Cards

In the last ten years, in addition to coupons, grocery stores have been promoting discount cards. These cards allow the shopper to get bargain buys on food and other grocery items. Often items are either marked down a certain percentage or part of a two for one

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