by TheChosen1

Created on: April 07, 2009

With prices skyrocketing before our very eyes, we must be creative in saving money. Now, there are many areas where we could save money. However, since a big portion of every person's budget goes to the grocery bill, this is what we would discuss today. Your mission should you choose to accept it is to save as much money as you could possibly save on your grocery bill.

Just like any battle it pays to be prepared. "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail," as the saying goes. First and foremost prepare your grocery list. This would give you a rough estimate of how much you would spend for this trip. It would also make sure that you stay within budget and not just keep filling your shopping cart with whatever you could get your hands on. This also helps you prioritize what to buy. If you do not have a list chances are you would buy a lot of groceries but would forget what you actually came to the grocery to buy. Also, do not go into war on an empty stomach. Going to the grocery on an empty stomach will increase your chances of overbuying food.

Now that we know what to buy, we have to know how much to buy. Do we buy smaller sizes or do we buy in bulk? If you use something frequently or consume it frequently such as oatmeal or detergent, then it pays to buy in bulk. This saves a lot of money in the long run. If you consume something very infrequently then just buy a small size. Buying too much and having it expire on you negates our purpose.

You also have to check where to buy. If you want to save, convenience stores are not recommended. The cheapest places are usually discount stores, wholesale stores and dollar stores. If you want to save even further try to get a discount card from these establishments if they offer it.

If you are not very brand specific, you could save money by either buying cheaper brands or by purchasing store brands. Store brands are those that are sold under the store's private label. Examples of these are Sam's Choice and Kirkland Signature. Many of these products are made by the same people who make the leading brands. They are just cheaper because they save a lot on advertising and distribution and these savings are passed on to consumers.

You also have to be crafty enough to look for alternatives. Try to look for cheaper versions of things. Instead of buying ready made beverages try to buy the powdered version. Instead of buying ready made food try to buy the raw ingredients and make it yourself.

Sitting in the grocery are certain foods that

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>