by Olivia Emisar

Created on: September 13, 2010

Whether you shop at Costco, Wal-Mart, Safeway, or Sam’s Club, the only successful way to save money while grocery shopping is by having a solid weekly menu plan that utilizes that myriad of staples found in most people’s pantry.  After settling on the menu for the week that includes school and office lunches, the shopper needs to have a list that only includes the items needed to supplement the menu.  Shopping with coupons should only be done on items the family uses regularly and needs. 

- Menu – 

Start with the pantry and use a cookbook if necessary to plan the weekly menu.  Every meal should include the necessary protein, grains, fruits and vegetables for a healthy diet. 

Recycle leftovers into soup and stews or casseroles.  Creativity in the kitchen saves money and adds flavors and textures to make scrumptious meals. 

- The list – 

Shopping with a list saves money, without one, the grocery store wins and the consumer loses.  The clever marketing and product placement is done by design to attract impulsive buyers and to separate them from their hard earned cash.  

Buying only what is needed not only saves money but cuts down on waste from rotting fresh produce that the family can’t consume in a week’s time.  Shopping with a list will have the added benefit of freeing storage space in what is, for most people, a fully loaded pantry. 

- Coupons – 

Very few stores have coupons for fresh produce or meats.  Most of the things coupons are designed for are to get buyers to purchase items no one really needs.  Taking advantage of stores that double the coupon’s face value up to a dollar should be used only if those coupons can translate into savings for the weekly meal plan. 

- Store’s layout - 

Understand the layout of a grocery store to get in and out quickly and save money.  The peripheral sections of the stores are typically where the dairy products, fresh meats, fruits and vegetables are located.  Everything in the center of the store is filled with unnecessary items that everyone can do without.  Examples are soda aisles, potato chip aisles, and frozen foods that have little nutritional value and are loaded with fat and preservatives. 

Save time and money by going directly to the perimeter of the store where the needed items on the list are most likely to be and save time by getting out quickly.  

Do not “browse” for products to get ideas for future meals, do this at home before going to the store.

If impulse buying comes naturally, carrying only a certain amount of cash to shop with will make it impossible to go over budget.

Know the difference between ‘wants’ and ‘needs’ and stick to the list.  Saving money is easy when you are in control of the situation. 

Learn more about this author, Olivia Emisar.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.