By: D Beart
Do you ever wonder how in the world you spend so much on groceries? If so, you are not alone. Each day millions of people just like you are scouring the internet for tips and tricks to lowering the monthly grocery bill. Groceries are astronomical and there is one sure fire way to achieve this that is almost too simple to be true! But it is!
The trick is to NEED LESS. When you grocery shop you are actually being subjected to so many subliminal sales messages and marketing pressures that you spend more actually believing you saved money some how. Buy one get one free, bulk loads of food that are cheaper and sales or coupons, end cap impulse buys and new or special deals are everywhere. They are hard to resist because they are capitalizing on your desire to save money but in the long run you are actually spending more. If you go to the grocery store, armed with a list of items that you actually need and commit to it, you can easily feed a family of 4 for much less than you spend now.
The other thing that costs tons of money is the convenience factor. Packaged foods, perfect for sending to school with the kids are up to ten times more per unit price than a whole bag of off brand chips and some Ziploc baggies. It might not be as easy, but the extra 60 seconds it takes to pack up some goodies for a kid’s lunch can be worth hundreds of dollars spread out over a year’s time. The same goes for meal deals that make dinnertime a snap. They might be easier, but you are paying for those easy to open cans and bags nutritionally and otherwise.
Another way to lower your grocery bill is to idealize a per meal budget. If you decide that spending $10 a day on food for your family is enough then try to shop when you have some extra time to make that so. You may find that tuna sandwiches for lunch and some chicken drumsticks with macaroni and cheese for dinner can cost much less. If you spend too much per meal you are essentially spending just as much as it takes to eat out three times a day. When you consider $10 a day for food, that means it is only costing about two and half bucks per person to eat for an entire day (based on a family of 4). That isn’t really that expensive.
Coupons can also save a heap of money. More than likely you have tried all the grocery shopping sites that help you to get groceries for free when you mix coupons with sales and rebates, but you don’t even have to do that. Clipping coupons, scanning ads and timing your shopping to a tee can be time consuming and your time is money as well. Just be sure that when you clip a coupon it is for an item you really need, already like or prefer to have in your pantry. Often coupons are available on items that are overstocked or that aren’t moving through the stores well hoping people will be excited by the thought of getting a dollar off. Additionally, many grocery stores actually raise the price of something before it goes on sale or before a coupon comes out. If you clip the coupon for items you use everyday anyways you will at least know that your dollar has been saved. If possible shop during times that offer double coupons.
Another way to save money is to be frugal when it comes to meats. Realize that just because something is cheaper per pound doesn’t mean it will cost you less. Likely the grease or bones will cause you to need twice as much in order to make a meal. It is better to pay ten to twenty cents more per pound for healthy, lean means that won’t disappear into a pile of grease. Additionally, if you can hit grocery stores early in the morning, many of the meats that are about to past date are available and can be had for half the cost. When it comes to meats you can spend a lot of money and shopping around from store to store and watching ads is important. If you can stock up on these staple items when they are on sale buying an extra freezer will eventually pay for itself.
The last bit of advice is to reevaluate your needs versus wants. What is really important to you? Would you rather have name brand shampoo or laundry detergent or can you curve spending in these areas to accommodate otherwise. Do you really need 20 cans of soup that will take up space in the cabinets and will your family really eat a 30 pound bag of potatoes before they sprout roots. So much of what you buy is probably wasted which is just as good as throwing money in the trash. While having a stocked fridge and pantry feels good, it really is unnecessary. When many of us shop thinking we need something the reality is we have plenty of food around the house to prepare some creative and well balanced meals for our family. Wanting things and needing things are not the same and lowering the monthly grocery bill can be as simple as taking inventory on your emotional spending while at the grocery store.
The trick is to NEED LESS. When you grocery shop you are actually being subjected to so many subliminal sales messages and marketing pressures that you spend more actually believing you saved money some how. Buy one get one free, bulk loads of food that are cheaper and sales or coupons, end cap impulse buys and new or special deals are everywhere. They are hard to resist because they are capitalizing on your desire to save money but in the long run you are actually spending more. If you go to the grocery store, armed with a list of items that you actually need and commit to it, you can easily feed a family of 4 for much less than you spend now.
The other thing that costs tons of money is the convenience factor. Packaged foods, perfect for sending to school with the kids are up to ten times more per unit price than a whole bag of off brand chips and some Ziploc baggies. It might not be as easy, but the extra 60 seconds it takes to pack up some goodies for a kid’s lunch can be worth hundreds of dollars spread out over a year’s time. The same goes for meal deals that make dinnertime a snap. They might be easier, but you are paying for those easy to open cans and bags nutritionally and otherwise.
Another way to lower your grocery bill is to idealize a per meal budget. If you decide that spending $10 a day on food for your family is enough then try to shop when you have some extra time to make that so. You may find that tuna sandwiches for lunch and some chicken drumsticks with macaroni and cheese for dinner can cost much less. If you spend too much per meal you are essentially spending just as much as it takes to eat out three times a day. When you consider $10 a day for food, that means it is only costing about two and half bucks per person to eat for an entire day (based on a family of 4). That isn’t really that expensive.
Coupons can also save a heap of money. More than likely you have tried all the grocery shopping sites that help you to get groceries for free when you mix coupons with sales and rebates, but you don’t even have to do that. Clipping coupons, scanning ads and timing your shopping to a tee can be time consuming and your time is money as well. Just be sure that when you clip a coupon it is for an item you really need, already like or prefer to have in your pantry. Often coupons are available on items that are overstocked or that aren’t moving through the stores well hoping people will be excited by the thought of getting a dollar off. Additionally, many grocery stores actually raise the price of something before it goes on sale or before a coupon comes out. If you clip the coupon for items you use everyday anyways you will at least know that your dollar has been saved. If possible shop during times that offer double coupons.
Another way to save money is to be frugal when it comes to meats. Realize that just because something is cheaper per pound doesn’t mean it will cost you less. Likely the grease or bones will cause you to need twice as much in order to make a meal. It is better to pay ten to twenty cents more per pound for healthy, lean means that won’t disappear into a pile of grease. Additionally, if you can hit grocery stores early in the morning, many of the meats that are about to past date are available and can be had for half the cost. When it comes to meats you can spend a lot of money and shopping around from store to store and watching ads is important. If you can stock up on these staple items when they are on sale buying an extra freezer will eventually pay for itself.
The last bit of advice is to reevaluate your needs versus wants. What is really important to you? Would you rather have name brand shampoo or laundry detergent or can you curve spending in these areas to accommodate otherwise. Do you really need 20 cans of soup that will take up space in the cabinets and will your family really eat a 30 pound bag of potatoes before they sprout roots. So much of what you buy is probably wasted which is just as good as throwing money in the trash. While having a stocked fridge and pantry feels good, it really is unnecessary. When many of us shop thinking we need something the reality is we have plenty of food around the house to prepare some creative and well balanced meals for our family. Wanting things and needing things are not the same and lowering the monthly grocery bill can be as simple as taking inventory on your emotional spending while at the grocery store.
Realize that just because something is cheaper per pound doesn’t mean it will cost you less. Likely the grease or bones will cause you to need twice as much in order to make a meal.
David Beart runs the Professors House. Our family based site covers everything from finances to raising children, health, nutrition and marriage advice.
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