For a truly vigilant shopper, there is quite a bit of money to be saved when grocery shopping.  Saving money on groceries, however, is not a passive activity.  There is plenty of planning and research involved when attempting to get the most for a little bit of money.

The first way to save money in the grocery store almost goes without saying: use coupons.  Coupons are like free money, which manufacturers benevolently bestow upon consumers in the hopes that consumers will like the products so much that they continue to purchase them.  Although the act of clipping coupons may seem tedious to some, seasoned shoppers know that coupons can save quite a bit of money.  Just be sure to not purchase items simply because you have a coupon; using coupons on items you already normally purchase is the best route.  Find a store that doubles coupons, and you’re bound to save even more.  Another great tip is to utilize any rebates offered by manufacturers. 

There are big differences in the prices various grocery stores charge for the same item.  Some of the price difference depends upon the level of customer service offered by the store, since stores with excellent customer service will sometimes justify higher prices.  Other stores will have much lower prices but the customer is expected to bag their own groceries and there is not a very high level of service.  Other times still, the cost of items are just arbitrarily random.  It is a good idea to pay attention to which store offers the lowest prices on items you usually buy and then patronize that store regularly. 

Make a grocery-shopping list and stick to it.  After all, marketing people did not decide to place candy in the checkout aisle because they think it looks pretty; candy bars are a big impulse item and additionally are big money makers for grocery stores.  If you vow to stick to your grocery list you are less apt to shell out money for unexpected purchases.

Scour grocery store ads to see what sorts of sales are going on, and then plan your shopping around them.  Of course, it would be silly to visit every store in town just to take advantage of a few good sales, but if you know you will soon need some laundry detergent and you notice an upcoming sale for detergent then it is a good idea to purchase it at the discounted price.

Most grocery stores offer generic brands, and in many cases the generics are comparable to name brands in quality.  Many stores also guarantee their generics, so if you try them and don’t like them you can request a refund.  It is worth it to go ahead and try out the generics because they can save you money over the name brands.  It is also a good idea to try to stay away from prepared and prepackaged foods as best you can.  The more basic your recipes, the less money you will need to spend at the grocery store.

Shopping in season is another good idea.  Don’t look to purchase strawberries at a good price in the dead of winter, instead save the shortcake recipe for the summer time.  It is worth it to do a little research to see what produce is in season and to plan meals around this information; not only will it save you money but you will have higher quality produce if you buy it in season.

Try to shop at times when the grocery store is not so hectic; right after work and during lunch are bad times since people are madly dashing through the store in attempt to finish their shopping.  A better time to shop is early in the morning, when the produce is fresh and the customer service folks are just starting their day. An additional tip is to leave your distractions (kids, cell phones) at home if you can.  A calmer shopping experience will allow you more energy to focus on prices and you’ll also be less apt to impulse shop if you aren’t in a big hurry.

Since groceries are a major expense for most households, shopping is a great place to save money if you’re willing to take the time to find the very best prices.  Frugality is an art, after all, and it must be fine tuned to be effective.

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