Stretch Your Dollar at the Grocery Store

We all know that we should be paying more attention to our money. For many of us thinking about how we spend our money is the last thing we want to do. Don’t worry – we’re here to help! Don’t know where to start? Let’s talk about the grocery store. Here are some of our favorite tips and tricks to get more for your money at the grocery store:

» Plan your meals.

The idea behind meal planning is to plan out what you are going to eat for the week(s) ahead, and then stick to those meals. This involves sitting down and planning your menu before you step foot in the grocery store. As a result, you save money by eliminating food waste and you can plan what you eat based on how much you want to spend.

» Don’t shop hungry!

Everything at the store will seem like something you need if you are starving while walking through it. When you’re not sidetracked by your hunger, you can focus on what you actually need instead of your stomach tricking you into thinking your wants are needs.

» Pick up generic brands over name brands.

Name brand items will cost you over 25% more for the same exact product! In many cases, the generic brand and the name brand come from the same facility! Think about that the next time you are reaching for the more expensive butter – save a few bucks and grab the store brand.

» Pay attention to coupons, sales and discounts.

Be proactive! Look up sales before you make your meal plan. As a result, you can decide what you’re going to eat that week based on the steepest discounts. Utilize store loyalty cards to save more while you’re in-store. Many stores have apps where you can scan items to find discounts that might not be advertised.

» Stick to your list.

Grocery stores are designed to tempt you into buying more than you mean to. The really yummy looking items (or things they are trying to sell) are put on the end caps of aisles to make them stand out and make it into your cart. The more expensive items are usually put at eye level on the shelves. Easy impulse purchases are placed right at the cash registers so you can put it in your cart, buy it, and walk out the store before you have time to think. So make sure you stick to your plan to avoid unnecessary purchases!

Want to learn more ways to stretch your dollar? Don’t miss our upcoming Budgeting 101 workshop! Click here to register today.

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