Saving on groceries

October 02, 2013

 

One of the departments I have the hardest in saving is my grocery bill. I find it really hard. I really want to start saving money and replacing some of our old furniture and have our place start looking like a grown up apartment again rather then the wreck it has become. Okay, it may not be a wreck but an update is in order. This is a whole other story, back to saving on groceries. I researched some tips and found most unrealistic, especially for NYC, we do not have huge grocery stores especially in Broolyn where you can comparison shop. I did land on this post from The Nest by Jeanette Pavini that I found to be quite helpful.

Tips for saving on groceries:

Jeanette Pavini, household savings expert for Coupons.com, to break down the easiest ways to save. If you put these tips to work, you can easily save $50 a month on groceries. (That’s $600 a year!)

Pay Attention to Product Placement
Eye-level placement generally means “avoid” since companies pay to place products at eye level. A lot of times you can find the less expensive brands and best deals on the top and bottom shelves. Also, just because items are on a special display or at the end of the aisle doesn’t mean they’re the best value. Always check the price tag for the price per ounce to make sure you’re getting the most for your money.

Save Money on Meat
Compare cost per serving, not cost per pound. “That way you’ll be able to take into consideration bones and fat, which may mean that a much cheaper piece of meat is not really a good deal at all,” says Pavini. She recommends looking at larger whole cuts of meat, as they’ll usually be much cheaper than the same amount cut into smaller pieces. “You can always ask the butcher if he’ll cut it into small pieces for free,” she adds. If you have the room, you can freeze larger cuts as well. And when in doubt, use chicken. “If a recipe calls for duck, veal, rabbit or a game bird, you can oftentimes use chicken as an inexpensive substitute,” Pavini explains.

Pack a Punch With Produce
It’s hopefully a no-brainer, but plan your meals around what’s in-season. You’ll find cheaper prices and better quality. For fall? Stick to root veggies, butternut squash, figs and citrus fruits. The price per unit rule applies here: Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy items like potatoes, tomatoes, avocados and onions in bags versus individually. “For example, I saw avocados for $2.50 each, while a bag of four was going for $4,” says Pavini. And avoid precut produce. The convenience seems awesome (and the packaging is usually much more eye-catching!), but you’ll save a lot of money washing, peeling and cutting the veggies yourself at home.

  • Avoid Impulse Purchases
  • Avoid impulse buying and plan a menu. Try to incorporate ingredients into multiple meals so you don’t waste produce, dairy and other perishable items, says Pavini.
  • One big rookie mistake is letting yourself be pressured into buying in bulk to get the “sale price.” “If a sale says five for $10, don’t feel obligated to buy all five,” advises Pavini. Check the store policy -- usually you’ll get the same discount if you buy just a single item. The same with limits -- don’t take the number as a sign of how many you need to buy because you think that’s an indicator of a great deal. Oftentimes, a place might just be low on stock. Only buy what you need and will use.

 

 

Article via The Nest 

Photo via The Dizzy Mom



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