If you are one of the millions of Oregonians who are looking for an alternate source of cash for gas, look no further than your weekly trip to the grocery store.
Alleviate the pressure from the pump by being a frugal grocery shopper.
Here are some easy tips to make the most out of your budget.
Make your own meals.
Cook.
Take-out and fast food are expenses that add up.
Cooking for yourself is healthier and a whole lot less expensive.
Clip Coupons.
If you’re really serious about saving money, take advantage of clipping coupons.
However, don’t buy anything you really don’t need just because you have a coupon for it.
Buy what’s on sale.
Many stores offer online circulars telling you what’s on sale for the week. Some stores also send you circulars by mail.
Take the time to look through them to see what’s on sale. This is one of the simplest ways to save money when grocery shopping.
If there is something on sale that you regularly use in your household, stock up on it.
Plan your week’s menu.
After you see what’s on sale, plan a menu around the items. For instance, if pasta is on sale, and ground beef is also on sale, plan to make spaghetti for dinner one evening.
Make a list, then stick to it.
Making a list is one thing, but sticking to it is another, discipline yourself to only buy the things on your list. Impulse buys tend to make your grocery bill soar.
Find the best deal by comparing prices per ounce.
Pay attention to the actual price tags on the shelf. They contain important information.
Buying bigger is not always cheaper. In the bottom corner of the price label, you will usually be able to see the price per ounce for an item.
Use this price to determine which item is the better buy when comparison shopping.
For instance, if an item of 15 ounces costs 10 cents per ounce, and another 12-ounce item of the same thing by a different brand costs 6 cents per ounce, then you should opt for the less expensive one.
However, keep in mind the quality of what you are buying.
Sometimes it’s worth it to buy the more expensive item because the quality is better.
Cut out the junk.
Junk food is always bad. It pads your grocery bill up, amp; it’s unhealthy for you and your family.
Instead, invest in buying organic produce amp; food that is nutritious and healthy.
If possible, leave the kids at home.
Children want everything they see advertised on T.V.
Grocery stores put certain items at the eye levels of the targeted consumers.
More than likely you’ll find the more expensive candy and junk food at the eye level of your children.
If you can leave your kids at home while you grocery shop, there will be no pressure on you to buy these items.
Buy in Bulk
Sometimes buying in bulk at places like Costco or Bj’s can save you money.
If you have a small household consider sharing your membership with another family, and split the cost of the membership between you.
You can also buy what you need in bulk, amp; split the items between your households.
Making small changes to your shopping habits can save you money.
Depending on the size of your household, and what you consume, you can save anywhere from $10.00 and up per week.
At minimum per month, you’ll have an extra $40.00 to go towards filling up your tank.