I think that sticking to your list is one of the keys to saving money at the grocery store. Impulse purchases make the most profit for grocery stores. Usually because impulse purchases are typically things bought at full price, with no coupons. So if you want to save money on your food bill make a list and stick to it.
You can make your list one of three ways.
1) buying the items needed to make the meals you are in the mood for that week
2) buying the items that are on sale that week
3) buying the items needed to stock your pantry, so that you can make whatever you want to at any time
You can probably guess that making your list using option #1 is the most expensive way to make a list. Using a combination of #2 and #3 will generate the most savings at the grocery store. If you shop to fill your pantry based on what is on great sales that week you will save the most money.
I think one of the problems that many people have is that they don't plan ahead. They might even make a list of what they need that day, but don't think very far into the future. If you are running to the store every day, the chances are greater that you will purchase more than you really need and that you will buy more things on impulse. Try to plan for at least a week at a time and make sure you put everything on your list. I do sit down and go through the ads to make a list each week, however I also keep this list on the counter or fridge and through out the week as I think of things I write it on the list. This way the odds of forgetting something are less.
Another problem people have is not making accurate lists and not thinking through things enough. If you know that you want to have a diet pepsi every day then buy it in 12 packs when you go to the store. It is much more expensive to buy it from a machine while you are out or to stop at a gas station to purchase a large one than it is to buy a 12 pack. A 12 pack around here cost $4 full price and $3 on sale. If you stop and pick up a 20 oz while you are out it costs $1.30 or more.
You can use the same amount of money to buy 3 diet pepsis or 12 diet pepsis. Which is the better deal? Now if you know you are going to be out running around all afternoon, pack a cooler with your diet pepsi, an ice pack and a snack and you won't be tempted to stop somewhere and pay way too much money for it. Be honest with yourself about your habits and put everything on the list. This should definitely save you money in the long run.
Oh and don't what I did this weekend. When you make your list and go through the store with your list, take the time to stop and read over your list and make sure you have everything. Then you won't get home and realize that you forgot to get the milk - which of course was the most needed item on my list.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
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8 comments:
I have been shopping with option #1 the last few times I have gone grocery shopping. We've been making a menu and getting what we need to make the meals. I find that it is working better for me than stocking the pantry and not really having a plan/menu. For a family of 5 I have been spending about $150 a week. That includes food for 3 meals a day, fresh produce and meats.
Before I was doing the menu I was going to the grocery store all of the time for odds and ends to make a meal, now we only go once in between shopping trips to get milk and produce.
I love your blog. We are working on lowering our debt, so I like to see what others are doing as well. We paid off $7800 worth of credit card debt with our taxes - what a relief!
Great post! When I first quit my job, I thought that if made a list of what I felt like eating for the week and shopped off of that list, that I would save money. However, in recent months I have switched my thinking to buying what is on sale and stocking my pantry, and I am amazed at the difference in what I am spending! I easily spent over $100/week before using methods 2 & 3 in your list. Now I can typically keep my shopping to around $80/wk give or take. Planning is super important as you said! It is well worth the time spent.
Sorry. Look please here
You know, I use all three of these options. I never viewed one being more expensive than the other, but with your explanation I think you may be on to something here. I will have to think about this some more. Thanks!!!
I have been using #1 and #2 for a couple of months and have cut my grocery bill in less than half. For a family of 6, we spend $50/week (including all household products). Great tips.
Hey there, I linked here from No Crecit Needed!
We actaully use a combination of your methods. We take stock of EVERY item in the freezer and pantry. We use those items AND our current preferences to create menus for 2 weeks. Once the menu is created, we make the grocery list by filling in all the items we don't have on hand already to make the food on the menu.
Sometimes, we forget to lay something out for dinner or something unexpected comes up that changes our menu, so we've learned to be flexible.
@Cassie -
$50 a week?? Kudos to you. That's amazing for a family of 6. How do you do it?
I wanted to post a link to the article because I think Jennifer summed up in a very clear manner, the reasons why you need to make a grocery list and stick to it.
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