Plan meals and make a list: Take some time to prepare in advance so that you are efficient with your time. Plan your meals for the week, checking your pantry for necessary ingredients. Your list should be organized in a way so that it corresponds with the stores aisles.
Use coupons and reward cards: The Sunday paper has an abundance of coupons. Many stores also send out promotional flyers. You can even find manufacturer’s coupons on the internet. Taking a little bit of time to review the coupons and flyers can save you money on your grocery bill. Most supermarkets have a frequent shopper card that will give you a discount on sale items. Don’t hesitate to sign up.
Buy store brands: Private labels (store brands) can cost 15-20% less than the national brand and the quality is often the same.
Buy in bulk: Most stores have a bulk section that includes beans, grains, nuts and sometimes even spices. This is a great way to purchase only what you need and the prices are often much less than buying something that is packaged. Be sure to write what the item is on the label (not just the PLU code) and then store in a glass mason jar in your pantry. In fact, buy glass mason jars by the dozen because they come in handy for all kinds of kitchen storage.
Compare unit prices: This is the price per pound or ounce and most stores include this on the shelf tag. Compare different package sizes and purchase what is economical. Pay attention to items on sale because often a smaller size will cost less per unit price because of the discount.
Read food labels: Try to aim low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and sodium. Try to aim high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. If you see an ingredient that you are not familiar with, look it up. For packaged foods, try to purchase foods that have less than 10 ingredients listed on the label.
Shop the perimeter: The healthiest stuff is on the perimeter of the store. When you go into the inner aisles, stick to your list.
Shop seasonally: Fresh produce often costs less when it is in season. The bonus is that it will be nutritious and delicious. Other ways to buy seasonable produce are to join a CSA or visit the farmer’s market. For produce that is not in season, frozen fruits and vegetables are a nutritious option.
Keep foods safe and prevent waste: Review the “sell by” or “best used by” dating on the package to select the freshest food. Shop in the refrigerated and frozen aisles last so that they don’t defrost and store them immediately when you arrive home. At home, organize the foods so the foods with the oldest “sell by” dates will be used first.
Pay attention at the check-out: Watch as the clerk rings up your purchase so that you ensure the prices are as advertised on the shelf label—especially the sale items. Most stores will give you the item free if they made a mistake on the price.