12 tips to BEAT the grocery bills
With 11 % inflation in India and Stagflation in US ( Recession plus Inflation) many of us are looking for ways to cut down.
Frugality is no more a virtue. I realized I belong to an older generation when it comes to spending - A bit conservative
Besides, there is a huge difference between frugal and cheap. If we can get the same quality of resources with some common sense ideas, why spend double on them.
Here are some tips I came across. Please feel free to add your tips.
1. Make the visit to store less often. Rather than going and getting it ad-hoc, compile a list and go just once a week. Plan menu for week and buy grocery accordingly. You will be much more prepared. Also food rots can be avoided.
2. A very popular advice is don't go to grocery stores HUNGRY. You end up spending more. You can test this yourself on one of your routine visits.
3. Buying brand items - Store brands are good enough for daily needs like milk, bread etc. This tip applies especially for people in US. If you don't like store brands you can always switch. As a start at-least give it a try.
4. Walk to grocery store. A car may make you buy more.
5. Shop alone. You know how it is when you take kids along right ? Even men tend to pick junk foods
6. Check the bills as you walk out. Humans are prone to errors.
7. Buy more when there is sale. Identify if it is non-perishable and if you have enough storage without moths go ahead and stock up.
8. Take correct amount of cash along. We are easily tempted to buy things we don't need.
9. Do not spend too much time examining the item. The more you spend time looking at it or analyzing it, you the more you feel like buying. If it's along felt need, then it qualifies for a buy
10. Superstores in India and all the stores in US make you take carts and shop. Other than convenience they obviously want you to buy more. Think before you take the cart inside the store. A basket is better.
11. Seasonal fruits or vegetables are anytime more nutritious for obvious reason that no chemicals or pesticides have been used to preserve them. Eat seasonal foods more.
12. I have been reading things about Asian /Chinese foods. They eat YIN ( Cooling) food like Cucumbers, Water Melon etc during summers and YANG ( Warm) foods like gralic, Ginger, Onion etc during winters. That creates balance in body. Indians also believe in this concept.
Additional Tips for people in US -
1. Live on edge of stores to get fresh produce and baked goods. The less the food is processed, the less harmful it is. This is more of a health tip.
2. Carry calculator to check unit pricing, when sale is there for an item.
3. A Grocery Price Book isn't a bad idea.
4. I was subscribed to Grocery Game at grocerygame.com. There have been mixed reviews about it. It's $1 trial for one month.
5. While checking out, you can ask the cashier if any specials are there on the item.
6. Sunday newspapers are good for coupons, but beware..You should not end up buying what you don't need.
7. Hunt for cheap yet healthy recipes. Comment here if you know any.
8.COSTCO or SAMSCLUB may work out well for families. I feel that more than one family can share the membership and benefits. I am not sure if it's legally possible, but it sure makes sense to share in case of 2 members families.
9. Even "Buy ! Get 1" can be shared with a friend.
10. Buying in Bulk during sales, especially the non-perishable items like Rice, Pastas, Nuts, Frozen Berries is something you can try.
Dear Friends,
Tell me what you feel about the tips.
If you are comfortable you can share your monthly grocery expenses here. For me it's around $200 for 2 of us without guests.
How frequently do you eat out and how many members are there in your family ?
Is there anything you would like to add here. Please go ahead and do it. Try making the text bold if it's a tip for easy visibility.
Frugality is no more a virtue. I realized I belong to an older generation when it comes to spending - A bit conservative
Besides, there is a huge difference between frugal and cheap. If we can get the same quality of resources with some common sense ideas, why spend double on them.
Here are some tips I came across. Please feel free to add your tips.
1. Make the visit to store less often. Rather than going and getting it ad-hoc, compile a list and go just once a week. Plan menu for week and buy grocery accordingly. You will be much more prepared. Also food rots can be avoided.
2. A very popular advice is don't go to grocery stores HUNGRY. You end up spending more. You can test this yourself on one of your routine visits.
3. Buying brand items - Store brands are good enough for daily needs like milk, bread etc. This tip applies especially for people in US. If you don't like store brands you can always switch. As a start at-least give it a try.
4. Walk to grocery store. A car may make you buy more.
5. Shop alone. You know how it is when you take kids along right ? Even men tend to pick junk foods
6. Check the bills as you walk out. Humans are prone to errors.
7. Buy more when there is sale. Identify if it is non-perishable and if you have enough storage without moths go ahead and stock up.
8. Take correct amount of cash along. We are easily tempted to buy things we don't need.
9. Do not spend too much time examining the item. The more you spend time looking at it or analyzing it, you the more you feel like buying. If it's along felt need, then it qualifies for a buy
10. Superstores in India and all the stores in US make you take carts and shop. Other than convenience they obviously want you to buy more. Think before you take the cart inside the store. A basket is better.
11. Seasonal fruits or vegetables are anytime more nutritious for obvious reason that no chemicals or pesticides have been used to preserve them. Eat seasonal foods more.
12. I have been reading things about Asian /Chinese foods. They eat YIN ( Cooling) food like Cucumbers, Water Melon etc during summers and YANG ( Warm) foods like gralic, Ginger, Onion etc during winters. That creates balance in body. Indians also believe in this concept.
Additional Tips for people in US -
1. Live on edge of stores to get fresh produce and baked goods. The less the food is processed, the less harmful it is. This is more of a health tip.
2. Carry calculator to check unit pricing, when sale is there for an item.
3. A Grocery Price Book isn't a bad idea.
4. I was subscribed to Grocery Game at grocerygame.com. There have been mixed reviews about it. It's $1 trial for one month.
5. While checking out, you can ask the cashier if any specials are there on the item.
6. Sunday newspapers are good for coupons, but beware..You should not end up buying what you don't need.
7. Hunt for cheap yet healthy recipes. Comment here if you know any.
8.COSTCO or SAMSCLUB may work out well for families. I feel that more than one family can share the membership and benefits. I am not sure if it's legally possible, but it sure makes sense to share in case of 2 members families.
9. Even "Buy ! Get 1" can be shared with a friend.
10. Buying in Bulk during sales, especially the non-perishable items like Rice, Pastas, Nuts, Frozen Berries is something you can try.
Dear Friends,
Tell me what you feel about the tips.
If you are comfortable you can share your monthly grocery expenses here. For me it's around $200 for 2 of us without guests.
How frequently do you eat out and how many members are there in your family ?
Is there anything you would like to add here. Please go ahead and do it. Try making the text bold if it's a tip for easy visibility.
Total Comments 25
Comments
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Hi Meenloch,
Very useful tips and also apt to the present situation -inflation..even i buy grocery once in 5 days.rice ,chillies,tamarind i buy once in 5 months, even small onions ,big onions n garlic i buy once in 5 months n rest of the things i buy whenever necessary n whatever necessary.I feel that we cant waste anything n also consume less by doing like this.Posted 19th July 2008 at 09:42 AM by sumiirajj
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That's quite reasonable dear Sumiirajj.
Thanks for commenting herePosted 19th July 2008 at 05:08 PM by MeenLoch - Dear Meenloch,
Very thoughtful of you to chalk out a plan to manage bills within budgets...even our grocery is within $200 for 2 of us and we go just once a week to the store. We generally don't buy junk but may treat ourselves to some puffs or samosas once a month.
Initially we ate out a lot, trying a lot of new cuisines together, it was fun but very expensive. Hence recently we eat out very rarely, maybe twice a month, that too for a light meal, no fancy restaurants or anything,now fancy is reserved for ocassions.
I guess it depends on what expenses we have to bear and the income levels besides the upcoming expenses.I believe we shud save for good trips once a while, rather than eat out a lot on regular weekends.
thanks again for the tips!
RanganayakiPosted 21st July 2008 at 05:21 PM by Ranganayaki - RN,
Restaurants - Similar experience. we need to strike balance between enjoying now and saving.
Eating out drains money...specially international cuisines..
Thanks for commenting here.Posted 22nd July 2008 at 12:12 PM by MeenLoch -
Meenloch,
That was a great blog with awesome tips. Very useful and should try to implement many. I agree with you as well as few others here who commented about eating out - fancy restaurants only for special days. Local restaurants may be twice or thrice a month. Also, I keep watching out for restaurant coupons in local community paper :))
Hey Mythraeyi,
This tomato paste usage probably helps 2 ways - not to be worried about growth place of tomatoes with so much virus infections in news and also they work out cheaper.
Can you tell me whether tomato paste & tomato sauce by Hunts that come in cans are the same?Posted 2nd August 2008 at 09:48 PM by rathi
