Top Ten Tips - Saving At The Supermarket
By Tip Diva | Dec 08, 2007
Categories: Amazon.com, Budget, Cheap, Coupons, Ebates, Food, Grocery, Household, Savings, Shopping, Supermarket, Tips
Grocery shopping is an evil necessity - but it doesn’t have to break your bank. Here are some tips on how to save money at the supermarket:
- Check The Sunday Circular - This is one of the best sources for grocery coupons. Go through each, and clip the coupons that you know you’ll use and coupons you might use in the future. Sort them by product name or product type in a coupon organizer
, and pay heed to expiration dates. But don’t just stop at the Sunday paper - look on the back of food boxes, online and grocery receipts for coupons, as well.
- Multiply Your Coupons’ Value - Many supermarkets will offer to double - even triple - the value of your coupons, up to a certain amount. Tip Diva’s local supermarket, for instance, will triple coupons worth up to 99 cents during promotional periods. That’s a $2.97 savings.
- Pay Attention To Coupon Terms - Make sure you’re paying attention to the product, quantity and size offered on the coupon. You may get 25 cents off of flour - but only if you buy three five-pound bags. Ask yourself if the savings are really worth the quantity - you may not have a need for so much flour.
- Ask For A Raincheck - Don’t pass up on a great sale just because the store ran out of the product. Most stores will issue you a raincheck, which will allow you to purchase the product at the sale price when it’s back in stock - and may not necessarily be on sale anymore.
- Compare Unit Prices - You may get more for your money if you compare unit prices versus product prices. For instance, a 12 oz. box of cereal may cost $6.99 per pound, yet a 16 oz. box of the same cereal may only cost $5.49 per pound. You get more for your money by purchasing the larger box, even though it’s only four ounces more.
- Consider Generic - Store, generic and no-frills brands are becoming better in both quality and in taste. And compare ingredients for many of them - some are exactly the same. This is why Tip Dive buys her supermarket-brand mouthwash rather than Listerine. But once in a while, she’ll actually have a coupon that make Listerine the more cost-effective choice. SmartMoney.com has made a list of the top five items to always buy generic.
- Try Warehouse Or Dollar Stores - Buying products bulk at a warehouse like Costco or Sam’s Club and buying overstock at a dollar store may save you some money. But it’s important that you know your prices when buying at both stores. That 99-cent can of soup at the dollar store, for instance, may only be 79 cents at your local supermarket. And you may even be buying that same soup at the warehouse for 79 cents per can - but do you really need 20 cans of soup to get that price? Also, beware of what not to buy at dollar stores.
- Join Supermarket Rewards Club - Most major grocery chains have a rewards club that will reward you with coupons and free offers when you purchase certain items or by the amount of items you buy. For instance, Tip Diva’s supermarket offers a free Thanksgiving turkey to reward club members who spend $150 during the months of September, October and November. And since she buys dog food often, she’s gotten valuable coupons for the brands she purchases the most.
- Make A List And Set A Budget - Make a grocery list and only bring a certain amount of money with you to spend on groceries - and stick to it. This may also help you steer clear of sneaky supermarket tricks, which cause impulse buys. If you’re one to constantly buy on impulse, try online grocery delivery like Peapod ($5 cash back with Ebates), Amazon Grocery and FreshDirect. Buying online will force you to think about what you’re purchasing before hitting the “Order” button.
- Don’t Shop When You’re Hungry - You’ve heard it time and time again. A rumbling stomach may cause you to buy food impulsively. And forget all those free samples, which will entice you to buy even more!
What are some of your best tips for saving money at the supermarket?
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