Most of us have felt the impact of inflation that has had a direct hit on our wallets, especially when it comes to grocery shopping. Prices are rising at startling rates, and many of us have to pay more attention to how much the final price comes out to at checkout. Groceries are certainly not a luxury that can simply be cut out, so it’s important to come armed with strategies for saving when you can.
Fresh Food Products
Start Out With A Budget
Having a budget in general is a fantastic idea even when inflation isn’t sky high — it’s just a good practice in order to always stay on top of your finances. Having a budget allows you to never be unsure of how you’re doing, which is critical when you’re trying to figure out how much you can and want to spend on everything in your life. Try to figure out a monthly budget for everything. Then, you can break it down to a weekly budget and then you’ll have an idea of how much you can spend while at the supermarket.
Start Out With A Budget
Don’t Shop Hungry
This one is a classic for a reason. You’re more likely to overspend while grocery shopping if you’re hungry. You’ll be more tempted to make impulse purchases that lead to overspending. If you find that you keep getting hungry while going for your grocery shop, make sure to keep a snack handy in your bag that you can have in just in case. Some people even make sure to eat a snack and drink plenty of water right before heading out for their grocery shop.
Don’t Shop Hungry
Make A List
Shopping without a plan is a great way to spend much more than you need to. You should always come ready with a list so that you don’t find yourself wandering around the store aimlessly, which can lead to buying things that you might not need at all. The way supermarkets are set up, it’s easy to fall into their marketing traps, so if you come armed with a list and stick to it, you won’t make any unnecessary purchases.
Make A List
Plan Ahead
The most important thing to do in order to have a grocery list is to plan your meals ahead of time. Planning ahead will ensure that you only buy the ingredients that you need and you won’t end up with any extras, which can lead to unused ingredients that go bad and end up in the trash. You can also look ahead of time to see what’s on sale the store and plan your meals around what the best deals are.
Plan Ahead
Use Grocery Apps
There are plenty of apps out there that help you find the best deals out there. These apps include MealBoard, GroceryPalm and Flipp. There are also apps that offer cash back like Receipt Pal, ibotta, and Receipt Hog. The one thing to be careful of with these apps is buying something you don’t need just because you want to get the rewards.
Use Grocery Apps
Be Wary of Sales
Speaking of avoiding things you don’t need to buy, this is a big one. Always think about why you’re buying something that’s on sale. If it’s something that you actually need, then the sale is worth it. If you’re buying something simply because it is on sale, you’re actually overspending. This is when your list can really come in handy. If something that’s on the list is on sale, then great! If it’s not on your list, you don’t need it, so skip it, even if it seems to be a good deal.
Be Wary Of Sales
