To save some dough when grocery shopping it helps to know the ins and outs of budget friendly stores and offers, coupons, and even the best ways to pay for your groceries. Here are 5 tips to help you prepare and save money when grocery shopping for your family.
.jpg)
1. Download Money-Saving Apps
There are lots of great apps you can use to save money. Ibotta, Checkout 51, and MobiSave allow you to take pictures of your receipts and get money back for items you buy. Check these apps before you shop to find out which items and how many qualify to earn money back.
Where do you do your grocery shopping? Does that store have a loyalty program? Do they have an app? If so, join the program and/or download the app. For example, Kroger has an app that allows you to review the weekly ad, clip mobile coupons, and track your fuel points. Target Cartwheel app also has mobile coupons you can use.
2. Pay with Cash
One of the best ways to stick to your budget and track your expenses is to pay with cash. Find out what you can afford to pay on groceries each month. Then, take that amount of cash out from the bank. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the average family of 4 spends $129.70 to $253.40 every week. Figure out how much you can afford from your budget. Then, get the cash and don’t allow yourself to use any extra funds.
.jpeg)
3. Use Gift Cards
An alternative to using cash is gift cards. With the amount already on the card, you can stick to your weekly budget. As an added bonus, you can get gift cards from sites like Gift Card Granny, Raise, or Cardpool. For example, you can purchase a $60.00 gift card to Walmart for $57.60, saving $2.40 in the process. It doesn’t sound like much, but think about the amount you would save over the course of a year.
4. Clip Coupons Wisely
You don’t have to be an extreme couponer to save money with coupons. The trick is to only clip coupons for things you need, and be patient. Rather than using your coupons right away, wait for the item to go on sale.
Also, find out if your grocery store accepts competitors’ coupons. Some of the stores that do are:
- Walmart
- Kroger
- Bi-Lo
- Publix
- Lowe’s Foods
- Super G
- Giant
.jpg)
5. Shop Online
Amazon offers the Prime Pantry, delivering food straight to your door. They even have coupons you can use. It’s a great way to save money while stocking up on things you need. If you don’t have an Amazon Prime account, no worries. There are other sites that offer great deals on things you need. Try ShopFoodEx, Safeway, or FreshDirect.
What other grocery shopping tips have helped you save money? Share your ideas in the comments below.