20 Ways to Slash Your Grocery Bill, Part 3

Here's part 3 of a Money Central piece titled "20 Ways to Slash Your Grocery Bill":

Know when to use a list. For staples, stick to what you'd already planned to buy before you walked into the store. "The only time to go off list is if you can combine savings factors (store sales, double coupons, etc.) and get a good buy," says Kay.

Know when not to use a list. When it comes to produce, take the farmer's market approach: Buy what's fresh, inexpensive and in season. Then adapt your menus accordingly. That way, you get good buys and your family gets the freshest food.

Grocery stores are for groceries. "Avoid purchasing nongrocery items at a grocery store," says Steinback, who advises consumers to weigh convenience vs. cost when they pick up supplies like painkillers, contact lens solution, mouthwash or toothpaste at the grocery store. "I know it's convenient," she says. "But, you double your cost."

Take a rain check. If you know that your store is offering a great price on something you use, but it's all gone when you arrive, get a rain check, says Kay.

My thoughts:

Use a list -- A list to my wife is as Lex Luthor is to Supermen -- they were once friends, but now are enemies. Yes, my wife always makes a list. And yes, she always takes it with her to the store. But look at it once she's in the store -- not so much. It's a regular routine for me to say, "Did you get such and such?" and she says, "No." I ask, "Was it on your list?" She says, "Yes." I sigh.

Don't use a list -- Given the above statements plus the fact that my wife buys a lot of fruits and veggies, she's got this idea down pat!

Only groceries -- One word for saving on non-grocery items: Wal-mart.

Rain check -- My wife collects these things like they are trading cards. Even when the deal says "no rain checks", she can get one. It's the smell of saving that extra 35 cents that gives her that "I won't take no for an answer" attitude. ;-)

Click here to read part 4 of this series.

Comments

[the Prince of Thrift]

Wal-mart is only cheaper as long as they have competition...once the drive all the smaller businesses out of the small towns, and become the only store in the town, they raise their prices.

Don't shop wal-mart, go to Target or Kmart.
If your city has an Aldi, buy your groceries there, they are much cheaper then any other grocery store, or box stores grocery department.
For example...store brands of sltines at AWG supplied stores are Always Save..89 cents and Best Choice...$1.09.
At Aldi's saltines are 65 cents, everyday. Eggs tend to be at least 10 cents cheaper per dozen.