Groceries are slowly, subtly and unknowingly increasing in price which is a worldwide phenomenon encountered by every household and if you are not wise to what is happening around you, it could enlarge and inflate your bills every time you do your shopping for those essential items, whether food and otherwise on a regular basis.
There are a few grocery buying tips that you could put in place the next time you are going to the grocer, which could save you some much needed cash especially in these very trying times, with the whole world facing an economic downturn with cash flows becoming tighter.
1. Don’t walk blindly into the grocery store but have the list of items that you would need to pick up and if you are smart enough and have been following your own buying habits, a general cost of each item would be advisable.
2. Prioritize your shopping and try to visit the grocery only once a month, for this you would need to be prudent of what you would really need during the period.
3. Avoid haphazard buying habits as you would be paying more than what you should be really doing.
4. Carry a calculator and add up every item that you would place in your cart, whilst checking out special offers, expiry dates and the stated net-weight / volume of contents.
5. Knowing what you are buying is very important because picking up an item that is at the same price but with a lesser quantity is not smart grocery shopping.
6. Try to pick up as many discount coupons as you can in the grocery store and if you have any in hand with you ensure that you prudently use them, but being wise to what is on offer would make you a smart grocery shopper.
7. Compare prices as some grocers could be offering some great prices to finish their stocks or would have bought surplus at better discounts to offer better prices to their customers and keep a track of them would hold you in good stead, when it is grocery shopping that you are indulging in.
8. The prices of meat and fish do skyrocket most of the times hence eating game could reduce your meat and fish bills and also provide a variety in your diet which would help your metabolic activities too.
9. Collect the food items that are cheaper on the shelves and then come home and plan what you would eat and how you would prepare them and not the other way around.
10. Don’t visit the grocery when your stomach is empty this would push you to buy things on impulse that would be not in your list hence eat well before you walk in with your list.
11. Try to avoid instant food items and try to cook your own food, though it may cost some of your valuable time but what you eat alone would be enough to feed the whole family.