50 Tips for Grocery Shopping

Every Tuesday is Finance & Family Day at Zen Habits.

As you might already know, I’ve got a big family — the wife and I plus six rugrats. Plus a cat and a dog. We can go through an awful lot of food. Groceries (along with the rent and car and gas) are one of our biggest expenses. I allocate as much in our budget as I can to groceries, simply because I want to make sure we’re never short on food. Also, cooking our own food is just so much less expensive than eating out.

And as I figure that most of my readers, whether they have big families or not, go grocery shopping now and then, I thought I’d pass along some of my favorite tips. These are not all my original tips — I’ve picked up dozens over the years from magazines, books and websites. But these are the best of them, plus some I’ve figured out on my own.

So pick and choose from among these tips, which I hope will be of use to you and your family:

Always go with a list. If you go without a list, you may as well just throw your money away. Better yet, donate it to me — I probably need it more than you. :) Seriously, though, you need to prepare a list of everything you need, pulling from your weekly menu (next tip) and checking to make sure you don’t have it in your pantry, fridge or freezer. Make sure you’re not forgetting anything. Now stick to that list.
Plan out a weekly menu. This is the best way to ensure that your list is complete, and that you have enough to serve your family dinner for the week. I often plan a weekly menu and then duplicate it for the next week — this way I can shop for two weeks at once. Be sure to plan a leftovers night.
Don’t go when you’re hungry. This is a common tip, but it’s true: when you’re hungry, you want to buy all kinds of junk. You’ll end up spending a lot more. Eat a good meal first, and you’ll be more likely to stick to your list.
Have a budget. When I go to the store, I know exactly how much I can spend. Then I try my best to stick within that limit. If you don’t know how much you can spend, you’ll certainly spend too much.
Do a rough running tally. Related to the above tip, if you want to stay within your budget, it’s best to know where you’re at. Then, when you can see you’re going to go above it, you can decide whether you really need that 10-lb. box of bon bons. I keep a running tally on my grocery list, just rounding off so I can do some quick math. An item costs $1.85? I say $2. Then I don’t need a calculator or all those complicated math skills.
Keep a list on your fridge, and write things down immediately. When you run out of something, don’t leave it to your memory. Jot it down immediately, and you’ll never have to run back to the store because you don’t have eggs.
Make a pantry checklist. Make a checklist of everything you normally stock in your pantry. Keep it posted on the pantry. Put a slash next to each item for the number of items you have (if you have two cans of stewed tomatoes, put two slashes). Then, when you use something, turn the slash into an x. This makes it much easier when it comes time to make your list.
Keep things stocked for quick-n-easy meals. Easy meals for us might be spaghetti or mac-n-cheese or a quick stir-fry. We’ve always got the ingredients on hand, so we can whip something up fast when we’re feeling lazy.
Buy in bulk when it makes sense. If you can save money, over the course of a month or two, by buying in bulk, plan to do so. But be sure that you’re going to use all of it before it gets bad — it isn’t cheaper to buy in bulk if you don’t use it.
Keep your receipts, then enter into a spreadsheet. This will be your price list. Use it so you know when bulk or sale items are a good deal. It’s also a great way to comparison shop between stores — buy your baking goods in Store A but your fresh fruits in Store B. The spreadsheet can also serve as a checklist to use when you’re compiling your shopping list.
Buy frozen veggies. While fresh veggies are a little better, frozen veggies are almost as good, and much better than nothing. And since you can keep them in the freezer, they rarely go bad.
When you’re running low, write it down. Don’t wait until you run out. when you see there’s only three toilet paper rolls left, put it on your list. Because when you run out, it will be too late. :)
Cut back on meat. Meat is expensive. We have vegetarian meals several times a week (think pasta or chili) and for other meals, you could just use a little meat as a kind of seasoning instead of the main ingredient — think Asian, Indian and other such cultural food. Actually, I eat vegetarian all the time, but the wife and kids do a little of each.
Pack your own lunch snacks. Buying pre-made snacks is convenient, but a big waste of money. Buy little baggies and buy the snacks in bulk, then it will take just a few minutes to pack some snacks for lunch each day.
Make leftovers for lunch. Plan to cook a bit extra for each dinner, so that you’ll have leftovers for your lunch and for the kids’ lunches. Pack it right away, after dinner, so you don’t have to worry about it in the morning.
Cook a lot, then freeze. Alternatively, you can cook a whole mess of spaghetti (for example) and freeze it for multiple dinners. A great idea is to use one Sunday and cook a week’s (or even a month’s) worth of dinners. Plan 5-6 freezable dinners and cook them all at once.
Always have batteries, toilet tissue and light bulbs. And other necessities that you always seem to run out of — buy a whole bunch when they’re on sale, or buy in bulk. Be sure to check to see if you have these items before you go to the store.
Try crock pot dinners. We discovered these in the last year, and they are easy and cheap and tasty. Cut up a bunch of ingredients, throw them in the pot in the morning, and have dinner ready for you when you get home. Can anything be more perfect than that? I submit that it cannot.
Clip coupons. I know, sometimes they seem like too much trouble. But it’s not really that hard to clip a few coupons and toss them in a coupon envelop to take on your grocery shopping trip. And you can save 10-20% of your bottom line with coupons. Check store entrances, newspaper and flyers for coupons.
Only use coupons for items you were already planning to buy. Don’t let them trick you into buying something that’s not on your list, just to “save” money.
Look for specials. Every store has specials. Be sure to look for them in the newspaper, or when you get to the store (they often have unadvertised specials — look on the higher and lower shelves for deals). Don’t buy them unless they’re things you always use.
Try the store brands. Brand names are often no better than generic, and you’re paying for all the advertising they do to have a brand name. Give the store brand a try, and often you won’t notice a difference. Especially if it’s an ingredient in a dish where you can’t taste the quality of that individual ingredient.
Cut back on your “one-item” trips. They waste gas, and almost inevitably, you buy more than that one item. If you plan ahead, make a weekly menu, and shop with a list, this should drastically reduce the number of trips you make for a small number of items. But if you still find yourself running out for a few items, analyze the reason — are you not making a good list, are you forgetting some items from your list? Stock up on the things you frequently go out for.
Sugar cereals are a bad buy. Lots of money for no nutrition. Look for whole grain cereals with low sugar. Add fruit for better flavor.
Be watchful at the register. Keep an eye on the scanner — you’ll keep the cashier on his toes, and catch any mis-priced items.
When there’s a sale, stock up. Sale items can be a great deal. If it’s an item you normally use, buy a bunch of them.
Comparison shop. Look at the different brands for a certain type of product, including store brands. Sometimes there will be a significant difference. Be sure you’re comparing apples to apples — you need to divide the price by the amount (ounces, pounds, etc.) in order to get the comparable unit price.
Go during slow times. One of my favorite times to shop is late at night. But during working hours or other non-peak times is good too. Avoid right after 5 p.m., on paydays and near major holidays.
Know when the store stocks its fresh fruits and veggies. In my area, that makes a big difference. Fruits and veggies can go bad quickly, because they have to be shipped. So I know that the store re-stocks on Thursdays, and so I usually go on Thursdays or Fridays, otherwise I’ll be getting old items.
Plan one big trip a month for bulk staples. You can get fresh items at another store on other weeks, but doing a big bulk trip will cut back on the expense and amount you have to carry for the other three weeks. Avoid buying on impulse at the bulk store too — just because they sell a lot of it doesn’t mean you’re saving, if you weren’t planning on buying it in the first place.
Avoid trips to the corner store. Or the gas station! These are some of the most expensive stores. (Ranking right up there with airport stores.)
Try co-ops. You can often save a lot of money at these types of places for staples.
Consider shopping at two stores. There’s no store with a monopoly on savings. Each has savings on different items on different weeks. You might switch between two stores on alternate weeks.
Think deep freeze. If you really want to save, you’ll need a big freezer. Ask around — someone you know might have a relatively new model they don’t need anymore. You can use freezers to stock up on meat, frozen veggies, and similar staples, and to freeze big batches of pasta, casseroles, and other dinners you prepare ahead of time.
Use everything possible. Got a bunch of leftover ingredients (half an onion, a bit of tomato, some pasta, a few other veggies?) … combine them for a quick meal, so that these don’t go to waste before your next grocery trip. The more you can stretch the food, and the less you waste, the less you’ll spend in the long run.
Don’t waste leftovers. Have a list on your fridge of what leftovers are in there, so you don’t forget about them. Plan a leftover night or two, so you’re sure to eat them all. Pack them immediately for lunch, so they’re ready to take the next morning.
Don’t buy junk food (or buy as little as possible). Junk food not only costs a lot of money for about zero nutrition, but it makes you and your family fat and kills you. Talk about a bad deal! Opt for fruits and veggies instead.
Rain check. If an item is on sale but the store has run out of stock, ask for a rain check.
Go when the kids are in school. When you bring kids, they will pester you and pester you until you buy some kind of junk food. Even if you’re able to stick to your guns, it’s not pleasant saying no 10 million times. In most cases, you’ll save money shopping without the kids.
Go for whole foods. The processed kind is lacking in nutrition and will make you fat. Look for things in their least processed form — whole grain instead of white or wheat bread, fresh fruit instead of canned or juice, whole grain cereal or oatmeal instead of all other kinds of cereal. You get the idea.
Read labels. Look for trans fat, hydrogenated oils, high amounts of sugar, saturated fat, lots of sodium, cholesterol. Then avoid them like the plague. Look instead for fiber, good fats, protein, vitamins, calcium.
Clean out your fridge. You’ve got stuff growing in there and turning from solids to liquids. The leftovers have begun to organize their own political party. Toss em out and make room for the new.
Stick to your list. Avoid impulse buys. They are almost always bad, and even if it’s just a couple dollars, they will add up to $50-100 for a trip. Over the course of a year, that can mean thousands. Tell yourself you will not buy anything that’s not on your list unless it’s an absolute necessity (why isn’t toilet paper on my darn list?).
Use store savings cards. These can add up to big savings over the long run.
Cut back on your restaurant eating. It’s never cheaper or more nutritious than eating at home. Plan your dinners (see above tip) and bring your lunches to work and save a ton of money.
Avoid frozen dinners or prepared entrees. Again, these cost way more and are usually much less nutritious.
Drink water. If you regularly drink iced tea, Tang, sodas or other types of drinks, cut those out completely and just drink water. It’s much better for you, and much cheaper.
Prepare your grocery list by aisle. If you regularly shop at the same stores, organize your list so that you can easily find and check off items as you walk down the aisle. We always shop from right to left, so we’re not constantly running back and forth in the store.
Get cloth grocery bags. You’ll save tons of plastic over time, and help the environment tremendously.
Pack healthy snacks for the kids. Whole wheat crackers, popcorn, cut-up fruit, raisins, and other kid-friendly snacks are much better than the junk you often see in kids’ lunches. And cheaper.

What are your tips? Add to this list in the comments.

Other family day articles:

50 Tips for Grocery Shopping

Every Tuesday is Finance & Family Day at Zen Habits.

So pick and choose from among these tips, which I hope will be of use to you and your family:

Always go with a list. If you go without a list, you may as well just throw your money away. Better yet, donate it to me — I probably need it more than you. :) Seriously, though, you need to prepare a list of everything you need, pulling from your weekly menu (next tip) and checking to make sure you don’t have it in your pantry, fridge or freezer. Make sure you’re not forgetting anything. Now stick to that list.
Plan out a weekly menu. This is the best way to ensure that your list is complete, and that you have enough to serve your family dinner for the week. I often plan a weekly menu and then duplicate it for the next week — this way I can shop for two weeks at once. Be sure to plan a leftovers night.
Don’t go when you’re hungry. This is a common tip, but it’s true: when you’re hungry, you want to buy all kinds of junk. You’ll end up spending a lot more. Eat a good meal first, and you’ll be more likely to stick to your list.
Have a budget. When I go to the store, I know exactly how much I can spend. Then I try my best to stick within that limit. If you don’t know how much you can spend, you’ll certainly spend too much.
Do a rough running tally. Related to the above tip, if you want to stay within your budget, it’s best to know where you’re at. Then, when you can see you’re going to go above it, you can decide whether you really need that 10-lb. box of bon bons. I keep a running tally on my grocery list, just rounding off so I can do some quick math. An item costs $1.85? I say $2. Then I don’t need a calculator or all those complicated math skills.
Keep a list on your fridge, and write things down immediately. When you run out of something, don’t leave it to your memory. Jot it down immediately, and you’ll never have to run back to the store because you don’t have eggs.
Make a pantry checklist. Make a checklist of everything you normally stock in your pantry. Keep it posted on the pantry. Put a slash next to each item for the number of items you have (if you have two cans of stewed tomatoes, put two slashes). Then, when you use something, turn the slash into an x. This makes it much easier when it comes time to make your list.
Keep things stocked for quick-n-easy meals. Easy meals for us might be spaghetti or mac-n-cheese or a quick stir-fry. We’ve always got the ingredients on hand, so we can whip something up fast when we’re feeling lazy.
Buy in bulk when it makes sense. If you can save money, over the course of a month or two, by buying in bulk, plan to do so. But be sure that you’re going to use all of it before it gets bad — it isn’t cheaper to buy in bulk if you don’t use it.
Keep your receipts, then enter into a spreadsheet. This will be your price list. Use it so you know when bulk or sale items are a good deal. It’s also a great way to comparison shop between stores — buy your baking goods in Store A but your fresh fruits in Store B. The spreadsheet can also serve as a checklist to use when you’re compiling your shopping list.
Buy frozen veggies. While fresh veggies are a little better, frozen veggies are almost as good, and much better than nothing. And since you can keep them in the freezer, they rarely go bad.
When you’re running low, write it down. Don’t wait until you run out. when you see there’s only three toilet paper rolls left, put it on your list. Because when you run out, it will be too late. :)
Cut back on meat. Meat is expensive. We have vegetarian meals several times a week (think pasta or chili) and for other meals, you could just use a little meat as a kind of seasoning instead of the main ingredient — think Asian, Indian and other such cultural food. Actually, I eat vegetarian all the time, but the wife and kids do a little of each.
Pack your own lunch snacks. Buying pre-made snacks is convenient, but a big waste of money. Buy little baggies and buy the snacks in bulk, then it will take just a few minutes to pack some snacks for lunch each day.
Make leftovers for lunch. Plan to cook a bit extra for each dinner, so that you’ll have leftovers for your lunch and for the kids’ lunches. Pack it right away, after dinner, so you don’t have to worry about it in the morning.
Cook a lot, then freeze. Alternatively, you can cook a whole mess of spaghetti (for example) and freeze it for multiple dinners. A great idea is to use one Sunday and cook a week’s (or even a month’s) worth of dinners. Plan 5-6 freezable dinners and cook them all at once.
Always have batteries, toilet tissue and light bulbs. And other necessities that you always seem to run out of — buy a whole bunch when they’re on sale, or buy in bulk. Be sure to check to see if you have these items before you go to the store.
Try crock pot dinners. We discovered these in the last year, and they are easy and cheap and tasty. Cut up a bunch of ingredients, throw them in the pot in the morning, and have dinner ready for you when you get home. Can anything be more perfect than that? I submit that it cannot.
Clip coupons. I know, sometimes they seem like too much trouble. But it’s not really that hard to clip a few coupons and toss them in a coupon envelop to take on your grocery shopping trip. And you can save 10-20% of your bottom line with coupons. Check store entrances, newspaper and flyers for coupons.
Only use coupons for items you were already planning to buy. Don’t let them trick you into buying something that’s not on your list, just to “save” money.
Look for specials. Every store has specials. Be sure to look for them in the newspaper, or when you get to the store (they often have unadvertised specials — look on the higher and lower shelves for deals). Don’t buy them unless they’re things you always use.
Try the store brands. Brand names are often no better than generic, and you’re paying for all the advertising they do to have a brand name. Give the store brand a try, and often you won’t notice a difference. Especially if it’s an ingredient in a dish where you can’t taste the quality of that individual ingredient.
Cut back on your “one-item” trips. They waste gas, and almost inevitably, you buy more than that one item. If you plan ahead, make a weekly menu, and shop with a list, this should drastically reduce the number of trips you make for a small number of items. But if you still find yourself running out for a few items, analyze the reason — are you not making a good list, are you forgetting some items from your list? Stock up on the things you frequently go out for.
Sugar cereals are a bad buy. Lots of money for no nutrition. Look for whole grain cereals with low sugar. Add fruit for better flavor.
Be watchful at the register. Keep an eye on the scanner — you’ll keep the cashier on his toes, and catch any mis-priced items.
When there’s a sale, stock up. Sale items can be a great deal. If it’s an item you normally use, buy a bunch of them.
Comparison shop. Look at the different brands for a certain type of product, including store brands. Sometimes there will be a significant difference. Be sure you’re comparing apples to apples — you need to divide the price by the amount (ounces, pounds, etc.) in order to get the comparable unit price.
Go during slow times. One of my favorite times to shop is late at night. But during working hours or other non-peak times is good too. Avoid right after 5 p.m., on paydays and near major holidays.
Know when the store stocks its fresh fruits and veggies. In my area, that makes a big difference. Fruits and veggies can go bad quickly, because they have to be shipped. So I know that the store re-stocks on Thursdays, and so I usually go on Thursdays or Fridays, otherwise I’ll be getting old items.
Plan one big trip a month for bulk staples. You can get fresh items at another store on other weeks, but doing a big bulk trip will cut back on the expense and amount you have to carry for the other three weeks. Avoid buying on impulse at the bulk store too — just because they sell a lot of it doesn’t mean you’re saving, if you weren’t planning on buying it in the first place.
Avoid trips to the corner store. Or the gas station! These are some of the most expensive stores. (Ranking right up there with airport stores.)
Try co-ops. You can often save a lot of money at these types of places for staples.
Consider shopping at two stores. There’s no store with a monopoly on savings. Each has savings on different items on different weeks. You might switch between two stores on alternate weeks.
Think deep freeze. If you really want to save, you’ll need a big freezer. Ask around — someone you know might have a relatively new model they don’t need anymore. You can use freezers to stock up on meat, frozen veggies, and similar staples, and to freeze big batches of pasta, casseroles, and other dinners you prepare ahead of time.
Use everything possible. Got a bunch of leftover ingredients (half an onion, a bit of tomato, some pasta, a few other veggies?) … combine them for a quick meal, so that these don’t go to waste before your next grocery trip. The more you can stretch the food, and the less you waste, the less you’ll spend in the long run.
Don’t waste leftovers. Have a list on your fridge of what leftovers are in there, so you don’t forget about them. Plan a leftover night or two, so you’re sure to eat them all. Pack them immediately for lunch, so they’re ready to take the next morning.
Don’t buy junk food (or buy as little as possible). Junk food not only costs a lot of money for about zero nutrition, but it makes you and your family fat and kills you. Talk about a bad deal! Opt for fruits and veggies instead.
Rain check. If an item is on sale but the store has run out of stock, ask for a rain check.
Go when the kids are in school. When you bring kids, they will pester you and pester you until you buy some kind of junk food. Even if you’re able to stick to your guns, it’s not pleasant saying no 10 million times. In most cases, you’ll save money shopping without the kids.
Go for whole foods. The processed kind is lacking in nutrition and will make you fat. Look for things in their least processed form — whole grain instead of white or wheat bread, fresh fruit instead of canned or juice, whole grain cereal or oatmeal instead of all other kinds of cereal. You get the idea.
Read labels. Look for trans fat, hydrogenated oils, high amounts of sugar, saturated fat, lots of sodium, cholesterol. Then avoid them like the plague. Look instead for fiber, good fats, protein, vitamins, calcium.
Clean out your fridge. You’ve got stuff growing in there and turning from solids to liquids. The leftovers have begun to organize their own political party. Toss em out and make room for the new.
Stick to your list. Avoid impulse buys. They are almost always bad, and even if it’s just a couple dollars, they will add up to $50-100 for a trip. Over the course of a year, that can mean thousands. Tell yourself you will not buy anything that’s not on your list unless it’s an absolute necessity (why isn’t toilet paper on my darn list?).
Use store savings cards. These can add up to big savings over the long run.
Cut back on your restaurant eating. It’s never cheaper or more nutritious than eating at home. Plan your dinners (see above tip) and bring your lunches to work and save a ton of money.
Avoid frozen dinners or prepared entrees. Again, these cost way more and are usually much less nutritious.
Drink water. If you regularly drink iced tea, Tang, sodas or other types of drinks, cut those out completely and just drink water. It’s much better for you, and much cheaper.
Prepare your grocery list by aisle. If you regularly shop at the same stores, organize your list so that you can easily find and check off items as you walk down the aisle. We always shop from right to left, so we’re not constantly running back and forth in the store.
Get cloth grocery bags. You’ll save tons of plastic over time, and help the environment tremendously.
Pack healthy snacks for the kids. Whole wheat crackers, popcorn, cut-up fruit, raisins, and other kid-friendly snacks are much better than the junk you often see in kids’ lunches. And cheaper.

What are your tips? Add to this list in the comments.

Other family day articles:

Spewed into the world on 15 April 2007 in Finance & Family |
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Brilliant comments (96)

galnoir Says:

April 15th, 2007, 8:12 am

Great tips—and it’s nice to see just how many of these I already follow (or, at least, try to follow).

My own tips? First, if you’re at a grocery store and not a superstore (e.g., Wal-Mart), don’t buy general merchandise items—cleaning supplies, toiletries, etc. The mark-up on these items at grocery stores is astronomical.

Whenever possible, buy produce from the farmer’s market or from an orchard or farm. You’ll sometimes save money, and you’ll always get much better quality for your dollar. For example, in late summer and early fall we can go to the apple orchard and fill a half-peck bag for $5. I can also get red bell peppers at the farmer’s market for about $2/pound, usually 3 or 4 peppers … sometimes I can pay that apiece for red peppers at the grocery store!

You could also try growing your own herbs and veggies. If you rent or just don’t have a big yard, you can still grow some things in containers. I’m giving a container herb garden a try this year; so many recipes call for fresh herbs, yet they can be so expensive ($2-3 for a tiny plastic package) at the store.

Leo Says:

April 15th, 2007, 8:25 am

Excellent tips, galnoir! The last two were ones I planned to add but forgot about. It’s good to see another frugal shopper like myself.

AsmoB Says:

April 15th, 2007, 8:35 am

“45. Cut back on your restaurant eating. It’s never cheaper or more nutritious to eat at home.”

I think “to eat” should be “than eating”

Leo Says:

April 15th, 2007, 9:04 am

Good catch. I’ll change it now.

patti Says:

April 15th, 2007, 9:20 am

Pick your own fruits and veggies. We spent a day picking blueberries; we carpooled with another family, picked for a few hours, and stopped for a quick dip in the lake on the way home. It was a fun day, and the kids loved it! We’ve had frozen blueberries since August (great for smoothies, desserts, and plain old snacking by the handful) for less than $1.00 per quart. We do the same with strawberries, cherries, plums, apples, and pears. We grow a lot of our vegetable, but there is a pick your own asparagus field nearby that I want to try!

Christian Tietze Says:

April 15th, 2007, 9:32 am

Wow that’s really great a list you assembled here!

Since I’m only 19 years old right now, doing my final exams and thus still living at home, some tips just don’t apply to me. But I can’t wait to live alone/have my own family and try all these out to organize my household productively :)

Jess Robinson Says:

April 15th, 2007, 9:48 am

My tip would be to grocery-shop online if you can. While it does cost a little extra to have it delivered, you save on the petrol anyway.

The online site I use (which is that of a normal large supermarket) does a good job. It keeps track of the products I normally buy, keeps a running total or what’s in my basket, and shows me all the current special offers, so I can by extra if it’ll keep and is cheaper.

While it does offer me other items in the categories I’m looking at, I find I’m a lot less tempted to buy extra than I would be if I was actually there.

Recently they’ve started listing recipes and helping me get the appropriate ingredients.

The one thing that does annoy me about shopping for fresh things is, it seems difficult to get the small amounts I need for just one or two meals, so it’s often cheaper to get pre-made or frozen meals than throw out the extra :(

Jess

Matt Says:

April 15th, 2007, 15:02 pm

As a student living on my own these tips were really helpful!! I am not really savvy yet when it comes to all this sort of stuff, so thank you for posting!
One tip I could add (well…probably the only tip I can offer) is that to save coin on groceries, there are some deal finding sites out there that you can join for free. The one I use is mygrocerydeals.com. It is helpful since I have a bunch of supermarkets in the area…it scans for the cheapest prices on the things I am gunning for and tells me where to get them. Very cool…I think there are other sites out there as well that offer thus, but I prefer the one mentioned above.

Cheers

Leo Says:

April 15th, 2007, 16:22 pm

Great comments, everyone! Thanks for all the excellent tips.

paulkdad Says:

April 15th, 2007, 16:57 pm

Wow! This list reminds me of Amy Dacyczyn’s “Tightwad Gazette” (that’s a compliment… great job).

For us, saving on the unimportant things is related to splurging a little on the things that we really, really like. Great coffee is one of those things. But rather than pay $10+ a pound for our beans, we started roasting our own. It reduced the cost to around $4 a pound, and the coffee is simply the best. It took me about 6 weeks to get the process down, but now I’d never go back to commercially-roasted coffee.

I’ve got a brief tutorial on home roasting (http://www.kimmelhome.com/meditations/?p=136) for those who want to try it.

Dave MacLeod Says:

April 15th, 2007, 17:06 pm

Supermarkets put a lot of effort into designing stores to manipulate you and maximise the opportunity for you to pick up items with the highest mark up. There are a couple of things I do to avoid this. 1) Never just grab the item at eye level. Always look on the shelves above and below where the lower margin items are kept. 2) Never buy anything from around the checkouts (this is when you’re at you’re most vulnerable). 3) Rather than following the “natural” route through the market - go to the far corner and then work your way backwards. The added benefit of this (assuming you’re sociable) is that you also have a greater chance of meeting friends and neighbours.

Leo Says:

April 15th, 2007, 18:32 pm

@paulkdad: First, thanks for the flattering comparison to Tightwad Gazette — that’s definitely a big compliment! Second, what an interesting tip about roasting your own coffee. I appreciate the link.

@Dave: Great tips! Thanks for sharing them.

stayfly Says:

April 15th, 2007, 21:17 pm

fantastic tips!!

these will be very helpful to me over the upcoming months and years!

Ann M. Says:

April 15th, 2007, 23:38 pm

All good tips. My tip is for when you do have to run to the store for just a few things. Instead of using a cart, use the little hand-basket. That way you don’t get too many things because it will be too heavy.

Steven Aitchison Says:

April 16th, 2007, 0:37 am

Great tips in here Leo. Great post as always. I would add: do it all online and get your shopping delivered, you can save your list for future shoppings as well.

Leo Says:

April 16th, 2007, 0:44 am

Excellent tip, Steven! Where I live, that’s not an option, but I would definitely give that a shot if I could.

Steve Schapel Says:

April 16th, 2007, 3:57 am

To your tip #41, I would add soy as another ingredient to avoid.

Leo Says:

April 16th, 2007, 3:59 am

Hi Steve … maybe you could elaborate … why would you avoid soy? It’s cheaper than meat and healthier with a lot of nutrients.

Valerie Says:

April 16th, 2007, 6:16 am

Here, we can shop online and pick up groceries at the store 4 hours later. Like Jess said, the online system stores my previous orders. I shop healthier when not faced with marketing at the store (don’t tell the store that).

More importantly, I don’t have to take my kids! No more bribing them with cookies, balloons, etc. to stay in the cart, and we avoid the latest virus hanging out on the grocery cart handle. The fee is only $4.95, and I know I save that in time, money, and stress on all of us.

Kate Says:

April 16th, 2007, 9:26 am

Thanks for your list Leo. Something I have in mind which goes with your Thursday shopping (#29) and galnoir’s comment as well, is plan, buy and eat seasonally. In our days, almost everything is available almost all the time, but at a higher cost.
Go for it once in a while and see it as what it is, a luxury of our times.

Pat Says:

April 16th, 2007, 19:20 pm

What amazes me is that you seem to do the shopping for your family. My biggest way of saving money at the grocery store is to never, never send my husband! :)

Pat Says:

April 16th, 2007, 19:22 pm

I should also add that I really enjoy this site.

Leo Says:

April 16th, 2007, 21:55 pm

Thanks, Pat. Actually, I don’t do the shopping by myself … my wife and I usually go together. We try to share most responsibilities, kind of a teamwork thing. And as we’re both involved in trying to be frugal and get out of debt, shopping together is not a problem — we have the same goals! Thanks for your comments!

Fred Alger Says:

April 17th, 2007, 4:18 am

Right on on the cloth bag recommendation! Our local grocery credits us $0.05 per bag each time we bring ours, which really adds up over time… not to mention reduces our consumption of natural resources. We’ve developed the good habit of bringing our bags by hanging them by our front door or keeping them in our car.

Also, don’t forget walking or biking to the store, if that’s an option. I find that I can put a week’s groceries into a camping backpack, and that I get a terrific workout while transporting them home.

Also, I very much enjoy reading your posts, and am transforming my attitude towards building character — I’m starting to see that by building smaller, consistent habits, I make more of a difference than the difficult and drastic changes I used to attempt. Thanks, Leo!

Leo Says:

April 17th, 2007, 5:50 am

Thanks for the great comment, Fred! Good tips, and I appreciate your comment about your attitude towards habit changes. It can make a huge difference!

Val Ann C Says:

April 29th, 2007, 10:29 am

RE #47 — as an alternative to plain water, you can make iced tea so easily and cheaply. I buy store-brand tea bags. Put 2-3 tea bags in a quart jar of water and leave in the fridge overnight.

To avoid impulse purchases, I bring my own reading material to the store. If I have to wait at the check-out or service desk, I get some reading accomplished and avoid looking the “goodies”.

Kris Says:

June 10th, 2007, 19:19 pm

Looking at the per-ounce cost has helped me most, so I just want to emphasize that. Depending on store specials, brand name items can sometimes be cheaper than generic!

REBEKAH PRINCE Says:

June 24th, 2007, 8:57 am

EXCELLENT HELPFUL READING FOR A NOVICE.

THANK YOU

lori Says:

July 5th, 2007, 0:48 am

On the tip to shop from left to right when shopping I generally shop the side aisles and the frozen foods last in the center aisles.

ramalingams-kuttalam nagai dist tamil nadu Says:

July 28th, 2007, 6:50 am

good better best keep it up.

DebtSecrets (John Dean) Says:

August 28th, 2007, 10:23 am

And for readers in the UK don’t forget to avail of all those cheap bargains which are sold off before closing time!

Les Says:

September 1st, 2007, 22:48 pm

Cut out iced tea? Do you mean the “bought” kind or the made yourself kind? I must point out that tea has Many Good Things for your health, and you should drink it quite frequently: green or regular black tea.

To make your own (my family recipe, handed down): 4 bags of tea to to one-half gallon water (you could make it stronger), add some sweetener (don’t go overboard) and a dash of lemon juice. Or sweeten not at all, or use stevia.

Kelli Says:

November 29th, 2007, 0:04 am

I live in an area with a lot of stores and a lot of competition. Weekends I check the prices on the fliers that are always in my mailbox Thursday or Friday. I then stop at 3 or 4 stores a week with a clear idea of what to pick up - and I do this on my way home from work. As for shopping while I am hungry, especially since I usually am at the end of the day - I go into the store with tunnel vision. I run in, pick up what I want, and run out. What is really annoying, and a way they do get me sometimes, is when they re-arrange the aisles so I have to look all over. I think they do this on purpose so people spend more time and money there…so pretty much if things have been moved around, you have to be doubly careful!

Rachael Says:

December 31st, 2007, 0:36 am

Great Tips! We use a lot of these already and its really helped our budget. One other thing we do. We bought an electric bread-maker and make our own bread. Whole wheat flour and yeast are cheaper and go far. For the price of of a loaf of bread at the market I can bake 4-5 loaves of my own. Plus, it’s awesome to come home from work or shopping to warm, fresh bread.

Mary Says:

December 31st, 2007, 3:11 am

Great tips! I found I do most of this. I would like to add the dollar stores which are becoming more and more popular sometimes have name brand stuff for under a dollar. The one by my house even has a refrigerated isle! Since I can not spring for the Sam’s club card or anything, I have noticed dollar store dinners can significantly cut food costs.

I am the money “gatekeeper” in a household of two, both of us being fresh graduates so things can be really tight. Thank you again!

Sandra Says:

February 25th, 2008, 12:33 pm

Use plastic containers instead of baggies for lunch snacks, sandwiches, etc. Plastic baggies are expensive and add up when you pack your lunches every day.

I NEVER throw out any fresh veggies as they start to go bad. I cut them up, throw them, raw, in the freezer and use them later in soups, sauces, etc.

We have parties and meetings at work that are catered. I take home (This is allowed in my office) veggies, mayo, bagels, cream cheese, etc rather than let my coworkers throw them out (apparently they have enough money to afford throwing these things out?) These things would otherwise sit in the work fridge until someone finally throws them out.

ami Says:

February 25th, 2008, 13:18 pm

We started using nylon bags. They easily fit in your pocket or purse, store in the glove box, hold 30+ pounds, and seem to hold more than canvas bags because of their flexible shape. I bought them for my parents and the inlaws for environmentally friendly christmas gifts! My favorites are from http://www.bangalla.com but you can also get them for less from http://www.chicobag.com. They are very handy and therefore I remember to use them a lot more!

Another tip: take advantage of employer pre-tax health spending plans. Use pretax dollars to buy cold/allergy medicines, pain relievers, contact cleaning solution, antacids and other expensive covered items.

Tad Says:

March 22nd, 2008, 12:53 pm

Great stuff. I personally have been trying to go grocery shopping more often and making my own meals instead of stopping by the convenient fast food. My health and wallet have been more happy for it.

Tad
http://www.mansplace.wordpress.com

Kimberly Says:

April 4th, 2008, 10:35 am

I enjoy coffee very much and don’t like the cheap kind. I find if I grind it very very fine, than I don’t have to use as much for my pot. I set the store’s grinder on espresso or grind it at home with a high powered grinder for a longer amount of time. One of my few indulgences, but cheaper than going to Starbucks!

Renate Says:

April 6th, 2008, 9:51 am

These are great tips, thank you. My fiancee and I recently bought a house that turned out to be much more expensive than the realtor and bank had led us to believe, so we find ourselves in a situation where we have to save on everything that can be saved on, and groceries are definitely one of the things that we spend the most money on today.

Mommy of three Says:

April 17th, 2008, 16:25 pm

Check out the meat section on Tuesdays and Wednesdays (after the mad rush of the weekend). My local grocer marks down meat nearing its sell by date, by 40-60% off. I then plan my meals around the meat purchases I’ve made for that week. The meat is good it just needs to be frozen, something the grocery stores can’t do when selling to consumers.

Alex Says:

April 25th, 2008, 1:46 am

There’s one important tip you left out.
*Choosing the right store and brand.
Always, i mean “always” look around.
For example, Walmart could be on sale on Kool-Aid, and Kmart’s not. You could save somewhere from $1-2 from that.
If Kool-Aid is not on sale anywhere, instead of drinking Kool-Aid, drink some other brand instead. This could save you few extra bucks.

For example, you save $5 a week from using my and this page’s tips. You could have save over $260, and you could get yourself a nice Ipod Touch or Iphone.

If you want more tips or FREEBIES,
visit http://yestofree.com to get all the best deals, samples, coupons, and discounts.
Com’on “Say Yes To FREE”

Ryan McLean Says:

May 4th, 2008, 9:50 am

I went shopping when I was hungry once…bad decision.
I had no money left for the rest of the week
I learnt that lesson the hard way
Thanks for the tips

Adrienne Lawrence Says:

June 1st, 2008, 21:30 pm

Do you have an example of a spreadsheet?

Also, I work for The Frederick News-Post and am working on a story. How about a chat? 240-215-8617.

Jeannie B. Says:

June 23rd, 2008, 18:40 pm

Don’t go to Wal Mart! I check the paper and go to the two other grocery stores in town. I buy cleaning supplies and paper goods at the dollar general. I have saved at least two hundred a month by not setting foot in the superstore!

Shannan Says:

June 30th, 2008, 22:25 pm

Something that saves us tons of money is preserving food either by canning or dehydrating. We waterbath can, pressure can and dehydrate what ever is on sale, gifted to us, grown by us or wild harvested. Most of the landscape at our home is either vegatables or fruit. Get to know the guy at the local produce stand by the side of the road. He will let you have “seconds” that won’t sell for pennies and they are great for jams, sauces etc. Love our guy. I am working on a 2 year food storage plan for each of us and we do use something from our stock everyday. It helps health wise also as we don’t have chemicals in our food and makes you feel so productive to see all the fruits of your labor on the shelves. Look in Freecycle.org, Craigslist, thrift stores, yard sales and put the word out that you need jars… they will come by the hundreds! We ONLY shop for things on sale and ALWAYS get rainchecks for things that are out of stock. The stores cringe when they see us lol. Thank you for sharing your tips with us, as there are many that we can incorporate into our lives.

Mintavia Says:

July 16th, 2008, 12:01 pm

Use sponges instead of paper towels. They clean up better and they are reusable. (save a tree, kill a sponge)You can wash them in the dishwasher to kill germs. You can also use the dishwasher to clean your toothbrushes. The dishwasher is our friend.

justdave Says:

July 17th, 2008, 17:12 pm

WOW ! What a site.Great except for one thing,I live in a small town,pop.685.I am trying to buy the grocery store/cafe to re-open it as such and it’s because we live 20-25 miles from Wally-World(Wal-Mart).It will be more economical to go in town for a loaf bread and a gallon of milk at $4.oo a gallon of gas than go to Wal-mart.Oh, we have a David’s grocery store just 5 miles away,but that’s essentially the same as a corner store-just a grocery store.I also want to say I immediately subscribed to the site because I feel my wife and I will benefit greatly from it! Keep up the good work.justdave.
I am grateful for my healing and general well being.

justdave Says:

July 17th, 2008, 17:58 pm

AWWWRIGHT !!! more posting.Leo,I assume you’re the moderator,right?And a very good one.But a couple of things.
1)Steve mentioned soy-with my wife-a breast cancer survivor,she can’t have soy because it may very well cause other types of cancer.I wonder if other people have similar situations with soy.Anyone?
2)Store saving cards.I don’t understand the point with these.I was told they are just like coupons-only10 times worse.They are there to make us buy stuff we don’t necessarily need or want-they are just attractively priced.
And a huge profit margin for the store.Anyway-that’s what I’ve heard.justdave.
I am grateful for my healing and complete wellbeing.

carmen Says:

July 22nd, 2008, 9:10 am

very interesting top of suggestion before buying something. So I am absolutely agree this this kind of list, but I would like to suggest other 51

carmen Says:

July 22nd, 2008, 9:12 am

sorry, I forget to specify the 51 tip, I talking about: do not buy any close if you have some doubt.

alyssa Says:

July 22nd, 2008, 20:02 pm

Another tip that is good for your wallet and health: try to shop primarily around the perimeter of the store instead of moving down the aisles. The freshest items are along the perimeter, and because they are usually not heavily processed/packaged, they tend to be less expensive (lower cost of production) and healthier (not so many additives).

Cheryl Says:

August 2nd, 2008, 11:54 am

A very thorough list! Thank you!

I have just a couple of suggestions:

#47 Instead of water, try herbal teas sweetened, if necessary, with stevia (which you can grow in your garden) or with honey.

You don’t have to purchase or grow herbs to do this as many beneficial herbs grow prolifically in everyone’s yard or garden if they don’t poison it (and themselves).

Blackberry leaves make a tea similar in taste to what is traditionally thought of as “tea”. But you can make many combinations with dandelion, plantain, wood sorrel (a nice lemony taste), red clover, chickweed, etc. All are “food grade” herbs, so you don’t have to worry about dosages. Just enjoy the delicious tastes and benefits you gain from drinking them!

If mint doesn’t grow wild by you, it is worth planting. So easy to grow, perennial, and the taste is universally pleasing (which means even finicky kids like it!) Just put the mint where it can get extra water. Under a drain spout is a great place!

#24 Some children have a hard time with oatmeal, but love home-made granola. There are many simple recipes available. My children will whip up a batch for a snack!

Julie Shannon Says:

August 2nd, 2008, 12:23 pm

I live in an area where online grocery shopping is not an option — but Amazon.com has a subscription program that allows me to bulk-buy on my terms, has free shipping, is delivered to my door, and often is WAY low priced. (35% savings in some cases, compared to the same item in my grocery store!) Subscriptions can deliver every month, or once in 3 months, or once in 6 months — you pick, and you can cancel any time with no issues. They don’t sell everything, but for canned goods and crackers and tea and coffee and such, this is worth checking out.

I am big on lists, and I often split bulk-buys with like-minded friends, so I can get a large amount of oil, but not have it sitting and going rancid.

Our grocery does not double coupons — BUT, you CAN use a manufacturer’s coupon along with a store coupon or sale. So — when I find a good manufacturer’s coupon, I try to get a few… then use them along with a store sale. For things like organic lemonade, which the kids LOVE and I rarely get due to price, I just picked up 6 bottles at 50 cents each!!! But yes, I am teaching my kids to love water ;^)*

Some products cost more, but you get more: we buy meat from a farm, and have a large chest freezer — it isn’t cheaper, just better. AND I get all the fat and have been MAKING SOAP — a fun project, great product, insanely fantastic and cheap holiday gifts (and I have lots for home use) We press cider out of free apples in the fall and freeze it with the meat… cost of containers being the biggest expense! We spring for raw milk from a cow near by — truly expensive, but again, worth it for nutrition. We pay for the cost of running that freezer — it isn’t cheap. But, it also allows us to stock up on sale frozen food that we get at traditional stores… so that helps pay for it ;^)* The freezer was free because someone was giving it away. Chest freezers are more economical to run that uprights — but you have to be more organized because they are harder to get into and root around in ;^)*

Finally — if you love eggs — they can keep a LONG time (months, even) if you flip them every week or so… I used to live in Alaska, and getting fresh stuff is tough. That’s where I learned that trick, and it works. This means when eggs are on sale, if you have the room, buy a lot and rotate them. A full fridge is more efficient, anyway — as long as you know where things are and are not throwing out a lot of food.

morgin1013 Says:

August 8th, 2008, 15:01 pm

One of the best investments I ever made was the Foodsaver. It vacuum seals your food making everything last so much longer. Because of this I am able to buy in bulk (meat, cheese, ect) vacuum seal it and throw it in our freezer (which we bought just for this purpose and doesn’t seem to cost us much in electricity) the Foodsaver has saved hundreds of dollars already and we’ve only had it about 6 months. The meat can be frozen for much longer then if it was frozen in the packages that they come in from the store or even Ziploc freezer bags and so far nothing has gotten any freezer burn. It helps to extend the life of fresh produce and bread too which we have a problem with spoilage and being frugal I can’t stand to waste anything especially food (which also means wasting money).

Moolah Says:

August 17th, 2008, 19:17 pm

One way I save on my grocery bill is using the home delivery service at my local grocery store. This saves me money, because I can’t impulse buy anything, which most people do when they shop at the grocery store. Great post!!

Toni Says:

August 22nd, 2008, 19:24 pm

Another good thing is to make a farmer your friend. My husband and I farm only 3 acres of organic land and we do a CSA and sell to a few resturants and stores in the area. There are many times of the year however that I just want to put the onions, melons, garlic or tomatoes out on the street with a free sign, because we have too many. I will usually make four or five trips to plowshares during a harvest season mostly because I am too tired to lift another canning pot. A farmer is always willing to trade services or sell, or give away during harvest season. (We save our best Heirloom tomatoes and garlic for an Abolone trade once a year) It’s really all about being nieghbors. And you need only go to local harvest.com to get information on fresh seasonal food in your area. Really lots better for you and more thoughtful at not more of a price.

Kat Says:

August 23rd, 2008, 9:30 am

The short answer on soy is that it’s a dangerous food for it’s estrogenic affects on the body. That will be an interesting thing for you to research online.

Great list of tips! Another couple of ideas … compare the cost per ounce even within the same brand. Just because it’s the “economy” size doesn’t mean that it’s less than the smaller containers. Either you might find it more efficient to use up with smaller sizes, or you’ll find that sometimes the smaller container is actually cheaper!

Next, see if you have a discount grocery or scratch and dent grocery store. While you can’t depend on them for a steady supply of what you want all of the time, if you know what you are doing, you can find some good bargains. Tricks to shopping successfully there is knowing the pitfalls. Grains may have the scent of detergent if it’s a smaller store … so cereal, rice, oats, etc should be bought with caution until you are sure they are good. It varies from store to store. Don’t buy cans with sharp creases at the edge of the dent. It may have cracked the coating and caused the ingredients to react with the can - particularly in the case of tomato sauce or another acidic food. Finally, as with any store, know the prices and don’t be fooled into thinking that everything is automatically less there. Some stuff is even more expensive than the regular store because they bring it in as a convenience to get people to do all of their shopping there.

Another advantage of monthly shopping is that when you plan your trip, you can pick up non-grocery items, or first visit friends/family in that area farther away and save a little on fuel. Otherwise, if you are driving farther away for something cheaper, you do just as well to pay the higher price at home and save the time (because the cost of gas will negate the savings.)

Rural Hippeh Says:

August 31st, 2008, 11:58 am

My family is fortunate enough to live where we can have a big garden. So we grow many of our foods ourselves. Homegrown foods have something store foods lack: taste. Also, we have learned to have a sort of trade system with others in our area that grow or produce more than they need of a particular item. Example: our neighbors have a maple syrup farm. We have a small greenhouse and grow many more bedding plants than we need. We trade for syrup, fire wood, fruits, services (labor, piano tuning, hay for the animals etc.)
We also have staked out fruit trees in the area that are on public land or on abandoned properties. We go “commando” when the fruit is ready and score all we can to jar, can, freeze.
We raise some poultry, some pigs, a few cows, more than we need and use the excess as more barter.
We use cold frames and mini greenhouses to extend the growing season as long as possible. Picking a fresh tomato in December? Oh yeah!
Dug a root cellar to store the potatoes, onions, turnips, etc.

I guess these aren’t tips for the grocery store, but tips to avoid the grocery store as much as possible.

Vid Says:

September 12th, 2008, 7:03 am

gr8 list… i already do some of the stuff on it…. got a tip to add…. dunno how its in the US, but in the UK when i shop at Tesco, i always buy breads late in the evening, somewhere after 8 pm, mainly because the prices get slashed by around 80%….coz these products wont last the next day….. ok the date givn on the bread is never actually true… u buy it n toss it into the fridge…it stays for another couple of days…. so i’d buy garlic bread topped with cheese for abt 75p…. originally costing 2.50!! u can see if the same thing applies in other supermarkets in ur area also….

Megan Says:

September 12th, 2008, 17:57 pm

Don’t “overbuy” fresh produce! You simply cannot “stock up” on it! Rather than replacing junk food like we intended, fresh fruit we purchased ended up going bad before my husband and I could eat it all.

Once it was bad (even after being kept in the fridge), we didn’t want to spend more money to replace it with fresh produce again, and ended up resorting back to junk food on hand. =o(

Buy only a couple of choices on each grocery store visit — you’ll save money and have healthy snacks on hand more consistently!

***BTW — bananas too ripe to eat plain?? Try finding a simple recipe to use them in!! My husband experimented a bit and discovered a recipe for Banana-Choc. Chip cookies that we LOVE! Plus, they are probably at least a little better for you than “regular” cookies! =o)

Stacy Says:

September 29th, 2008, 16:51 pm

Great tips, except cutting your own hair! I’m a hairdresser and instead of working in a salon, I offer hair services from my home or I’ll go to my guests homes, for less than half the price of a salon. I worked in very high end salons, so my clients get a really great quality cut/color, etc. for very little. I also offer free bang trims, neck trims and tutorials. Ask your hairdresser if she/he does this on the side. I also barter with some of my clients. I have bartered babysitting, eye exams, and some other cool stuff.

Love your blog!

Toni Says:

September 30th, 2008, 20:04 pm

Another neat and ecological thing I thought of while zenning in on grocery shopping and only having large note pads in our house…. When I go shopping I like to use the cloth bags that you can buy for pennies at the store. They are really great for unloading groceries because the handles are long enough that you can sling them over your shoulder so you can unload four bags with no strain. Then when you are done unloading the groceries they just go inside of each other and back into the trunk of the car. Raley’s, by the way, gives you a 50 cent credit on your bill each time you use a cloth bag. Anyway, you tend to collect your receipts in the bottoms of the bags. Pulling one out the other night I got the idea to write the weekly grocery list on the back of the week befores receipt! It is kind of crazy, but a great way to check prices on the things you tend to buy all the time and a fantastic way to recycle.

Laura Says:

October 7th, 2008, 15:13 pm

Another great benefit of using cloth bags (or recycling your plastic/paper ones) is that there are many supermarkets that will give you an added discount per bag. At my local market I get five cents per bag. Might not sound like much but every little bit helps. :o)

AO Says:

October 9th, 2008, 18:27 pm

i’m beginning to think i was the only one to figure this out or maybe i just works with Acme super markets…. their circular sales are from friday thru thursday. i do my shopping around 9pm on thursday when the staff is changing the shelf tickets. i get the previous and next weeks sales in one swoop. i suppose the computers overlap them for a few hours as i’m sure the staff isnt thrilled to label at midnight.

Valeria | TimelessLessons Says:

November 10th, 2008, 5:54 am

Thanks for another great list Leo. Something I have in mind which goes with your Thursday shopping (#29) is plan, buy and eat seasonally. In our days, almost everything is available almost all the time, but at a higher cost.

Go for it once in a while and see it as what it is, a luxury of our times.

Self Sufficiency Says:

December 23rd, 2008, 14:40 pm

That was a very froogle list of things people could do. :) Its great when people post some sensible yet practical ways to save a few $$$. Sometimes bargain hunting can be fun :) as well as knowing that you can do alot more with some well planned grocery trips :)

Anne K Says:

January 19th, 2009, 9:10 am

Lately, ground beef in my area has been running close to $5/#, but chuck roasts and some other beef cuts have been running around $2.65. So- I buy the roasts & grind them at home. It’s almost half the price. It tends to be a bit dryer because it has less fat, but you don’t notice that in a casserole or meatball- just in a burger. And I love the convenience of bonesless/skinless chicken breast, especially those pre-cut strips for stir fry. But it’s way cheaper to buy chicken breasts in bulk, debone/slice at home & pack those up for the freezer. (If you freeze the sliced chicken in single layers, you save on cooking time later.) Then I make chicken broth with the bones & skin. I cool it in the fridge overnight so the fat congeals on the top. Then I freeze the defatted broth in single-size protions.

Taylor at Household-Management-101 Says:

January 20th, 2009, 0:44 am

Lots of great tips. I just wrote a blog post on this (click link above). The one I would add to your list (which is very comprehensive) is to look at your calendar for the coming week before you go to the store, to make sure you pick up anything you need for special events coming up.

Kara Says:

January 24th, 2009, 4:29 am

I used to use most of these tips when it was just me and my dad and I was in high school. I was in charge of groceries and meal-planning.

Now that I’m in college and living in my own place, I find that it helps me a lot more to keep track of how many times a week I normally cook versus when I just need something to eat and can’t bring myself to cook. Not only do I have a full class schedule and work 20-30 hours a week, I am also trying to manage my depression. I can never predict when I’m going to have a week when I can’t bring myself to enter my kitchen.

So I’ve divided my budget this way: I’ve put $250 on declining balance (this is an account that is attached to our student IDs so that we can purchase things easily at the bookstore and campus eateries without having to carry around cash) so that I can have quick meals on campus. Then I have a budget of $50 a week to spend on either eating out or cooking at home. So I usually end up spending $30 on groceries and leave the other $20 so I can eat out with friends.

I find that I can’t bring myself to cook many meals by scratch, so if I try to buy enough food to make five dinners in a given week, half of the meat and vegetables will go bad before I have the opportunity to use it. So I stock up on easily prepared meals - like spaghetti and mac and cheese, but also my favorite curry dishes where the sauce comes in a jar or I only have to add a couple ingredients, cut up a carrot, potato and half an onion, and I’m all set.

I also know I won’t eat leftovers, and they will just stay in my fridge and rot until I’m brave enough to open the containers and clean them out. So instead I save my leftovers for my friend who’s over a lot and is also off meal plan to save money. He gets free food and I am saved the pain of seeing mold on macaroni a month later.

So the point to my long comment post is that it might be more important to figure out how many meals you can cook from scratch, what kind of demands your lifestyle makes of you, and if maybe it’s more important to focus on other things in your life (like managing my depression, getting good grades in school and making enough money to cover what my scholarship doesn’t and to pay my bills), and try to make a plan that will make your life easier and waste food less. Anyway, that’s what I’ve done and it works pretty well.

Julie Says:

January 24th, 2009, 11:13 am

In our store you can use coupons along with sale prices — so I keep an eye out for coupons I use a lot and sometimes get doubles and even more of them, then if the product goes on sale, I stock up using the sale and coupon price combined.

This works especially well with manufacturers coupons that don’t expire, or have a long period of time in which to use them. I rarely shop brand names, but certain companies that have organic products are worth it to me… be sure you understand the rules of this “double-dipping” — generally it is ONE coupon you can use and the sale price in the store has to come up automatically.

Also — sometimes you can use the coupon on up to four of the same item… I am not stocking up as much as I used to, but in the Summer it is easy to go through a lot of juice, say, and in the winter I go through a lot of peanut butter — so sometimes it just makes sense to stock up. I while back it was hard to resist when the sale/coupon deal worked together and I got premium organic juice that normally costs $2.25 for .50 a bottle!

long sleeve polo shirts Says:

February 3rd, 2009, 22:02 pm

Wow, now that’s a list. I’d have to agree with “Don’t go when you’re hungry”, one of my friends went to shop for us when we lived in the same apartment and he was starving before he went and when he got back he had so much food we could not even fit in all in the refrigerator!

log splitter sale Says:

March 7th, 2009, 15:03 pm

Wel well leo another great post from you, thank you mate. I like this one: Always go with a list. If you go without a list, you may as well just throw your money away. Better yet, donate it to me — I probably need it more than you. :) Seriously, though, you need to prepare a list of everything you need, pulling from your weekly menu (next tip) and checking to make sure you don’t have it in your pantry, fridge or freezer. Make sure you’re not forgetting anything. Now stick to that list.

Toni Says:

March 7th, 2009, 18:47 pm

CSA’s or Community Supported Agriculture shares are a wonderful bargain! Joining a CSA means funding the farm early, so members pay a lump sum months before their first delivery. Divide the share price by the number of weeks you’ll be receiving deliveries and compare it with what you currently spend on produce! Considering the fresh delicious produce .herbs flowers and fruit you will be enjoying, a membership in a CSA is an excellent value. Check out Greenjeans Farm zip code 95469 on localharvest.com! That’s us!

Kootenaymom Says:

March 12th, 2009, 1:12 am

Great list! I appologize if some of this stuff is already mentioned, I couldn’t read through all the posts. Also, I am in Canada, so the cost of food is MUCH higher here (I’ve lived in the US so I know).

A couple of things. I’m married to a FN man, so vegetarianism is not an option - so to reduce our cost on meat we buy half a cow, half a pig, whole chickens from a local farmer and then freeze them - he cuts them into about 1lb portions and wraps them for us. Much more affordable (about $800 for almost a whole year vs $200-300/mo at the grocery store). If that’s not possible, buy in larger amounts then seperate into meal size portions and freeze - even at the grocery store the larger packages tend to be less per pound. Also look for mark downs and coupons.

Grow your own (I know this was in previous post, but just reiterating). Lots of things can be grown in containers, even year round if you have the right set up. Some things grow like weeds outside. For example raspberries. They charge about $5 for a small basket or frozen bag at the grocery store. I grew my own last year and froze them. Pretty much free. Try and grow non-hybrid if you can then for some things you can dry the seeds and use them the next year saving even more money.

Make it or process it yourself! I can what I grow or buy large boxes at harvest time and can or freeze things to last through the year. I also bake my own bread (a few hours about once a month $0.25/loaf instead of $4/loaf for the good stuff at the store). I also buy bags of carrots and then peel and cut them into carrot sticks instead of buying those machine formed ones. You get the idea. It’s always cheaper to do the work yourself and then you know exactly what is in what you are feeding your family. The freezer is your friend.

I have three toddlers. All picky eaters. A good idea if you have this issue is to only put a small amount out on their plate and then give them more if they are still hungry, we waste less this way as it’s easier to put leftovers away from the pot than from a toddler’s plate (who knows what’s been done to it by the end of meal time).

We do other things that I know aren’t options for everyone. Good eggs are about $4/dozen at the store so we and our neighbours have a coop with about 6 hens in it for eggs. The hens cost about $3 each and produce about an egg a day each. We give them laying feed, but cut down on this cost by feeding them kitchen scraps - they paid for themselves in the first 2 weeks. We share the work of maintaining them btwn 3 households so it’s not as much work as it could be. Not an option for everyone - but it’s been a good deal for us.

Also to reiterate - buy store brands when they are cheaper. I worked for a large grocery chain in their product development dept. for awhile. Most of the time the same company that made that product next to it that’s double the price also made the store brand so why pay more for the same thing?

joy woodworth Says:

March 18th, 2009, 17:00 pm

I recommend when you go into a grocery store start in the back of the store and go backwards through the store. I don’t know why, but I spend less that way. I guess there is a reason that the bakery and all it’s goodies is in the front wafting great smells and milk is ALWAYS in the back. those last minute shots to pick up a gallon can kill your wallet.

I also shop around the aisles first then go in to each aisle as I need things on my list. a “farmers market” feeling is on the outside, i.e. perishables and the processed foods are in the middle. It’s also faster.

http://hollyjenson.blogspot.com/ Says:

March 26th, 2009, 7:41 am

I like to go shopping when im hungry otherwise I can never decide what to get lol

Shop Agentin Says:

April 9th, 2009, 8:39 am

I Love shopping. If I don`t have time to go the mall, I’m using the Internet for Online Shopping.
Sometimes I think I can`t contain it. ;-(

Karina Myers Says:

April 14th, 2009, 10:58 am

What an impressive post. Thank you for sharing all these tips. I’m happy to see that I’m following some already, I still need to get better though.

This might have been mentioned in one of the comments above already, but I find it really helpful to buy online, there are some really nice “Free Shipping” deals that you can find in websites (i.e. ebay) which helps you have a better idea of what you are going to pay.

Me and my husband are vegan, so we don’t worry about buying meat. We do try to avoid buying junk food and use the savings for healthy products like sprouted bread or tofu (which you can find for very cheap in oriental stores) - you’ll be surprised all you can save when you stop buying soda.

Experimenting with Asian and Mediterranean food is always a good idea, since it’s not only healthy but very economical and easy to make.

I added your blog to my Google Reader, and again, thanks for sharing. :)

~Karina

Holly Says:

April 16th, 2009, 12:18 pm

I do my weekly grocery shopping on Sunday after reviewing the paper with all the sale ads for the week. I am able to do the majority of my shopping at Walmart because they will match any lower prices on items at other stores, you just need to bring the circular in so they can verify the price. That saves me time and money in gas.

Chris @ Wok Says:

April 23rd, 2009, 18:32 pm

I try to buy much rice and potatoes because it’s cheap and it won’t go bad for a long time. I try to make sure that there is always enough of it in the flat.
If I had a garden, I would grow tomatoes and some herbs like basil. A friend of mine grows tomatoes on his balcony. Unfortunately I don’t even have a balcony.

Thank you very much for your tips. There are several I didn’t think of yet.

me Says:

May 5th, 2009, 20:08 pm

Create a freezer soup container. Any scraps or leftovers you could later add to a soup pot (crock pot?) get tossed in. Saves waste, and time: one meal is ready to go and you don’t have to get individual containers out for that 1/4 onion you can’t throw away.

Pit bikes Says:

May 16th, 2009, 4:29 am

ake a pantry checklist. Make a checklist of everything you normally stock in your pantry. Keep it posted on the pantry. Put a slash next to each item for the number of items you have (if you have two cans of stewed tomatoes, put two slashes). Then, when you use something, turn the slash into an x. This makes it much easier when it comes time to make your list. I think that this is one of the best tips ever Leo, Thank you.

Aldohas Says:

May 23rd, 2009, 15:15 pm

Great list…
it’s help me a lot
more effective and efficient

Annabel Candy Says:

June 2nd, 2009, 7:15 am

I was this title and thought it was impossible. Then I read it and realised that I actually already do most of these things already! Unbelievable. But Leo doesn’t mention online shopping. My hilarious experiences with it are catalogued here:

http://inthehotspot.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/moving-abroad-to-australia-from-costa-rica-and-new-zealand-and-a-foray-into-online-grocery-shopping/

Good luck with all your plans!

Joypup Says:

June 2nd, 2009, 11:00 am

on Amazon.com I find case prices on subscription that are very, very good — I get them delivered every 6 months, and don’t spend my gas on them, or have to carry it to the house, even. Things like olive oil and artichoke hearts have been cheaper than in food warehouse stores or even food outlets. You can cancel the subscription, but the rates are excellent.

DFMS Says:

June 3rd, 2009, 15:55 pm

good list. especially number 4 (very truthful).

Chicago Storage Dude Says:

June 7th, 2009, 3:59 am

Thanks Leo, this is definitely one of my top lists ever, I will use it while grocery shopping.

Tee Says:

June 8th, 2009, 17:44 pm

My tip. . . Dilute, dilute, dilute. Everything is made thick so you use it up and have to buy more. Lotion, liquid soaps, detergent, shampoo, conditioner, all household cleaners, on and on. Get more bang for your $$ and add water to it. Depending on the size of the container, usually a ½ up to 1 cup is plenty. Just keep adding a little water at a time and mix until its thinner but not too thin. Also, baking soda is a great, inexpensive, and multipurpose cleaner. Just mix up a paste with water. Cheers, Tee

Joypup Says:

June 8th, 2009, 18:03 pm

when diluting certain things, consider adding distilled water — it cuts down on bacterial growth in items that will be around for a period of time, like lotions.

Paul Says:

June 11th, 2009, 3:43 am

Thanks.They are useful in our daily life.Before I read these tips,I have not thought about how to live an economical but healthy life.

free divorce papers Says:

June 12th, 2009, 1:41 am

I am very glad to see a great list of tips here.

I always do tip #s 1, 2 and 4. I prepare the weekly menu first and list down the ingredients needed for each dish. Then, I list other stuff to buy (e.g. toiletries, milk, juice, fruits, etc.) and the estimated price beside each item. That way, I know my spending limit. If, after the grocery, and I still have some change, I place them on my coin jar, which I use for emergency situations.

Being a busy buzz, I usually prepare quick meals. I cook 3-4 meals in a day then freeze them. It saves me time, especially when I am on a deadline.

Beads N Crafts Says:

June 18th, 2009, 1:20 am

Awesome list, although one I often tell people is:

Don’t expect to buy everything in one place. Go to the butcher for meat, fishmonger for fish, etc.

Here the “supermarket” run a dividend scheme (it’s a co-op), and they double up on Tues/Weds, so I buy all cleaning products, other boxed/canned/dried goods on those days - otherwise its fresh all the way baby!

Cheap Juicy Couture Says:

June 18th, 2009, 2:14 am

I totally agree about buying toilet paper in bulk. I hate running out of that stuff at the last minute. I have had to leave the house to use a public restroom because I did not have enough at home. I know thats horrible.

Sky Says:

June 22nd, 2009, 18:20 pm

This list is fantastic!!! I have already implimented a lot of it into my life. My friends think I make alot of money because I have so much tucked away… Really it’s that I save every penny I can, they think I am making it all up and laugh at my lack of cable etc…

For meal planning, http://www.kraftcanada.com (for those in Canada) or http://www.kraftfoods.com(in the U.S.) has some great tools that help with meal planning that my daughter can help with, and with the online meal planning it also does my shopping list for me… I dont forget any ingredients that way.

I have found a great way to save on cleaning supplies. I now make my own. Vinegar is a chemical free anti-bacterial agent and citrus will cut through kitchen grease and make the vinegar smell better. I simply save my orange, grapefruit, lemon and lime peels in the fridge in a large ziplock bag when full I put them in a large jar, top the jar up with vinegar and let sit for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks I pour the vinegar into a spray bottle and voilla homemade, chemical free, cheap kitchen cleaner. Cost is minimal as I’m eating the fruit anyhow, and a couple of litres of vinegar is only a couple of bucks, I’m no longer paying 5$+ for a bottle of cleanser.
If you dont like the citrus you can substitute with lavender spriggs.

Toilet cleaner is expensive as well, I now use 1/2 cup of vingar and 2TBSP of baking soda. This both cleans and disinfects for very little money.

Irene Savoia Says:

July 3rd, 2009, 7:33 am

Since the financial crisis,I spend less money on grocery.I avoid going shopping.

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