A trip to the supermarket for groceries is costing more and more each trip. Groceries eat into a significant chunk of our income every month, but while we can’t live without them, we can find ways to bring this expense down.
To make it easier on your wallet, follow these simple steps and save on your next grocery trip.
Make a Grocery List
Walking into a grocery store without a clear idea of what you need is an invitation to a spending disaster. Write down the foods you’d like to buy and the quantities. It’s also a good idea to note the ingredients you already have so you don’t end up buying items you already own.
Meal planning can help control your spending on groceries by planning what you are going to eat for the week and writing that down. This will help you stay organized and prevent impulse purchases.
Use Coupons to Save Money
Coupons are a great way to save money on groceries. With a little preparation and some research, grocery shopping can be done quickly and without breaking the bank. Take a few minutes each week to find out which stores offer online coupons and sign up for their newsletters.
Most stores offer price matching. If the price of a product is cheaper at a competing store, your store will price match, saving you a little extra.
Can Buying in Bulk Save Money?
Buying in bulk can save money on groceries if done right. Stores like Costco offer great prices on bulk items. For example, you can buy toilet paper at a substantial discount compared to other stores. It’s not just toilet paper—Costco sells a lot of products in bulk, providing significant savings. Buying large quantities of specific food items such as pasta, rice, cereals, or bread means you will pay less per item.
If you buy a lot at once, you can save money on your shopping trip. However, be careful not to overbuy. Bulk buying is a great option for families with children, as they are certain to use the large quantities and can fully take advantage of bulk buying.
Earn Cashback
Why pay in cash when you can earn cashback by using your credit card? Groceries are expensive, and squeezing every saving possible goes a long way. Earning cashback while grocery shopping can take the bite out of grocery bills.
President’s Choice (PC) is a great example of earning cashback through points (PC Points) that can be redeemed towards paying for groceries. By using a PC credit card, you earn points every time you make a purchase. Points value varies depending on the location and nature of the purchase.
There are many other cashback options to choose from. All major Canadian banks offer some sort of cashback cards.
Other Ways to Save Money on Groceries
There are many ways to save money on groceries. Some easy methods are buying in bulk, shopping sales, and choosing generic brands. Store brand items offer the same quality and taste as name brands but for a fraction of the cost.
One thing most of us don’t think about is the layout of the grocery store. Get familiar with your grocery store’s layout. This is important because if you don’t know the layout, you might start wandering through different aisles and end up buying things you don’t need.
Know the layout of your grocery store so you can walk in, go to the aisles you need, and walk right out without stumbling onto products you don’t need.
Conclusion
Saving money on groceries doesn’t have to be complicated. All it takes is a little planning, budgeting, and some discipline. By making a grocery list, using coupons, buying in bulk, earning cashback, and understanding your grocery store’s layout, you can significantly reduce your grocery expenses. Start implementing these tips today to see the savings on your next grocery bill.
