Many people are conscious of their expenses, so they make it a point to cut down on their expenditure. And one of the ways to do so is to become a wiser shopper.
If you happen to live in southeastern part of the U.S., you should look for Ingles weekly ad. This will give you an idea on which items are up for sale in the supermarket chain.
But even if you can’t find one yet, here are some things that can help you cut down on your grocery expenses:
Shop midweek
Studies have shown that most supermarkets reduce prices of foods that are about to expire. Wednesday is the day when most of them do so.
This is also the day when majority of stores begin their new sales. Hence, try to schedule your shopping on Wednesday or Thursday.
You should also schedule your trip to the grocery during odd hours. For example, you could get discounted bakery items like bread loaf in the evenings.
After all these items won’t be sold by the store or donated to a local food shelter. Hence, retailers will offer these items at rock-bottom prices in the evening, which you should take advantage of.
Buy in bulk
This is another time-tested tip for frugal shoppers. Buying in bulk should give you a lot of savings.
You should also stock up whenever there is a buy one, get one free offer. However you must check expiry dates closely before buying anything.
Plan your meals
Before going to the grocery, plan your meals first. If you can, try to list down the meals you will have for the week. Then write a list of the ingredients and items you need to make meals.
This way, you will know exactly how much meat, poultry, vegetables, and spices to buy. Meal planning also allows you to adjust your budget accordingly, even before you go to the supermarket.
Aside from being unhealthy, junk food like canned drinks, chips, and cookies can only add up to your expenses. Scratch these junk foods off the shopping list. Instead, buy healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and grains which are also a lot cheaper.
Never shop hungry.
The idea is simple—shopping hungry will affect your buying attitude because you will likely buy foods that you don’t really need, or are not part of your meal plan.
Those are just four ways to cut down on your grocery expenses. You should also look for an Ingles weekly ad as it will tell you which foods are on sale in the said store