10 Easy Ways To Lower Your Grocery Bill

When you have a big family you often will have a big grocery bill too. I have a family of six and I spend quite a bit of money each month at the grocery store just on food to cook meals for the family. With a weekly budget I use a variety of methods to help save money and make our budget stretch as far as I can. These methods aren’t magic, just simple and easy ways to help save money each time you shop for groceries. Below are ten easy ways to lower your grocery bill…

1. Coupons  – One of the easiest way to save money is by using coupons. You don’t have to go and clip every coupon thinking you might need them, clip only coupons for the products that you actually buy. When you clip a coupon for $1 for a product that you regularly buy, that coupon is like having an extra $1 in your wallet. One of the easiest ways to print coupons before is on Coupons.com and Smartsource.com. I would also suggest emailing the companies of products you purchase regularly and ask to be put on their mailing list. Lots of times not only will they put you on their list, they will send out some free coupons just because your a fan of their product.
2. Rewards/Loyalty Cards – If your grocery store offers a reward or loyalty type of card be sure to sign up and use it. A majority of these cards will give you special rewards just for using the card like digital coupons or personalized offers based on your shopping habits. If you have a Safeway near their card offers digital coupons, personalized offers and ways to save at the gas pump!
3. Like Your Favorite Brands On Facebook – If you are on Facebook chances are that you are a fan of different brands. Many brands will offer a special coupon offer just for “liking” their page.
4. Don’t Shop At Any Store – Not all stores offer the same prices so when shopping for your groceries, be sure to shop at the stores that offer the lowest prices for the items you buy regularly. Even if you have to make two shopping trips, the amount you could save on the items you purchase might be worth the extra couple bucks in gas.
5. Look For Alternatives – Keep your grocery receipts. After you are shopping look at your receipt and highlight the most expensive items. See if you can find another product that is cheaper or buy this product at another local store that offers it cheaper.
6. Don’t Pay Extra For Your Fruits & Vegetables – I know its tempting to grab the pre-packed fruit and vegetables that have already been cleaned and cut but you will save money if you buy your fruits and vegetables in their natural form and do the work yourself.
7. Look For Store Brands vs the Name Brands – In most situations the name brand products are going to be more expensive and at eye level. When shopping be sure to look up and look down for cheaper items that include the generic brands or the store brand.
8. Plan Your Shopping Day On Sales Days – During the holidays you can usually find products that you regularly use at a big discount. On holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth Of July and Labor Day, you can usually score great deals on condiments, canned goods, paper goods and more!
9. Join A Warehouse Club – For those of you that have large families and buy in bulk, it may make sense to signup for a local warehouse club such as Costco or Sam’s Club.
10. Compare Unit Prices– This might make shopping a little longer but worth it in the long run if you are looking for the best deal.  When shopping look at the products unit price. This will show you how much you are paying per ounce which allows you to figure out the best deal.

These are just 10 ways that I use when shopping to save money on groceries for my family. Do you have any other ideas? Feel free to share your ways to save money on your grocery bill by leaving a comment below…