Groceries
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How To Save Money On Groceries
by: Steve Gillman
Of course you can save money on groceries by using coupons. Below is
an explanation of how to best do that. Don't want to clip coupons?
Me neither, and there are other ways to save. Those can be found
here as well.
Coupons usually only save you money if you use them on things you
normally buy or things that can replace what you normally buy. In
other words, if you use a coupon to buy a new sugary "fruit" snack
that you don't normally eat anyhow, you didn't save money, but spent
more. Getting a different brand of orange juice for less with a
coupon, or getting the same brand you normally buy for fifty cents
less - that makes sense.
Coupons become especially valuable if you have stores in your area
that offer "double coupon" days. They limit the doubling to coupons
of fifty cents or less, though, and you need to use them the right
way to get the most out of them. The "right way" is to buy the
smallest size you can find of the coupon item.
Why? It is a matter of getting the lowest per-unit cost. For
example, a doubled 50 cent coupon saves you $1 off a $4, 12-roll
package of toilet paper, meaning it cost you $3, or 25 cents per
roll. Use that coupon to save a dollar on the $1.39 4-roll package,
though, and it costs you just 39 cents, or less than 10 cents per
roll. Find dollar-size products that you have fifty-cent coupons
for, and they are free.
Is it all worth it though? Clipping coupons and analyzing per-unit
costs? Maybe, maybe not. There are simpler ways to save money on
groceries, though.
Five More Ways To Save Money On Groceries
1. Never shop hungry. That's all there is to this tip, and you can
figure out why this will save you money.
2. Try store brands. Some are as good as name brands and some
aren't, but usually all are cheaper, so why not at least try them,
but maybe without telling the kids.
3. Stock up during sales. We bought 20 or 30 cans of tomato paste
when it was on sale for 10 cents per can. Stock up when things that
are 30 to 80% off and you'll be eating cheap. Do this with any
non-perishables.
4. Follow the per-piece/per-pound rule. When the price is per piece,
buy the largest fruit or vegetable. You obviously get more for your
money. Less obvious, is that you should buy small pieces when the
price is per pound. You might buy four small bananas for the price
of 2 large ones, but you'll still only eat one at a time, right?
Again, you get more for your money.
5. Be an opportunist. Buy what you like - when it's on sale. Do you
really need oranges every day? Get them when they're cheap. When
they aren't, buy orange juice or grapefruit or whatever is on sale.
As a grocery opportunist, you get plenty of variety. You even get
everything you like, because everything goes on sale once in a
while. Bonus: when fruits and vegetables are cheapest, they are also
usually the highest quality, because the season is at it's height.
This is a great way to save money on groceries.
About The Author
Steve Gillman has studied unusual ways to make and save money for
thirty years. To learn more, visit his website;
http://www.UnusualWaysToMakeMoney.com.