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Cut Down on
Your Grocery Bill
We've all heard about certain ways to cut your grocery bill like
avoiding the grocery store when you're hungry, using coupons on double
coupons day, and buying only the items on your list. These are
all good tips and we should keep using them. However, I've found
a few pointers that might help you save even more on your grocery
bill.
The first thing you need to do after you've made your grocery list is
to try to figure the total cost of your grocery bill. Make sure
you've got everything on the list that you'll need because after
you've made an educated guess you're going to go to your purse (or
wallet), take out the cash and leave the rest behind. I know, I
know your purse has your checkbook, your credit cards and maybe
even your driver's license! So take out your driver's license
and head on over to the store with your list and cash. Believe
me, this will definitely cut back on the unnecessary extras because
you won't have the credit cards to fall back on. And if you're
like me, you'd rather be hung upside down by your toe nails than be
found short $2.57 at the check out.
Don't be afraid to look on the day-old bread rack or in the
"about to expire" section of the meat department. You
have to be careful, but you'll probably be able to tell whether the
item is good. Just make sure to use it right away, don't let it
sit in your refrigerator for a week. Who knows, it just might
"meat" your expectations and save you money in the process!
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Another thing to think about is the time of day, time of week and even
time of month that you are shopping. I've found that early in
the morning and in the middle of the week is when the grocery stores
are less busy and you'll be able to get more efficient shopping done.
Be careful not to go on the first day or two of the month. Some
stores have been known to raise prices because that is the time that
social security and welfare checks go out.
Look high and low for savings, literally. The grocery stores
purposely place the higher-priced name brand items at eye level.
The lower priced generic and store brands are usually higher and lower
than the brand name items. Remember that the generic brand or
store brand isn't always the less expensive. Some stores I've
been to list the cost per ounce, or per item (trash bags) so be sure
to compare these prices when shopping.
Last but not least, if you've got kids at home try to find another mom
to trade shopping times with. It's a lot easier to shop without
kids, you won't be tempted to buy extras just to keep them quiet and
you'll have more time to comparison shop. Your chances of having
an enjoyable shopping experience will go up as well as their chances
for survival!
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