Fill your grocery bag with the items you need.
The grocery budget, for large families, in particular, can take a chunk out of every family's monthly budget. Cut down on wasteful spending at the grocery store by shopping smartly. Making a list is key in ensuring that you buy only the items that you need and avoid impulse purchases. Cutting coupons and sticking to your list can reduce your grocery expenses, leaving your family more disposable income each month.
Buy in Bulk--Wisely
If your grocery list includes staples that you purchase week after week, buy them in bulk to cut down on costs. Rather than buying chicken breasts in packages of three or four, stock up on a bulk-sized bag of frozen chicken breasts. Toss the bag in the freezer, and thaw the breasts one at a time for a number of meals. Buying in bulk can be wasteful, however, if you don't do it wisely. Don't purchase a jumbo box of cookies if your family rarely eats them. The cookies will eventually go bad, so if you don't eat them often, most of them will end up in the garbage can. Focus your bulk-buying efforts on items that you eat weekly, and that you can freeze and keep fresh until you need them.
Avoid Convenience Foods
Today's time-short consumers want items that are easy to toss in a brown bag or heat up in a microwave. However, this convenience comes with a cost. Avoid purchasing convenience foods, including packages of sliced fruit, chopped vegetables or individually sized snacks. If prepackaged foods are a must in your household, do it yourself. When you get home from the grocery store, separate your items into convenience packages. Slice fruit, and place it in plastic bags for your kids' lunches. Divide chips and crackers into single-serving packages. Chop up the vegetables you need for your week's recipes, and store them in plastic ware in the refrigerator to make your cooking easier. With a little bit of legwork, you can cut costs.
Research Discounts
Grocery stores advertise discounts in weekly circulars and in the stores, so take note of what discounts work for you as you shop. Don't purchase items simply because they are on sale. If a product on your list is on sale, take advantage of it. However, don't buy extra until you assess the discount. For example, most deals like "Two for $5" do not require you to buy two products to receive the discounted price. If you only need one item, then you can still get it for $2.50. Read the fine print, and don't overbuy simply because the advertised discount encourages you to do so.
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