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Groceries are one of the top expenses for many households. Getting the things everyone wants and needs can add up quite quickly. But with careful planning and a few simple changes, you can lower this expense. Here are eight great ways to save more on your grocery bill.
Stock Up on Clearance Items
Sometimes grocery stores will need to clear out some items to make room for others. You can get some very good products at greatly reduced prices. This is a great way to stock up on nonperishable items such as pasta and rice. You can also save a dollar or two on bread products. Just be aware of expiration dates.
Use Discount and Coupon Apps
There are many digital coupon clipper apps out there to make sure that you always have coupons for items you buy regularly. There are also grocery saving apps that give you cash rewards for staple items such as vegetables, milk, and bread. Many of these programs are only available as mobile apps, but there are some available on the computer, as well.
Shop According to Sales and Clearance
Use clearance items and sales as a guide instead of a dedicated list. Look at what is on sale, as well as what’s on clearance and plan your meals around those items first. Then, plan the remaining meals based on need and budget. That said, don’t just buy items because they are there unless you have an immediate purpose.
Swap Coupons with Friends and Family
If you find you’re getting coupons for items that you don’t buy, you may have friends or family that do. You can swap these with them for coupons that they won’t use that you can.
Load Online Coupons to Your Rewards Member Card
Some people forget that when their grocery store has a member’s reward program, there are also online coupons to load, in addition to the regular sales. Check these every week to be sure you are getting the maximum value of your free membership.
Avoid Junk Food
Junk food can often cost many times more than if you were to make something similar that is better for you. Avoiding junk food can save you a good percentage on your grocery bill. Health food is only expensive when you buy the less healthy, pre-prepared items. It is a well-known myth that actual healthy food costs more. In many cases, it’s less.
Ditch the Processed Foods
While processed foods can be convenient, they don’t actually save you money. Whole foods actually end up being cheaper and don’t really take that much longer to prepare. Also, they are better for your health.
Only Buy Bulk Items That Actually Save
Sometimes bulk items actually cost you more money than they save. Look at the price per unit on the tags and compare to make sure you get the better deal. Sometimes, buying more of the smaller packages will cost you less than the bulk or family size packages. This is because stores often get the better deal on the sizes bought most often, which is usually the smaller ones. Check your price tags and make sure the bulk items you buy are the savings you are looking for.
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