To be honest, I don't like going grocery shopping. I simply find it boring and stressful. The thing is I don't do any homework before hand so whenever I show up at the store I'm always lost! If you are like me, you'll find this article very helpful because we'll show you some tips from the experts to save time and money when you go to the supermarket.
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Shop in your Pantry
You’ll be surprised by the amount of food you already have hidden away in your cupboards. After you finish the inventory, you’ll be ready to go to the supermarket and buy smart. This way you won’t waste time and money at the store buying food you already have.
Make a list
You heard it before a million times already, but very few people make a list. I’m guilty as charged! With a list in hand, you’ll be in control of your shopping and very few things will sneak by you making you waste money. According to a recent study, the average household in America wastes about 40% of food every month. Make a list to start saving and stop wasting.
Grains, beans, frozen vegetables and canned tomatoes
These are smart buys because these foods are versatile and they last long. Beans are a great source of protein and you can enjoy them hot or cold. Grains like brown rice, barley and quinoa are not only good for you, they last a long time in the pantry and are easy to make. Frozen vegetables are great because they are full of nutrients and take seconds to cook and canned tomatoes are great in sauces, soups and even desert.
Coupon dilemma
We all love to score on saving, but beware of coupons. Sometimes, stocking on savings means buying more quantities of unnecessary foods. Don’t cut all the coupons you find before going to the supermarket or bring them all at once. Remember that the key word here is planning, so don’t cut more than you can chew!
Beware of sales
Just like coupons, in-store sales and specials are equally dangerous. Remember that store sales are designed to make you spend a lot of time and money on unwanted food. Just because an item is on sale it doesn’t mean that you have to buy. Only buy those foods that you use regularly.
Don’t lurk around exotic foods aisle
I know it's tempting, especially after you went to a restaurant and ordered pasta with truffle butter. You loved it so much and you think you won’t be able to eat pasta with common olive oil again. You take a stroll through the gourmet food aisle and there it is. Resist the temptation and don't do it. Chances are that you’ll pay a lot of money for a little bottle and you won’t use it because you’ll save it for special occasions.
Use self-checkout counters
It’s known, if you see the cumulative price and total of the items you are buying chances are that you’ll put aside those extras you don’t need. This is also helpful if you want to lose weight because you’ll probably toss out snacks and unhealthy foods.
