Grocery shopping is not the fun household chore to do, but it is essential in keeping the food cost budget down by avoiding going out to eat, so keeping the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry stocked is a must.  Finding a parking spot, fighting the crowds by those who leave their cart in the middle of the aisle, and the long checkout lines are some annoyances in going grocery shopping, but hopefully seeing that bill come down at the checkout and leaving extra money in your pocket will be enough to bring some excitement to your weekly shopping routine.

Sign Up for Shoppers Reward Card

This is a must and it takes almost nothing to do.  By being able to input your phone number at the checkout you will see plenty of discounts start to come off of your bill, just on the items that you bought.  Going forward you will then start to notice all of the items on sale that you can get lower just for being a rewards customer.  You try to never pay full price for anything, so why not groceries as well.

Add Digital Coupons

While you are surfing the net at work why not see what digital coupons from the store’s website can be added to your rewards card that will come over at checkout.  They work the same as coupons that you clip, they are just paperless.  The tricky part can be remembering which coupons you added to the card, so you may have to print out the list, or be sure to specifically write down the exact brand and product.

Fuel Points Add Up

Another perk of using your shoppers rewards card that we have not even covered yet is the fact that you get fuel points that add up every time you use your card, so definitely do not miss out on this opportunity to save at the pump and getting credit just by doing your normal shopping.  The savings my not be significant at first, maybe saving ten cents off each gallon, but if you let the points add up and use at once, you could take a significant portion of the price per gallon down.

Know the Best Days to Shop

You know that if you try and go grocery shopping on a Saturday or Sunday, it can be a nightmare.  Retailers know this, which is why they do not give the biggest sales on the weekend, as the crowds will be there anyways regardless of the price.  Try and do your shopping during the week, specifically mid-week in the evening.  You will find hardly a soul there, and may even find the best “10 for $10” or a favorite promotion that if you buy five of the blue items, you can an additional savings per item.

Stick to the Perimeter of the Store

If you follow your cart around the outer aisles of the store you will find the produce department, fresh deli and meat counter, dairy, and frozen food sections, basically all of the essentials.  If you stick to the perimeter of the store, you can avoid impulse purchases that normally would have been made going up and down the aisles, not to mention these will be the unhealthier options.

Don’t Let the Reduced Items Scare You

If you are passing through the meat aisle and notice a section that might be called “Manager’s Special”, it may seem gross to see these reduced and wonder what’s wrong with then, making you just keep on walking by.  Actually though, they could never purposely sell you meat that was not edible, but they will be expiring, so if you are cooking that day or the day after, they are perfectly fine, just much cheaper.

Plan Out Your Meals

Impulse buys are a huge expense added to your grocery bill, so the best you can do to avoid will save you money, and planning out your meals is a huge part of that.  If you write down exactly what you need, stick to your list, and avoid the items that look good, you will be in good shape.

Don’t Shop on an Empty Stomach

If you have gone to the grocery store while you are hungry then you know very well that you come home with more bags that you had planned, unnecessary items, and an inflated grocery bill that might have thrown your food budget out of whack for the month.  Due yourself and your wallet a favor and eat before you leave the house.