Grocery Saving Tips- What I've learned

What I have learned the past year about saving money at the grocery store.

1. If it's not in your budget it is not on sale.

2. Sales repeat. It's okay to pass up a sale if it is not in your budget.

3. Know the best price for the items you buy most. For me it is things like diapers, wipes, milk, yogurt, crackers, chicken, ground beef, salad dressing, peanut butter, cheese, ice cream, butter, sugar, flour, etc... buy extra when it hits a low price. See the Price Points list on the menu bar for a guide.

4. Its okay to let coupons expire and throw them away. You will likely find the same or similar coupon in the next paper after the coupon expires.

5. Use Internet Coupons, but don't print unless you know you will use it.

6. Research all store ads. Price matching at Wal-mart or Target some weeks make sense--rather than running around to two or three different stores.

7. Meal plan before you go to the store. For me it works best to plan a week at a time. Which means 5 dinners, lunches (sometimes I use leftover dinner), and breakfast.

8. Protect your food. I hate it when a mouse gets in to the 10lb pancake mix or the Costco size chocolate chips. I keep my food storage in plastic containers in my basement to keep the mice out.

9. January is a good month to stock up on cereal. Cereal will go on sale through out the year on a cycle...try to stock up for enough cereal to last until the next sale. I haven't figured the exact weeks between sales, it may be a 12 week sale cycle.

10. Stick to your budget. I started a $150 rule with Costco. Using a list I identify the must haves and the items I can wait until next time to buy and I stick to the budget I set--(most the time-I am not perfect.) :)