16 Tips to Trim Your Grocery Bill

Excerpt from FC&A's Amazing Diabetes Breakthroughs.

Cynthia Yates has a knack for saving. She has written four books on how to budget, including 1,001 Bright Ideas to Stretch Your Dollars, and her latest, Living Well on One Income. In fact, her thrifty tips could trim your grocery bills by as much as $50 to $150 a month, without cutting back on food. Eat well and be well, with these grocery secrets that save you money every day.

Learn prices so you know a good deal when it comes your way.

Get to know your grocers. “Talk to produce managers, stocking clerks, butchers, and store managers,” Yates says. Ask questions and you may find out about special deals.

Check the shelf price tag. It usually lists the price per pound or ounce, which can help you compare the cost of similar products.

Bend and squint to find the best deals. “The less expensive products,” she says, “are usually on the lowest shelves.”

Buy items in bags rather than boxes if you have a choice. Bagged foods generally cost less.

Consider going generic. “Generic or store brands are often just as good as the gourmet brands,” Yates says. And they might be cheaper.

Check the expiration date on dairy products and other perishable foods before you buy.

Ask the store to break up bunches of produce so you can buy a smaller amount. There’s no sense paying for more than you will eat.

Weigh prepackaged goods like fruits, vegetables, and meat. They sometimes hold more than their label claims. Yates says, “You may find a 5-pound pack of spuds weighing in at 6 pounds.”

“Shop seasonally,” she advises. “Prices drop when markets have an abundance of certain foods.” Holidays and back-to-school seasons, for instance, have their effect – for better or worse – on store prices.

Steer clear of the gourmet aisle and processed food. “You can rip your own lettuce, or cut your own cheese, or season your own drumstick,” Yates says.

Skip the junk food. “Back off on the stuff that isn’t good for you in the first place,” she advises. An occasional treat is OK, but too much can drain your budget and your health.

Don’t give in to impulse buys while shopping – or at least limit them to two or three items per trip.

Avoid overbuying. “I believe everyone should have enough water and food stashed to get through a week or so, should an emergency come along,” says Yates. But she discourages hoarding. One of her rules – buy only what you eat, and eat what you buy.

Check the prices at checkout. “Mistakes happen,” she warns. “Watch the register and check receipts.” A checker may scan an item twice, or the sale price may not ring up.

Don’t live with inferior products. “Politely return,” she says. “If you have purchased a product that has gone bad, or not held up within reason, take it back."

Skip items on the end of the aisle. Setting items there makes you think they are a special deal. But they may not offer the best price. "Sometimes," Yates says, "a walk down the aisle will find something less expensive."

Resist temptation. Grouping items together encourages you to buy more than one product - like putting salsa next to the chips, or caramel dipping sauce by the apples. Don't buy it unless you need it.