Smart Grocery Shopping: Save More, Stress Less - Part 2
- Ron and Meg Knapper
- Sep 21
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 4
It's not just having planning and budgeting on what to buy (See Part 1Â for help with that), there are strategies you can use to approach your shopping even more strategically as you buy to Save More and Stress.
Smart Shopping Strategies
Shop at discount or warehouse stores. There can be great bargains, BUT be warned, there are lots of fun things which are NOT on your list that can lead to impulse purchases. (Holiday decor anyone?) Remember, discount and warehouse stores are big businesses that work hard to make you see and want things other than just what you went in for.
Choose generic/store brands for lower prices. Some I will eat and others are a definite NO GO. Buy one to try it first and see if that item lives up to your expectations.Â
Buy seasonal produce for better value and freshness. You can usually tell what is in season by the sales the stores are running. (Really? Strawberries in February?)
Buy whole vegetables and Cheese and cut them yourself. Convenience has a cost.
Take advantage of sales—especially for non-perishables.
Buy in bulk for staples you use often. Don't buy so much though that you have to throw some away!
Shop by unit price Beware of Shrinkflation! (Quick and simple math. Take the price and divide by the number of units. $5.99 for 12 ounces versus $11.99 for 20 ounces? The smaller package is about $0.4992 for each ounce and the larger package is $0.5995 for each ounce. The larger packages are not always the best deal. Whether it is ounces, or liters, or square feet (i.e. bathroom tissue) you CAN compare different sized packaging.)
Buy Meat only when it’s on sale.
Opt for frozen produce as a cheaper alternative to fresh.
Compare prices across stores.
Use loyalty programs for discounts and rewards.
The grocery stores are working to make money, you have to go in with strategies so you win at their game. It also helps in reducing stress. Knowing how you are approaching your shopping makes it easier.
Go back and read Part 1 again if you need to and here's Part 3 in the Smart Grocery Shopping: Save More, Stress Less series as we share Grocery Store Tricks to Watch Out For.
