6 Tips from a Frugal Grocery Shopper

grocery shopperGrocery shopping is one of those things that all of us wish we could save more money on. Most likely, the majority of your budget goes on groceries every month, so it’s no wonder you want to save more money. Obviously, you could use some of the coupons on this site to save you money, but it can take a decent bit of time to build up a massive library of coupons and use them before they hit their expiration date. So, you’re probably wondering how you can save money on groceries without relying too heavily on coupons. Below, you’ll find some amazing tips I’m going to share with you that will help you do just that.

#1. Go Shopping During the Middle of the Week

Shopping during the middle of the week is always going to be your best option if you want to save the most money. Most stores out there run sales during the middle of the week, because those are usually slower days for grocery stores. These sales usually start on Wednesday and end on a Thursday. In other words, you have about a 12-24 hour window to get the most savings.

#2. Keep an Eye Out for Dented items

A lot of stores have a dent and scratch section and it’s usually in the back of the store where the employee doors are typically located. There are massive savings available on scratch and dent items, sometimes as much as 90% off. These items are fine, but someone has dropped them at some point or the label has been torn a bit.

#3. Stay Away from Pre-Cut Fruits

It’s tempting to buy those nicely pre-cut fruits, but you’re going to pay a whole lot more for the fruit than you would if you cut it yourself. I would suggest buying the fruit in bulk and cutting it yourself.

#4. Stay Away from Pre-Cut Meats

It can be a chore to cut up a whole chicken, but it can be worth it when it comes to saving money. Sure, it’s more convenient to pay for the pre-cut chicken legs, but you’re not only paying for the chicken, you’re also paying for the work the butcher put into it.

#5. Make a Menu

It’s important that you make a menu before you go out and buy groceries. That way, you know exactly what you have in stock, so that way you don’t end up buying items that you already have at your home. I know a lot of people that make this mistake and buying duplicate items can increase your grocery bill tremendously.

#6. Keep an Eye Out for Markdowns

Most grocery stores will markdown items that are about to hit their expiration date. Usually, markdowns occur when items are within two days of the expiration date. Do you plan on making Sloppy Joes tonight? If so, you could buy some marked down meat and use it before the expiration date. This is also a great way to save some serious coin on bread.