Weekly groceries are some of the most unavoidable life necessities of all–an expense that even the most wily consumers can’t edge out of their budgets. As difficult as it may be to manage a budget today, room will always have to be made for groceries. There are many ways, however, that you can save money on your groceries. Don’t worry if you don’t have time to collect coupons, because you won’t even need them.
- Shop at Multiple Stores
Many shoppers restrict all of their grocery needs to a single store. Vast and all-encompassing supermarkets encourage lazy shopping by offering everything that you need in a single location. However, one supermarket may be significantly marking up products that could be bought much cheaper elsewhere. Remember to shop for the best prices on the products you need. Resist the temptation to collect all of your necessities in a single store, and you’ll be able to save lots of money every week. - Frequent Open-Air Markets
Gigantic stores offer everything you need, but not always at the best prices. Supermarkets are able to offer competitive prices because they sell in such huge volume, but the expense of operating and maintaining colossal retail space is still passed on to the consumer. Frequent open-air markets in your area to buy directly from the vendors and cut out the middle man. This is a great way to get freshest available produce at the lowest prices. Sharpen your haggling skills to make a deal with your vendors that can’t be matched. - Buy in Bulk
When you go shopping, it pays to buy in volume. Many grocery stores, supermarkets, and even independent vendors will offer lower prices to customers who buy in larger quantities. For example, when you buy four of an item, you may get a fifth for free. Buying by the case effectively gives a huge discount. This is because retailers stand to make more money by moving their products quickly and selling in large quantities. Buying in bulk can save you lots of money, so consider stocking up on non-perishable goods and other necessities. - Avoid Prepared Foods
Buy fresh whenever possible. Fresh groceries are not only more nutritious and tasty, but they’re often cheaper as well. Prepared foods go through complex and expensive production processes before reaching the consumer. They need to be cooked, packaged, and shipped, which amounts to a huge list of expenses that is passed on to the consumer. Avoid putting these foods in your shopping cart. Cooking from raw ingredients and fresh produce will help you save lots of money on your weekly groceries.
Eat for Free
Why pay for groceries that you can get for free? Manufacturers and retailers are always running special offers and promotions that can benefit you. Check out websites like www.bestfreesamples.com to find the best offers on discounts and free samples that you can take advantage of today. Clipping coupons will never be necessary again when you start cashing in on sample offers and eating for free.