Simple Ways to Save on Your Grocery Bills

Grocery shopping is for most of us a chore. It’s something we have to do for our families and most of us dread doing it. The meal planning, the crowded store, the long lines and then the sticker shock at the checkout. I have compiled a few ways to save money on your groceries and make it fun too. I can honestly say grocery shopping is one of my hobbies now, and I look forward to it. Here are my tips to make grocery shopping fun..and frugal.

1. Make a list check it twice
Your first step in your grocery shopping happens before you ever leave home. Check your food supplies and make a list of what you need. Check your calendar to see how many days you need to shop for. I shop in 2-week intervals:(the less trips I make to town the more I save in groceries and gas.) I plan a menu for 2 weeks and generate my grocery list from that. Also check your stores weekly ad and you can save more by planning meals based on what’s on sale that week.

2. Clip those coupons
A lot of people toss coupons aside and don’t bother with them, but I believe they are the key to some great savings. Start by getting a file, a binder with plastic sheets, whatever you want to file your coupons in. Gather the inserts from your Sunday paper and clip and file them. If you get the largest paper in your area you will usually get the best selection of coupons. You can also buy coupons from clipping services online. These sites have a vast selection of coupons and charge a small fee for the time it takes to clip and send them to you. Most have a 3.00 minimum order and charge some sort of small administrative fee. Ordering from Ebay is also an option. These are best to supplement your coupons with ones you know you will use. 

There are also resources online that you can print coupons from. Be sure to ask at your store first concerning the online coupons. Unfortunately there is a lot of fraud involved with the online coupons and a lot of store are leery or have stopped accepting them altogether.