By Mary Moss
If you remember nothing else from this article, remember these two golden rules of grocery shopping. You must never forget:
RULE #1 -- Always shop with a grocery list!
RULE #2 -- Never shop when you’re hungry!
If you follow just these two rules, you’ll save a whole lot of time and money on grocery shopping.
If you'd like to save even more time and money when shopping for groceries, here are a few more tips:
- Take inventory of what you have in your pantry, refrigerator and freezer before your shop
This is a great time to fill in missing staples you’ve been meaning to buy: all-purpose flour, pasta, rice, oils (vegetable, olive), vinegar (white wine, red wine), canned soups (beef broth, chicken broth, cream of mushroom), frequently used spices and flavorings including dried minced onion, Italian Seasoning mix, salt and pepper.
You might also want to keep stocked on tuna, peanut butter, condiments, salad dressings, quick cooking oatmeal and ready-to-eat cereal, taco seasoning and instant gravy mixes, and instant mashed potatoes. For a comprehensive list of suggested kitchen staples, visit Yankee Grocery.
- Plan meals that mostly include items you already have on hand
Prepare your grocery list with two columns. - In one column write down everything you’ll be serving at each meal – bread, fruits, vegetables, meat, chicken or fish, including desert.
- In the other column write down the ingredients you need to prepare the entire meals. That way you won’t forget the green beans you planned to serve with the baked chicken, etc.
- Take note of sale items and special promotions offered at your favorite grocery store
If there are items you use frequently, like cooking oil, shortening, pancake mix, yogurt, eggs, etc., add them to your list. The next step is to check your coupons. (Please plan to shop in this order – otherwise, you may fall into the trap of spending too much on items you don’t really want or need -- just because you have a coupon!)
To learn what the experts say about the pros and cons of coupons, visit Couponing.
- When shopping, be on guard!
The ceiling high displays at the end of the aisles can sometimes “trick” you into thinking you’ll be getting a good deal. These items are typically expensive, national brands. The prices may be great – for that brand, but you can almost always find a store brand at a lower price than the highly promoted national brand. More often than not, the store brand and that national brand have the same ingredients and are even packaged by the same company.
Now . . . let’s go shopping!
About the Author:
Mary Moss is a HobbyMatch.com member who lives in Richmond, VA. Mary describes herself as confident and competent in the kitchen. She also loves to write poetry and is an advocate for women, children and the disadvantaged. An avid card/board game player, Mary likes to meet new people for coffee and conversation. As she says, "Everyone has a story, and I long to hear them all". You can check out Mary's Profile on HobbyMatch.com -- username: DivinelyDesigned
