PASSIONATE RATIONS

With food and gas costs rising faster than our income, we’ve been strategizing cost savings at the grocery store. Our shopping tends to be somewhat haphazard and, thus, more expensive than it might be. Here are the top hints I’ve developed so far, though, I confess, we have not consistently implemented all of these to date. We’re still working on that, but maybe we can all benefit from the thought process.

1. Make a list and stick to it: Preparation is the key to most successful ventures and so, too, with shopping. Inventory what you really need while you’re still at home and don’t stray too far from the list once you hit the store. Sure, we all like to splurge on the occasional new-fangled chocolate bar, but limit such side trips or they’ll cost you (and more than just the calories).

2. Set a budget: Again, the money saving begins at home. Once you have inventoried what you need and made your list, take stock of your finances. This is the most important step to ensuring you stay on track once you’re in the field. If you can only spare $45 this week on groceries, you’d better know it. And you’d better enter the store armed with such knowledge to fend off any errant marketing strategies for bigger, better cinnamon buns.

3. Hit the sales: Sales (like coupons, below) can be great ways to save money, but only if you’re buying things you would buy otherwise. Beware, however. Stores tend to place sale items at eye level, which means they want you to see and buy them. Lower-priced versions of similar items likely are shelved below or above the sale items. Scan those items too, to make sure they’re not a better deal. Stores usually have flyers at their entrances, highlighting their sale items. Take a gander and see what’s on sale that fits your list.

4. Use coupons: Coupons (like sales, above) are really designed by marketers to get you to buy things you might not otherwise, usually so-called “convenience foods” that are more expensive than just purchasing their component parts and making your own lunch would be. To save money, coupons work best when you use them on items you buy all the time (and would be spending those extra cents on anyway). So, use them for those items on your list and avoid the marketing ploys.

5. Buy in bulk: Often (though not always), buying foods in bulk will prove cheaper than buying the same amounts in smaller portions. Especially for staples, this can be a good way to save some pennies. But you’ll want to comparison shop (see below) between the sizes to be sure the bulk prices really are a bargain.

6. Comparison shop: Sure, you’re thinking, “I don’t have time to hit all the competitor stores in my area, just to see who has the best price. And, besides, gas costs money too.” So true. But comparison shopping doesn’t have to be between stores, it can be in the same store. As mentioned above for sales (and as is true with coupons too), scan the shelves for similar items and compare prices between them. Is that sale or coupon item really the best deal for the money?

If you find yourself regularly shopping in a variety of stores (i.e. you’re there anyway), it may pay to keep a list of those items you buy often to compare between stores and choose to buy where it dents your budget least.

7. Don’t shop hungry: This is the most important rule for me. If I walk into the grocery store with hunger pangs, it’s all over. I might as well shred my list, my budget, and my diet plans, because I AM going to buy those full-priced ginormous sugar cookies with butter-cream frosting. Why sabotage yourself so? Eat a handful of nuts before you hop in the car. Your wallet, and your waist, will thank you.