This Grocery Shopping Strategy Could Save You Money

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Like many shoppers, I'm not a fan of the prices I've been paying for groceries. As everyday costs continue rising, food costs have become more expensive. Sticking to your budget as you load your grocery cart with food and other essentials can be stressful.

While there's little I can do about high food costs, I recently discovered a solution that has helped me reduce my food waste and save money. I'll share a shopping tip that could help you keep more money in the bank.

Plan smaller trips to the grocery store

I don't know about you, but I get overwhelmed when I spend a lot of time at the grocery store. Planning a trip to the store is an ordeal. The aisles can be crowded, and long checkout lines can lead to more overwhelm. I've made this task less stressful by taking smaller trips to the store.

Instead of loading up on two weeks or more of food essentials, I buy enough food for at least the next few days. Doing this allows me to spend less time in the busy store and shop with minimal stress. But I've also found that this strategy has helped me save money.

For starters, I'm wasting less food. When I fill my fridge, I sometimes forget about fresh produce and other essentials with a limited shelf life. When this happens, I end up throwing out the food -- which is wasteful. Taking more frequent shopping trips has helped ensure I eat all the food I buy before it goes bad.

I'm keeping my spending in check

As a bonus, I'm no longer wasting my money because this technique also makes me more aware of what I buy. Before making my shopping list, I'll look at my grocery store's weekly flyer and in-app coupons to ensure I get the best deals. Doing this allows me to plan my meals accordingly.

Try this strategy if you're looking for a way to reduce your grocery spending. It may help you waste less food. It could also help you be more aware of what you're buying and how much you're spending so you can adjust your shopping habits to stay on budget.

Other ways to save money on groceries

Are you looking for other ways to save money when buying groceries and household goods? Here are a few suggestions that may help you.

• Stick to store-brand and sale items: Pay attention to the prices you see. Choosing a store-brand item may be cheaper than the name-brand equivalent. It's also wise to shop sales, so review the sales flyer before you outline your shopping list.
• Take inventory of what you have: Many of us neglect to take inventory of our nonperishable items, like canned goods. When did you last look at what you have in your kitchen cupboards? Taking inventory of the food items you already have before you shop could save you money.
• Don't ignore in-app deals and virtual coupons: Many grocery retailers have free mobile apps. Your store may offer app-exclusive deals and virtual coupons you can clip to save more. Using these free resources could help you spend less on groceries.
• Use rewards credit cards: Consider paying for groceries and other expenses with cash back credit cards. You can earn cash back rewards when you spend money with these credit cards that you can use to pay for future grocery purchases.

Food and other everyday essentials cost more than they did a few years ago, but you can make strategic moves to keep more cash in your pocket. Want to save more? Browse our free personal finance resources for additional guidance.

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