There are certain times of the year when the sales at the grocery stores just aren’t, well, spectacular. There are still ways you can save money on groceries if you are willing to spend a few extra minutes!
- Look for items on mark down – if you need yogurt, check to see if any other items have been marked down. You will save 50% or more this way. You will have to eat them quicker, but in most cases, they probably get eaten quickly anyways. 😉 This is the only way we get meat! We look for the managers specials, then separate and freeze them.
- Be willing to buy the less expensive brand. While I would like to say “generic” brand here, it is not always the case for the store brand to be less expensive. Especially at Wal-Mart! So before you just grab and go, compare prices and make sure you are getting the least expensive kind.
- Check for coupons. If you shop at a store that offers a shoppers card, check to see if there are any digital coupons you can use. You may also get flyers in the mail and in the newspaper that you can use. If they accept competitors coupons, you can use those as well. Coupons like $5 of $50 purchase can add up! That’s $5 more dollars of groceries for FREE!
- Use your stockpile. This is one reason why it is important to have a stockpile. There will be times when the sales aren’t good, or you just don’t have a lot of money to spend, so you can use food from your stockpile to “supplement” your weekly grocery shopping. Then next time the sales are good, stock back up on that item! (this is the true secret to cutting your spending on groceries. Build up your stockpile with items that are at a stockpile price so you don’t pay full price anymore!)
Be sure to download and use our FREE Price Point Stockpile Sheet, and we also have a FREE Stockpile Tracking Sheet so you know what you are using and how much you need to stockpile!
A lot of times at Walmart, they will have coupons for a certain item on the shelf. Sometimes you can substitute what you need for one of those items that has a coupon.
Great time to do a thorough check of clearance
thank you so much for all this much needed information.. times are hard and saving money sure does help!!!
Only shop w/ coupons!!! 🙂
Someone I know is always getting Manager Specials, but I can’t ever seem to find them. Maybe I should talk to a store employee and ask. I could definitely save more this way. I already coupon and stock-pile, but would like to do more.
I’m always looking for markdowns especially in the dairy department!
I typically buy meat, produce, and bakery items when they are marked down. We do have to eat them faster and shop more often, but the grocery store is on my way home from work anyway. It saves me a lot of money on items that typically do not have coupons.
I use stockpile. Buy a bunch when it’s on sale.
I would use available coupons while shopping. If there are no coupons available, I will compare prices in my favorite stores (Target, CVS and Shoprite) and buy in the store with the lower price.
thanks for the tips! unfortunately, due to the area i live in, when the meat is reduced, it is unsafe! i have spotted GREEN ground beef in walmart! i complained and was horrified! what if a struggling family bought that meat and got very ill? thankfully the pictures you posted your meats look good even when they are on special. in that case, buy it up!! haha
i watched a show onthe food network called the great waste about a year ago and they were talking about just how much stores waste each and every day.. they said to ask the produce dept about produce that is going to get thrown out and ask if you can have it.. i have yet to get the courage to do this….!! im such a wuss!