Smart Cards.
Some credit cards have great "cash back" deals on groceries and other necessities. If you have a card with perks like that, take advantage of it when buying your groceries! It might not seem like much, but you've got to buy groceries regardless, so that cash back will add up. I have a Bank of America Cash Rewards card, but most credit card companies and banks are getting on the cash back bandwagon. Check for one at your bank of choice and put some of your hard earned money back in your pocket.
Store Hopping.
Everyone has a grandparent who clips coupons for the handful of local grocery stores and wants to drive around to all of them to get the best deals. Obviously it's important to strategize about where to get which groceries, but driving to four stores isn't practical with gas prices these days. Here's what I suggest: For your basics, consider Costco. Buying in bulk allows you to cut costs on the food itself, but also make fewer trips to the store (which means saving gas and time). Although it might seem like a painful upfront cost, the membership fee should pay for itself relatively quickly. Once you stock up on the basics, check the ads in the Sunday newspaper for the best prices at the local grocery stores, and make your decisions from there. Of course, be strategic about driving around; you can always make a quick stop at a Hy-Vee or Price Chopper on your route home from work during the week if one store has a particularly good deal.
Store Cards.
Price Chopper's Chopper Shopper cards might have been the original grocery store savings cards, but they aren't the only ones out there now. Hy-Vee has the "Fuel Saver" card. Hen House and Sun Fresh both have rewards cards. Any savings you can accumulate from weekly deals, gas savings, and extra discounts are well worth spending three minutes signing up for a discount card.
Sale Shop.
Many of the grocery stores match their sales with their reward card deals, but not always. You can always find a few good stand alone sale items, and they're usually worth considering. One of the best places in the store for good deals? The meat counter. When you find meat on sale, you can package it up in small portions, freeze it, and instantly have lunches or dinners available to prepare quickly. And it goes without saying: you save yourself a ton of money when you snag a great cut of beef at a great price.
Basics and Luxury Items.
It's important to remember that certain items are "treats," so you don't always need to have them on hand at home. Try to make some rules for yourself/your family. If things are expensive (and for that matter, unhealthy too), only buy them for special occasions, or when they're on sale. Sticking to the basics will keep your costs down and your meals healthy. Of course, sometimes you can't escape certain convenience items when you're always on the go... but just keep in mind that snack foods and pre-packaged foods are always more expensive because of that "convenience" factor.
Coupons.
You can't be a savvy shopper without coupons, right? These money-saving staples are great ways to bring down your grocery bill on top of store discounts and sales. It might only amount to $5 per shopping trip, but it doesn't take long to clip a few coups on Sunday or print a few off from Coupons.com. Besides, saving a dollar on a luxury item is a reasonable way to justify the purchase!
With all of these strategies, you'll be well on your way to saving money on your necessities. I'm sure plenty of savvy shoppers have their own strategies on how to save a few bucks... I'd love to hear other ideas! How do you save money on groceries?
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