Best Way to Save Money on Groceries
One Woman's Secret
By Kathy Wilson
Let's face it, with the way things are today with gas and grocery
prices going up (and just about everything else) most of us are doing
what we can to save money on groceries. I know you've heard it all;
coupons, shop the sales, using rebates...but I have a simple
technique that I have found is the best way to save money on
groceries for my family. So no matter how much money you make, or how
much you spend, anyone can save money!
First of all, all those tried and true grocery saving ideas really
can work. But honestly, I don't have the time. I do cut out the
occasional coupon, and wish I had the time to work all the couponing
angles, but I don't. My secret to saving money happened accidentally
as I was trying to become more organized to be able to run my online
business from home more efficiently.
I make a weekly menu. That's it, that's the secret. I know, like I
said, seems more like organization. But the fact is, when you make a
menu each week, then develop your grocery list from that menu, you
can save up to 30% on your grocery bill every week. If your grocery
bill averages $100 a week, that's $33 bucks, folks. That adds up to
more than $1700 dollars a year. That's a lot of money to be throwing
away. And the savings are higher if your grocery bill tends to be
higher than $100 a week, like mine.
The reason this works is that it eliminates impulse and unnecessary
buying. The menu and list keeps you on track so you know everything
you need. How many times have you bought a couple heads of lettuce
and some tomatoes, thinking it would be great to have a
salad "sometime this week" only to find them later in the frig, $9
worth of trash? We've all done it, sometimes so many times its
embarrassing to admit!
Better still; use the weekly sales flyers to create your menu from
discounted items. For instance, if round steak in on sale this week,
make sure a couple of meals on your menu use round steak. Apples on
special? Buy a bag and make apple pie for this weeks dessert. Getting
it?
It really does work to save you money on groceries, and the side
benefit is that you avoid those last minute (and unhealthy) trips
through the drive thru. Every morning you know what's for dinner, so
you can thaw your meat, or start your slow cooker without the guilt
and expense unplanned meals can cause.
So try it. Get out a paper and make a menu for this week. (Or you can
visit Women on the Net for free menu printables.) Create a shopping
list from your menu. Feel free to interchange a meal here and there
if you come across a good sale, but be sure to change it on your menu
list. Now compare your grocery bill to the last few you've had.
Pretty cool, eh? From a mom who has raised 5 kids and three stepkids,
this is my secret for the best way to save money on groceries, and
keep you on track at the same time!
For free ideas for women learning to make money on the internet,
visit Kathy at http://www.women-on-the-net.com.