How To Save Money On Groceries Without Coupons

Yes everyone tells you to make a list and stick to in when you go grocery shopping, but there is a reason for this. It works! (As long as you stick to the list of course). Being organised is one of the best ways you can save money because you only buy what you need.

You know you need a meal plan if you've ever gotten to the store and wondered what you are going to buy, or if you have lots of food leftover because you planned poorly.

How To Do It - Simple Ways Of Planning Your Meals

Once a week you should sit down and figure out what to feed your family for dinner, lunch and breakfast (and don't forget drinks and snacks as well). For me I usually stick to planning for five nights so that on the weekend we can either eat leftovers, grab some cheap takeaway (what - we are still a normal family), or convince Hubby to fire up the MAN OVEN (the BBQ) and cook for us.

Go through your cookbooks or visit a few websites for some inexpensive menu ideas. If you can't be bothered making a plan yourself (I mean you have no time) then there are some online websites that will help you by providing you with ready made lists. I used to use the ones by the SavingDinner.com of FlyLady fame - Leanne Ely as she had some wonderful menu plans that my family used to enjoy (even with two very fussy eaters).

Each store is different, but once per day (usually toward closing time, but also sometimes early the next morning) grocery stores will discount meat, dairy, fruit and vegetables (basically anything perishable) so that they can stock the fresher items at full price. Often there isn't anything wrong with this, it's just that they need the shelf space for the new food so they'll knock the price down on the current stuff.

So all you need to do is find out when the store does this (either by testing a few different times or simply asking the manager when they do their markdowns - it's not a secret and they'll gladly tell you).

Then just plan your shopping trips for around that time so you can take advantage.

As a bonus - going later at night means there are less shoppers which is always much more pleasant than trying to shop on a Saturday morning (which is usually bedlam - i, yi, yi!)

Ok, some of them are (sorry chocolate cookies, you just can't make me switch). But for regular essentials such as flour, sugar and milk then shopping the generic brands can save you quite a lot of money. Usually up to 50% discount off the regular brands. And I don't know about you, but regular flour looks and tastes the same as expensive flour to me.

Over the years I've also discovered that some generic brands are actually pretty good. Not all of them work mind you, but some of them are not bad.

Case in point: Potato Crisps. Plain potato chips are a little bit thinner and lighter than the other brands but I actually prefer them that way. And as soon as you empty the chips into a bowl the kids don't know the difference. Yum.

Go on try it. Add a generic brand or two to your trolley and see what you think!

Saving money on groceries is a good way to save money or get out of debt fast. You don't need to spend hundreds at the grocery store if you know what you are doing.

Enjoy!