Now that groceries are more expensive than ever before, I’ve had to tweak my grocery shopping strategies. In the past, to save time, I would have opted to shop at just one or two stores for almost everything, but now, it’s just too expensive. Below are some strategies I have been using in order to save money while I grocery shop.
I shop the sales. Although Sobeys is often expensive, their sale items can be a really good deal. We live just a few minutes away from a Sobeys location, so I usually try to buy some items that are on sale every week. If I find items that we always use on sale, then I usually stock up as long as I know they will have a long enough shelf life.
I buy bulk. We have a Costco nearby, so I usually try to go to Costco and stock up about once every month. Costco has high quality products and most of the time the items I purchase are less expensive than if I were to buy them elsewhere. I have to watch, though, as Costco is not always cheaper. Also, I realize that not everyone is in a financial position to be able to buy items in bulk. That is understandable, and another option is to purchase the quantity that you need at Bulk Barn.
I shop at a local fruit and vegetable market. There’s a great store nearby that sells locally grown produce. The prices are almost always reasonable, and shopping there allows me to provide healthy meals for my family without breaking the bank. And, I feel good about knowing that I am supporting local food producers.
I compare prices when I shop. Wherever I shop, I pay close attention to the prices. Whenever I browse the aisles at Superstore, I mentally compare the prices to that of Costco and Sobeys in order to determine where it makes the most sense to make my purchases. This has saved me a lot of money but it does take a while to figure out where everything is the most reasonable sometimes.
I take advantage of rewards. I deliberately get gas at a fuel station that provides me with a coupon that I can redeem at Sobeys. Although the amount is small, it still helps a little. Almost every store you shop in now offers some form of reward, so whenever possible, I make sure to redeem my points and reduce my grocery bill.
These are just a few quick tips, but there are many admirable grocery shoppers out there who also use coupons and pore over flyers before they shop. Do whatever works best for you within your schedule and other priorities. If you are intentional, you will be sure to find a way to save some money.
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