How much do you spend at the grocery every month? Before my wife and I started carb cycling, we spent anywhere from $300 to $500 or more on groceries and eating out every month. We weren’t eating caviar and steak either. But since we have started carb cycling, our grocery bill now totals around $65 a week, or $260 per month. Of course part of this dramatic decrease is due to the amount and quality of food we are buying, plus the lack of snack foods (although we do still eat snacks). Here are some tips for saving money (and time) at the grocery store this week.
Plan your list before you go
This one is a key time and money saver. Nothing wastes more money than arriving at the grocery store with only a vague idea of what you need, what your meals are for the week, and the bright, research assisted marketing that food products have glaring at you at eye level. First prepare a weekly meal schedule with exactly what you will be eating for each of your five meals. Next, prepare a grocery list based on the recipes for each of your meals and snacks. Then, to save time, arrange the items in the order of your local grocers aisle structure (fruits first, then meats, and dairy last, with processed foods in between). This structure helps us to save time, money, and our relationship as there is no fighting over money spent, time wasted, or what we’re eating this week. Everyone gets a say in the planning which helps to reduce cravings and improve your meal times! This also gives you the opportunity to find and print coupons.
Never shop hungry
This is not one that I came up with at all. Research has proven that when you shop for groceries on an empty stomach, the food manufacturers win, not your stomach. You are going to buy what looks good, not what is good for you and your family. I find that the best time for me to go to the grocery store is Friday nights after dinner or Saturday mornings after breakfast (but before I start to get hungry for my mid morning snack. Keep this tip in mind and you will save both money and your diet from falling off the cravings cliff.
What about you? Have any awesome tips to save time and money at the grocery store? Let us know in the comments below!