5 Ways to Save Money on Food for Your Family

When you have a large family you look for ways to save money anywhere you can but especially on the foods you buy. Groceries are expensive and if you’re not careful you’ll go over your budget very quickly. The best way to ensure you’re getting the most food for your money is to learn how to be a thrifty shopper. There are ways to save money without sacrificing quality or doing without the foods you love most.

Here are five ways to save money on food for your family:

1. Compare brands. Name brand items are usually much higher than generic brand foods, so you can save money by making the switch. First, compare the ingredients to see if they are the same. If so, give the generic brand a try to see if it tastes the same. You will find that many store brand foods do taste the same as the more expensive name brands. If by chance you don’t like the generic brand, you can always switch back but don’t let that discourage you from trying other store brands items. Just because you didn’t like one thing doesn’t mean you won’t like something else, so keep an open mind about trying new things.
2. Don’t forget to check the top and bottom shelves. A good marketing strategy for retailers is to put the most expensive items in the middle of the shelves where they’re eye level. This is where shoppers seem to focus their attention the most especially when they’re in a rush. Therefore, this is where they place the more expensive items in hopes that you will just grab the first thing you see while the cheaper items are on the top and bottom shelves.
3. Plan your meals in advance and make a grocery list. It’s easy to make a grocery list when you plan your meals in advance because you know exactly what ingredients you need for the whole week. It also reduces the urge to buy premade foods that are more expensive and not as healthy as cooking your own meals. Planning and creating a grocery list also helps prevent you from buying foods that you don’t need, which helps to cut cost.
4. Plan your shopping day. It’s best to go grocery shopping without the kids if possible. This way you can stay focused on what you really need and you’ll have more time to compare and look for deals. Planning your day also gives you time to eat before you go grocery shopping, which helps to reduce impulse buying. When you’re hungry, everything looks good and people tend to go a little overboard. You may even buy things you normally wouldn’t buy.
5. Pay attention to the little details on the packaging. No one really wants to take time to read the fine print on packaging but it is a good habit to start. The net weight and/or number of items in the package provides you with the information needed to compare sizes and brands to see which one is truly the better deal.

Saving money at the grocery store is possible when you prepare for your shopping trip and allow yourself the time needed to compare products and look for deals.