13 Smart Ways To Save On Groceries

It’s all too easy to spend a fortune on groceries these days. But saving money? While you can eat for just $20 a week, that takes a little more forethought.  So let’s cut right to the chase with these 13 Smart Ways To Save On Groceries.

• Buy Colored bell peppers. They’re cheaper than green, and is it just me, or do they have more flavor, too? (Update: This seems to be highly dependent upon your area. As some readers have pointed out, and as I’ve discovered here in Texas, Colored peppers can be more expensive!)
• Stock up when items that you regularly buy go on sale. Just be careful not to go overboard in using them up – that defeats the whole purpose!
• Check the per unit/per ounce price because larger containers of ketchup (or whatever) do not always have better prices per ounce.
• Look below your line of sight. Name-brand, more expensive items tend to be put at eye level. Cheaper brands are often placed lower on the shelf.
• Grind your own flour. An electric grain mill is a small investment that will often pay for itself.
• Shop international markets for things like gluten-free pasta. Or rice flour or various starches. Even fruit can often be found at bargain prices at international markets.
• Skip the canned beans. Use dry beans instead. This is such a simple move toward saving a lot of money!
• Don’t hesitate to ditch items at the last minute. How often have you put an item in your cart, only to realize 15 minutes later that you don’t need or want that? Take it out! No harm, no foul.
• Ditch the ritzy stores. If you have one in your area, stores like Aldi can save you a ton of money while still providing quality grocery items. 
• Price match. Many stores, like Walmart, have prices that match the sale prices of other stores. For instance, Kroger has a spectacular sale on grapes, but I don’t want to drive the extra 10 miles. I can go to Walmart and ask them to price-match it. It saves me time and gas!
• Plan ahead. Weekly menu planning is popular, but monthly menu planning gives you a longer view so you can take advantage of more sales as they come up. Further, if you have something of a rotating menu plan, you can *really* take advantage of sales!
• Don’t shop hungry! We all know or think we know this, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded. It’s so much harder to exercise self-control when you’re hungry! 
• Pay with cash. It’s a lot more painful to spend money you don’t need to when you can see the cash leaving your hand. So pay with cash – it works! 

With these thirteen tips, you can cut your grocery bill in half. Imagine what you could do with the extra money you just created! 

What are your favorite money-saving grocery shopping tips?