Ten easy ways to cut grocery costs

April 9, 8:20 AMNY Consumer Affairs ExaminerAsa Aarons

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the NY Consumer Affairs Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

1. Plan your meals and stick to your shopping list.

2. Use the supermarket’s online meal planning tools, which give you ability to search recipes and related ingredients. This reduces buying more than you need.

3. Use the Internet to find manufacturer coupons on your most frequently purchased items or go to sites such as www.printcoupons.com or www.CouponWinner.com for additional savings. Then remember to give the coupons to the cashier.

4. Purchase less expensive cuts of beef, chicken or pork-and tenderize them by slow cooking.

5. But store brands or “private label” products.

6. Scan the whole supermarket shelf, not just what is right in front of you. Companies pay for product placement. The most popular and, often the most expensive items, are placed on the center shelves. Look up or down. You’ll often find less expensive locally produced, regional products or foods from smaller manufacturers.

7. Buy produce when it’s in season. Look for citrus fruit when it comes from Florida and not South Africa or the Middle East. Look for broccoli when it is from local farms rather than Chile. Usually, these local and seasonal items come in fast and in a great quantity, so they have to be sold quickly - and cheaply - to the consumer.

8. Watch for pricing errors at the cash register,

9. Minimize waste: Use leftovers in soups, salads and lunches instead of throwing them away.

10, Reduce portion sizes. It will have the added advantage of helping everyone control his weight.

(Sources: John Stanton, chair of food marketing at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and others)