One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to create a meal plan for the upcoming week or two.Having a meal plan makes creating a shopping list more straightforward, and helps you avoid picking up any of the dreaded budget-busting impulse items.
If you are using recipes to create your meal plan, creating a shopping list isn’t hard at all. All you need to do is write down the ingredients and quantities you will need to complete your menu or meal plan.
When reviewing the store circular or discounts, you may find items on sale that do not currently work with your meal plan. If you have room in your budget, you can freeze meat, vegetables, and fruit to use later.
Fight the urge to pick-up impulse items; having a shopping list in hand is great for sticking to the budget. Also, to ensure you don’t go over budget, add up the cost of items on your phone calculator, it’s helpful to see how much you’re spending as you go.
Buying food in the bulk aisle or bulk section can save a lot of money. The key is to make sure you use it before it goes to waste; this is where having a meal plan can come in handy.