Saving money when you shop

Who doesn't like to save a few bucks? Especially now with jobs being so scarce and the cost of everything going up. I am going to share a few tricks that I use for grocery shopping.

Tip #1: Coupons
I remember growing up my Mom would get coupon inserts from other people and we would sit every couple of weeks and clip and sort them. Now you can print coupons from the computer (though some stores won't accept them) and some people even do a coupon train. A coupon train is simple; you  get a group of people, cut out and keep coupons you want and give the rest to the next person in line.  Some stores will double coupons up to a certain amount, which make your savings even bigger! Pair that with sales of the week and you can get some really great deals!

Tip #2: Sale Ads
Each week grocery stores and some drug stores or discount markets will print up sale ads. The front page of these ads are the most important. They are the best deals the store is offering that week. Sales like these are known as loss leaders. The store isn't going to make a ton of money on them, but they draw customers into the store. While there getting these sale items most people will inevitably buy more than just what is on sale.

Tip #3: End Caps
These are the ends of the aisle. Avoid them if at all possible! Stores use these to draw people in deceiving them into believing they are getting a great deal. Sometimes you are, but if you travel down the aisle you might find that the sale isn't really a sale at all.

Tip #4: Don't be lazy
You should always look both up to the top shelves and down to the bottom ones. Stores place the higher priced items at eye level. Let's face it it's easier to look straight ahead then look up or even hunch over to see other products. Often times you can miss a better deal if you don't look around.

Tip #5: Buy Generic
I'm sure you've heard it before. Generic is the same as the name brand. Usually it's true and sometimes generic is better! The savings you get when you buy generic is amazing! Some items I will only buy generic are: condiments (excluding mayo or miracle whip), pasta, tomato products (except tomato soup that I am going to eat as is), and paper products.

Tip #6: Check price per ounce

While you might think about buying generic everything and make your shopping trip quick and easy. You need to compare prices and really look at the price per ounce or unit price. If it's not listed just take the price and divide it by how many ounces are in the product. A general rule that the bigger the package the more you save.  One item that I have found that generic is usually more expensive is bacon.

Tip #7: Be a Player
Don't feel that you have to stay faithful to one store. Shop the sale ads at all the stores in your area. Also make a list (mental or on paper) of items you frequently purchase and which store offers the best price. Figure in gas and time too. If you have to drive an extra five minutes out of your way it's probably not worth saving thirty cents on that can of diced tomatoes.

If you follow these tips,  make a list before you go shopping (and stick to it!), and don't go hungry, I can guarantee you will save some money! Try not to stress bout it and turn it into a game to see how much you can save each shopping trip!