Ways to save money at the grocery store

With financial markets plummeting and recession a startling reality, ordinary families are battle weary, struggling (and often failing) to make ends meet on a weekly basis. Although interest rates may fall and alleviate some pressure on the family budget, grocery prices continue to climb and appetites of growing families increase steadily. There are some proven ways of curtailing the spiraling grocery bill, with discipline and strategic planning potentially achieving significant savings.

Before arriving at the supermarket, plan ahead. Plan a family menu for the week, check the contents of the pantry and then compose a detailed list of all the ingredients needing to be purchased. Take the list to the shops and purchase only the articles on the list. Cross off the items as they are placed in the trolley, ensuring all are purchased (to eliminate the need for subsequent visits to the store), and with no additional impulse purchases sneaking in. Aim to do one large weekly shop and resist racing into the supermarket every day or two to grab a few things.

If extra visits for a few items must be made, try to carry cash, and only the appropriate amount for the items needed. Leave the plastic cards at home so that unnecessary impulse buys are not possible.

Look out for specials and take full advantage of them, but don't accept every special advertisement as offering great value for money. Specials and prominently displayed items are not always the best deals available. Look down low and up high on the shelves and take the time to compare prices of similar products. Often the most accessible and brightly presented articles are the more expensive options.

Buying in bulk may, or may not, be a great way to save money. There is a common understanding that it is better value to buy a larger package of an item rather than the equivalent amount in smaller packages. This isn't a consistent truth and quick calculations may prove beneficial.

Store brands and no-name items are often less expensive than major brand counterparts. In many cases, there is little to no difference in the quality of the product, however, in some cases, quality may be markedly inferior. In the long run, an expensive shampoo (for example) may be a more economical choice than the cheaper, no frills variety which is highly diluted and of little use in washing hair.

Likewise, there is little point in saving money on no brand food items if family members refuse to consume them due to disappointing taste value.

Be conscious of portion sizes. It is best not to buy pre-packaged meat, deli items or fruit and vegetables. Instead, ask for the exact amount required to be weighed and wrapped.

If pre-packaged fresh items are purchased, compare the price per kilogram with that displayed for non-packaged produce. Also take not of the weight of the food. A thin steak can appear deceptively large when spread widely on a meat tray.

To employ these shopping strategies, extra time will be needed for the grocery shop. Concentration will be essential and a calculator may be useful. Although these techniques may only save small amounts on items, these small amounts quickly add up to significant savings on the weekly grocery bill and startling totals over the course of a year.