It seems like everyone has their own routine when it comes to doing the grocery shopping. I personally prefer getting it done on a Wednesday evening. I get home from work, eat dinner, grab my grocery list and off I go! With fewer people there, I’m able to get my shopping done much faster than I would on a Saturday morning!
However, that’s not my only grocery shopping tip – I have a few more tricks up my sleeve! To make grocery shopping a more healthful and cost-effective experience, try some of the suggestions below:
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Get full. Don’t shop hungry. You’ve heard it before, and it’s true. In fact, one financial analyst from Ball State University states that shopping hungry (along with impulse buying and lack of planning) leads to financial problems for millions of Americans. Bottom line: Make sure you’re full before you leave; otherwise, you’ll be tempted to throw unneeded items into the cart.
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Clip and Save. A little homework can go a long way. Make a list of everything you need and look in the newspaper for coupons on these items. Don’t think it makes a difference? In 2000 alone, shoppers saved $3.6 billion by using coupons.
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Read Labels. Learning to read the labels will give you a good idea of whether or not you’re getting your money’s worth. For example, ingredients are listed in order of their usage in the product. If a product heavily advertises a certain ingredient or element, and it’s listed toward the bottom of the ingredient list, be skeptical.
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Plan meals. Take an hour or two to plan your meals for the week. Write down all the ingredients that you’ll need to by for each meal. This will save you from multiple trips to the store when you go to buy just a few items but instead come out with a cart full of things you didn’t intend on getting.
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Set limits. Place a dollar amount on the items you consider an indulgence. This will help satisfy your craving to impulse buy, without breaking your budget.
This is a short list of suggestions to get you started, but I know there is more advice out there! What are your thoughts? How do you keep grocery shopping healthy and economical?
Source: Wellness Council of America
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