5 Economical and Environmentally-Friendly Tips
Food shopping is a necessary evil. After all, you need to have food stocked in your home, but the grocery store shelves can be dangerous to your monthly budget. When you walk into a store to do your food shopping, you can fall victim to impulse buys, deals that aren’t deals, and specials on items you probably will never actually eat. Don’t worry though; we have a few food shopping tips that will not only save you money but help you protect the environment, too.
Bring your own bags
Many stores offer incentives for customers who bring their own reusable bags to the grocery store. Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and Target all offer incentives for customers who are willing to bring their own bags. Each store’s incentive is a little bit different. Many Target stores offer a .10 discount for each reusable bag you bring for your shopping trip. Trader Joe’s stores offer entry into raffles along with a .05 discount on each bag you bring with you. Check with your local store to find out about their reusable bag policy. Shopping with reusable cloth grocery bags on a regular basis, regardless of receiving an additional discount, is also a more environmentally-friendly option.
Buy in Bulk
Not only will you get a better per-unit price by buying in bulk, but you’ll also cut down on the amount of packaging and waste you produce. By buying in bulk, you also keep yourself out of the grocery store on a daily or weekly basis, which will significantly reduce impulse purchases. You can purchase grains in bulk and store them in glass canisters to ensure they last longer. Meats and cheeses can be bought in bulk, sectioned into portions and frozen for use at a later time.
Avoid purchasing paper products
Paper napkins, paper towels and paper plates are expensive and lead to a great deal of waste that heads right to landfills. Avoid buying these paper products and instead invest in reusable options. Reusable cloth napkins and dish rags can lower your grocery bill substantially and save on the waste your family produces on a weekly basis.
Consider meal planning
Meal planning is an excellent way of keeping yourself on a healthy eating plan, but it can also save you a lot of money at the grocery store. When you plan your meals, food shopping will instantly become an exercise in picking up specific ingredients, instead of wandering through the aisles. Plan your meals and make a list of the ingredients you’ll need before you head to the store. Not only will you save money each week at the store, but you’ll cut down on the amount of food you waste, too.
Check the sales
Check online flyers before you head to your local grocery store. Not only can you clip digital coupons online to save you a little bit of money on products you use every day, but you'll also be able to make a list of items that are well-priced. Some shoppers choose only to buy things that are on sale and plan their meals around that list, while other's plan their meals first then look for the local store with the best prices. Both strategies work well. You just need to pick the method that works best for you and your family.
Try these tips out on your next food shopping trip and track your savings. We think you’ll be surprised how much money you save and how much less product you are wasting week over week.