Gloss How-To: Save Money at the Grocery Store

In 2009 the U.S. Department of Labor reported that the average American family of four spends $8,513 per year on groceries. If you do the math, the average family is spending over $700 per week on groceries, if not more.

While some people can afford to splurge on premium ingredients and brand names, the grocery store is also one of the most common places where people overspend. Have you ever gone to the store for “just one thing” and left with an $80 hole in your pocket?

I thought so.

While I am sometimes guilty of spending more money than necessary at the grocery store, I’ve also picked up a few great tips to help keep as much of my paycheck as possible intact after a weekly shopping trip.

Tip #1: Don’t go back. Designate one day of the week for grocery shopping and don’t switch up your schedule. By popping into the market every other day for ground beef here, basil there will tempt you to make unnecessary purchases and send your monthly shopping bill sky high.

Tip #2: Shop the perimeter. The outer aisles of grocery stores typically stock the healthier food – fruits, vegetables, dairy and meats. Avoiding the inner aisles, which stock mainly processed and snack foods, can help reduce the temptation to spend money on packaged crackers, cookies and sugar-sweetened cereals that your waistline – and your wallet – are better off without.

Tip #3: Clip Coupons. Thanks to the internet, it seems that there is a coupon for practically everything out there these days. Don’t hit the grocery store before you’ve shopped online for bargains from websites like CouponMom.com and Coupons.com. Other grocery savings sites, like Shopping Nanny,  guarantee a $500 annual savings on groceries for $5.95 per month. Great for busy families, it does the work for you and automatically adds coupons onto your  grocery stores loyalty discount cards. Not too shabby.

Tip #4: Be selective. When it comes to deciding between premium brands and generic supermarket varieties, prioritize. Know what items are the same – like generic cream cheese, and know where you want to splurge, such as on items like fresh squeezed, all-natural juices and slightly pricier Greek yogurts.