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11 Signs You’re Wasting Money When Grocery Shopping

By Housing Nonprofit

HUD Certified Housing Counselors

Are you spending more than you should on groceries?

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    If any of the following signs look familiar, the answer is yes.

    1. You keep buying food without eating what you have.

    Have you noticed that your kitchen keeps getting stuffed with more and more food? If so, you’re wasting money by not eating the groceries you already have.

    You can fix this quickly by trying a pantry challenge that has you eat whatever’s in your kitchen before buying anything new. Such a challenge can save the day when you’re low on cash. It can also teach you what to buy and what to avoid in the future, as you may be buying food you don’t really need.

    2. You’re not using apps to comparison shop.

    Every store is not created equal when it comes to grocery prices. How can you see who has the best prices? By using an app like Instacart that will show you who’s charging what.

    3. You’re bringing your children to the store.

    It’s hard to say no to your kids when they’re at the store. To prevent this challenging task that leads to loads of costly impulse purchases, leave them home when you shop.

    4. You’re shopping when you’re hungry.

    It’s no secret that shopping when you haven’t eaten can lead to loads of impulse purchases.

    5. You don’t use a list to shop.

    One of the easiest ways to save money when shopping is to bring a list and stick to it. Without a list, you’ll end up buying way more items than you need.

    6. You mostly shop in the middle of the store.

    The grocery store’s middle aisles are often filled with unhealthy, processed, overpriced foods. If that’s where you’re spending most of your time, try shopping the perimeter where healthy staples are.

    7. You only buy brand-name items.

    Are there certain foods that taste best from the big brands? Probably. But that doesn’t mean every item you pick has to come from such a brand, as generic alternatives can be just as good and a lot cheaper.

    8. You only buy fresh.

    Feel free to buy fresh fruits, veggies, and the like. Don’t forget about their frozen counterparts, though, as they offer two significant benefits. First, they’re often cheaper. And second, they can last a lot longer, so you don’t have to toss them in the trash.

    9. You don’t use loyalty programs.

    Do you always shop at the same store? If so, see if they have a loyalty program. You can usually sign up for free and can receive discounts and other perks for being a member.

    10. You don’t plan your meals.

    Meal planning is one of the best ways to save money on groceries. It gives you an exact blueprint of what to buy each time you shop, which can keep expensive impulse purchases at bay.

    11. You spend way too much on dinner.

    Yes, dinner is an excellent opportunity to get together with your loved ones. But that doesn’t mean it has to be expensive.

    You can cut dinner costs by making meatless meals or cooking breakfast foods at night that are much more affordable. You can also recycle your leftovers to create new meals that taste great at a fraction of the cost.