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    Home » 7 Money Traps To Avoid and How To Save Big During Monthly Grocery Shopping
    Financial Wellness

    7 Money Traps To Avoid and How To Save Big During Monthly Grocery Shopping

    DunniBy DunniApril 1, 20246 Mins Read
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    An almost empty shopping aisle
    Source: Circe Denyer/Public Domain Pictures
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    Judging by how much the price of groceries has risen in recent years, it is surprising that people still shop. It is probably a sign of Americans’ financial doggedness. 

    A woman shopping in a grocery store
    Source: Lórí Shaull/Flickr

    On the other hand, it may be inferred that people are spending more than they earn and are fast sinking into debt. Still, there is hope.

    Biting Prices Necessitates Coping Strategies  

    A report by The Washington Post gives credence to the glaring realities of inflation. The report affirms that groceries have experienced a 25% spike between 2020 and now.

    Expensive price tags
    Source: Jimmy Emerson/Flickr

    Therefore, it becomes essential, now more than ever, to adopt some flexible and creative shopping skills. This proficiency should save you from the common money traps of grocery shopping. 

    Shopping, One Meal at a Time  

    The first money trap you want to give a wide berth is buying groceries for just one meal per shopping trip. By all means, avoid this practice as it is a surefire route to waste food and money. 

    A woman fiddling with her smartphone while eating
    Source: Alicia Bruce/Wellhub

    To avoid such wastage, it is advisable to plan shopping lists that cover multiple meals. Likewise, to avoid the monotony of taste, buy groceries that are handy for different dishes. 

    Check for Your Food Interceptions 

    A Reddit user explained how they maximize their groceries on multiple meals. They budget more for foods that serve various purposes on different dishes.  

    A Couple Buying Vegetable Inside A Grocery Store
    Source: Anna Tarazevich/Pexels

    The user said they often mix shredded carrots with spices and ground meat to give their meatballs more volume. Likewise, they turn eggs into frittatas by freezing them and using them for quick fixes of simple meals.

    If You Prefer Organic Foods  

    We strongly discourage buying organic foods from high-end grocery stores. Groceries with the ‘organic’ label will naturally come at jaw-dropping prices in such stores. 

    Organic food section in a grocery store
    Source: Grid Scheduler/Flickr

    If you have the money to throw around, be our guest. However, if you are trying to save money on groceries, there is another way to go about eating organic. 

    Your Local Farmers’ Market to the Rescue  

    You can buy organic foods without breaking the bank. Just ask around for the closest local farmers’ markets to your residence. Even during high-bargain hours, prices are much cheaper than the grocery store equivalent.

    A stack of quarters with sprouting leaves
    Source: Erin Meyer/Medium

    You can save even more money by going to the market during closing hours. Around this time, farmers often look to offload their remaining produce at heavily discounted prices. 

      Coupons Left Flying in the Wind

    We are sure many shoppers often find flyers at grocery stores boring. However, many contain coupons and juicy discounts that shoppers often gloss over. 

    Product-specific coupons
    Source: Daniel Bowen/Flickr

    Many grocery chains make daily and weekly discounted offers on specific items. Next time you’re at a grocery store, just have a glance at these flyers. 

    Exploit Whatever’s Up for Grabs    

    To exploit the coupons and discounts, you may want to tailor your weekly meal plans around them. You can check the grocery chain’s website or drop by the store to see what is available. 

    A woman sorts through coupons while shopping
    Source: 2001online/X

    Next, you can draw a meal plan that exploits most, if not all, of the store’s discounted items. Your skill at adopting this strategy may save you loads on groceries. 

    Confide in Your Pantry 

    Sometimes, people make unplanned visits to the grocery store to buy items needed for a meal. When they arrive home, they check their pantry and discover they have many purchased items in stock. 

    Unplanned shopping by a pair of twins
    Source: colorblindPICASO/Flickr

    So, schedule your store visits if you want to save on groceries. Likewise, always check with your pantry to avoid rebuking you upon your return. 

    Know What You Need and Have 

    Maggie Turansky, an expert in the food-making business, recommends starting your shopping at home before rushing to the grocery store. 

    A military spouse picks canned goods being given away
    Airman

    Turansky, who is the founder of No Frills Kitchen, said, “Pay attention to what you have that may be expiring in your refrigerator and plan some meals to use up those things instead of buying more.” She explains that this approach simultaneously cuts waste and saves money. 

    Buying All Grocery Items From a Single Location  

    Many grocery shoppers fall into the trap of trying to buy all the items on their shopping list at a single outlet. 

    Comparing the price of a grocery item online
    Source: Dries Buytaert/Dri

    Putting in a little more effort to compare the prices of items at other grocery chains may save you a lot on specific items. The effort would count if you tend to consume a lot of that item. 

    Allegiance at Your Detriment  

    Just like organic foods, some food items cost much cheaper at other locations besides your favorite grocery store. 

    Arranging food packs for Thanksgiving
    Source: DVIDS/Picryl

    So, check at discount stores, warehouse clubs that allow bulk purchases, and even local farmers’ markets. A fat and juicy discount may await you at those locations. Meanwhile, ensure the goods are the same quality as what you would get from the traditional grocery store. 

    Stop Buying in Bits, Especially If You Can’t Help It   

    The more often you have to visit a grocery store for an item you use quite often, the more expensive that item becomes. Of course, the label price may remain the same. However, driving to the store oh-so-often may cost more in the long run. 

    shopping cart with lone item
    Source: Jeff Wagner/X

    So, you want to buy your necessary items in bulk. Doing this helps you trim up your grocery bills. 

    Save Big On Bulk Purchases    

    The more volume you buy of staples like rice, canned foods, and pasta, the lower the unit price tends to become. 

    Chicago resident and her son shop at Costco with a large grocery cart
    Source: Dyana B/Medium

    Gabrielle Marie Yap, a culinary entrepreneur at CarnivoreStyle, said of her experience with bulk buying, “Turns out, the price per unit drops significantly when you go big … This trick has been my grocery budget superhero, swooping in to rescue me with an extra 15% in savings.” 

    Shopping While Hungry? Big NO!

    Getting inspired to go grocery shopping because you are hungry is a no-no. It may become difficult to discipline yourself into buying just what you need. 

    A bunch of grocery items
    Source: Marawder/Flickr

    Research suggests that hungry shoppers tend to spend 64% more than they planned. So, if you suddenly discover you are hungry before a shopping trip, endeavor to snack or take a glass of milk.

    Americans Grocery Shopping Inflation
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