SOLANCONEWS.com -- Tips for Savings at the Store

Tips for Savings at the Store
(MS) -- Families across the country understand the need for stretching a dollar from time to time. With costs of fuel, daycare and education continually on the rise, families more than ever are looking for ways to save money on monthly bills and expenses.

While some costs are inevitable, there are ways families can save some money here and there without negatively affecting the lifestyle they’ve grown accustomed to. One such way is at the local grocery store, where a more careful approach to shopping can pay off in the long run.

Shop sales: Many stores operate by placing items on sale once in a two- to three-month period. This includes entrée items families eat every week such as chicken and beef. Because such items can be frozen, it’s possible to stockpile these foods to take advantage of the limited times they’re on sale. This is especially easy in homes that have a separate freezer. But entrées that can be frozen aren’t the only items that can be stockpiled. Other foods with distant expiration dates can be stockpiled without running the risk of illness.

Choose store brands: Store brand items are often significantly less expensive than brand names. In many cases, the cheaper store brand items provide the same taste and nutritive value as brand names. Such items can cost up to 50 percent less than their brand name counterparts.

Join the club: Many grocery store and supermarket chains offer discount clubs to their customers. For the price of simply signing up (which is often free), customers are then privy to sales that can really add up. For many people, these savings clubs have replaced the painstaking process of clipping coupons. Some stores even allow customers to combine club savings with coupons, potentially cutting the grocery bill even more for those willing to do a little more work.

Make a list: Going to the grocery store with a list greatly reduces the likelihood of making impulse buys. If shoppers go to the store with a set list in mind, they’re less likely to buy unnecessary items, as they’ll be more concerned with finding items on their list.

Expand shopping horizons: Not all items need to be purchased at the grocery store or supermarket. For example, personal care items, such as lotions, shampoos, soap, etc., are often less expensive at drugstores or mass merchandisers (such as Wal-Mart, Target) than they are at grocery stores. Many drug chains now also offer similar savings club cards like their grocery counterparts, increasing the likelihood for even more savings.

Join a warehouse club: Warehouse clubs can be great ways to save on a host of items, including things that go beyond the grocery store. Though warehouse clubs typically charge a membership fee, many families find these membership fees end up paying for themselves. Buying certain items in bulk isn’t necessary or even prudent for small families. However, some household items, such as toilet paper or paper towels, that families big and small all use can be offered at significant discounts when compared to what the items would cost when not bought in bulk. In addition to groceries, warehouse clubs often offer significant discounts on appliances and electronics, again making the membership fees worthwhile.

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