You are not alone if you have experienced sticker shock shopping for groceries. Food prices have risen significantly and won’t fall any time soon. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food costs will rise nearly 5 percentage points through 2009.
You don’t need to stop eating leftovers five days per week. There are ways you can save money on food. You only need to have a plan and some good old-fashioned discipline as well as some technology to make significant savings on your grocery bill.
Discover Card gives you these tips to help you spend smarter and cut down on your food bill:
To learn more about your shopping habits, look through your grocery receipts. The more information you have about your purchases and how much they cost, the easier it will be to compare prices and make savings.
Before you head to the supermarket, choose your meal menus. You will be less likely overbuying and wasting food if you have a list of all the food items that you need for the week. You shouldn’t go to the grocery store with a full stomach.
– Stock up on the ingredients that you use most often by purchasing from your local store. Look through the weekly circulars before you head to the store to find out what’s on sale. These deals can save you up to 20% on your grocery bill.
– Find bargains online. Certain websites, such as www.mygrocerydeals.comYou can type in your ZIP code to pull up the best deals for everything from coffee beans to rib eye. To find the most affordable prices, create search lists.
Shop around. You don’t have to go to the grocery store for all your food needs. Stroll down the aisles of the big discount or pharmacy to check out what they have. You may find lower prices for items like milk, cereal, juice, and other products.
Don’t forget about coupons! They can save you a lot of money. Coolsavings.com has a number of Web sites that offer free samples or manufacturer coupons.
Visit Discover Card to learn more about how it helps cardmembers put their money to work. www.discover.com/edge.
