Being smart with your grocery shopping can make a big difference in how much you spend. While some products rarely go on sale, there are plenty of essentials that frequently do. By knowing which items to keep an eye on for discounts, you can save a significant amount of money, and stocking up on these groceries during promotions can make your budget go further. You should always wait for a sale to buy these 18 grocery items.
Meat
Meat often makes up a large part of your grocery bill. The New York Times reports that “the average American, by the way, consumes almost 215 pounds of meat per person per year.” The cost of this will quickly add up if you consistently buy meat at full price. However, you can save precious coins if you make the most of sales at the butcher counter, seasonal deals, or buying in bulk and freezing portions for later use.
Coffee
If you find yourself regularly spending quite a lot of money on coffee, you should try waiting for it to be on sale and then buying it in bulk to save money in the long run. Family-size packs and bulk buys are typically much better value for money. You could also look out for holiday sales or promotional events to grab your favorite coffee products for less. Checking for coupons or loyalty rewards at your local coffee shop can also be worth it!
Condiments
Condiments might seem like a small part of your grocery shop, but over time, the cost of buying condiments singularly can add up. You should consider buying multipacks to spend less on condiments in the long run, especially if there are coupons or discounts on these multipacks. It can also be beneficial to stock up on condiments during barbeque season, as there’ll often be a seasonal sale, and opting for store brands instead of brand-name condiments can save you a significant amount of money.
Laundry Detergent
We all dread the grocery store visit when we have to buy essentials like laundry detergent, as they can be pretty expensive! Buying larger containers or bulk packages during sales can help you stick to your budget, and it’s smart to take advantage of any manufacturer’s coupons or store promotions whenever they’re available too. You can also check out deals at warehouse clubs for bulk purchases to get the most out of your money.
Cheese
Always buying cheese at full price can be a costly mistake, as there are many ways to purchase your cheese for cheaper. Look out for sales and then use that opportunity to buy extra cheese to freeze and use over time. Shopping at discount stores and bulk stores instead of traditional grocery stores can save you big bucks too. Also, don’t fall for the convenience of buying pre-sliced or shredded cheese instead of a block, as this always costs more.
Baking Supplies
If you enjoy home baking, you’ll know how expensive it can sometimes get! Baking supplies are another thing that you should wait until there’s a sale to purchase. There are often sales on baking supplies during the holiday season, so this is a great time to stock up without burning a hole in your pocket. You can also buy staples like flour, sugar, and baking powder in bulk to save cash, as these items have a long shelf-life.
Eggs
According to USA Today, “The average family spends $270 at the grocery store per week.” Buying essentials like eggs while they’re on sale can help bring down that amount and save you money. As eggs are a regular purchase for many people, it’s important to keep an eye out for bulk buy offers and weekly specials at your local grocery store. Eggs will also usually be cheaper in peak production seasons, so make the most of that!
Breakfast Cereal
Breakfast cereal can often run out quite quickly, leading to us having to buy it pretty often. This cycle can get pricey, so it’s vital to make the most of any potential deals and sales when shopping for your breakfast cereal. Look out for buy-one-get-one-free deals on cereal, and take full advantage of any coupons or discounts when they’re available. You should also consider switching to generic brands of cereal that are much cheaper and on sale more regularly.
Personal Care Items
Most of us don’t look forward to the grocery shop when we need to restock personal care products like shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant, as these can add a lot of expense to our shopping bill. However, you can avoid paying so much for these types of items by utilizing coupons and store promotions, buying in bulk during sales events, and checking for discounts on store brands instead of constantly buying brand-name goods.
Frozen Vegetables
Frozen vegetables are great for making quick and easy meals, and they also provide good nutrition, as they’re picked at their ideal ripeness. Frozen veg is typically affordable to begin with, but to save even more, you can stock up and buy in bulk during sales. As this item is frozen, you can overbuy as much as you like when there are sales because it won’t go off quickly!
Bottled Water
Some of us like the luxury of drinking bottled water instead of tap water but don’t like the pricey receipt that comes with it. Bottled water is frequently on sale, so take advantage of this as well as the chance to buy multipacks for good savings. If you’re in the right place at the right time and you see discounts on bottled water, go crazy! There’s no downside to bulk-buying this item.
Bread
Bread is an integral part of most of our diets, whether we eat it for breakfast, lunch, supper, or at any other time of day! It’s easy to run through a loaf of bread pretty quickly, so it’s crucial to scrimp and save on bread however you can. Check out your local bakeries and grocery stores for sales. There might also be discounts for day-old bread at certain stores.
Snacks
We all can’t help snacking every now and again, some more than others, and snacks are an essential item on most people’s grocery shopping list. To save money on your snacks, look out for clearance items or seasonal specials. Grocery stores also often have back-to-school promotions that you can take advantage of whether you have kids or not! You should consider opting for bulk or family packs too, as NBC News says “buying products in bulk may help save up to 40%.”
Spices
A good time to search the grocery stores for spices at a lower price is during the holiday seasons, as there are often sales around these times. There’s also no harm in bulk buying commonly used spices, as they have a long shelf-life and will always get used up over time. It can also be a smart idea to shy away from brand-name spices and choose the non-branded option, as they’ll typically be just as good but less expensive.
Yogurt
Waiting for sales to buy yogurts can help you stay under your grocery budget. Buying larger tubs of yogurt rather than small, single-serving tubs can increase your savings as well. Yogurts are also often marked down when they’re getting close to their expiry date; however, they will still usually be good for a few days past that date, so picking up soon-to-expire yogurts can be a clever money-saving move.
Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning supplies can often come with a pretty big price tag, meaning finding a good deal on these items is a priority. Luckily, things like all-purpose cleaners, dish soap, and other cleaning supplies are frequently marked down and regularly come with coupons. If you bulk buy and stock up on cleaning supplies during sales events, you’ll never be stuck paying full price for these essential items.
Pasta
Sales on pasta are a regular occurrence at most grocery stores. Whether you prefer spaghetti, penne, or rigatoni, there are most likely deals available for you, so keep an eye out and grab them whenever you can. Pasta is the foundation of so many different dishes, like bolognese, lasagne, and carbonara, so stocking up on this item can’t hurt! It lasts forever too, so you can never have too much.
Canned Goods
It’s beneficial to always have a bunch of canned goods, such as beans, soup, and tomatoes, in your kitchen cabinet, as they have long shelf lives and can come in really handy in a pinch! Don’t be afraid to bulk buy these items, as you can make pretty big savings in the long run by doing this, and you’ll always get through them eventually. Consider opting for store-brand versions of these staples too to hold onto extra cash.
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