Cost Saving Ideas

Tips on Saving Money at the Grocery Store

We are all struggling with the price of groceries these days but there are some ways to save money at the grocery store that only take a few minutes to do. Saving money at the grocery store is one of the easiest ways to make a limited budget stretch further. By applying the cost saving tips and tricks listed below, you may just walk away with more money left in your wallet!

1. Make a Grocery List

Make a list and use it. In fact, before you even head out to the grocery store, take a quick inventory of the items that you already have on hand and the ones that you need to get. This will help you buy the things that you need and avoid buying extra items that were not on your list.

Once you’ve taken inventory of your pantry and fridge, make another list of meals that you can currently make with the items on hand. Being able to use what you currently have in stock will save you more money as you’re using up what you already have instead of buying more items.

2. Use Loyalty Cards and Coupons

Once you’ve created the list of items that you need for the week, cross-reference store ads for items you need that may be on sale. Use coupons or the store loyalty card for extra savings.

3. Switch to Generic Items

Making the switch from branded items to generic items is also a great way to save. Store branded items often have the same ingredients as the branded items.

4. Check for a Senior Customer Day

Find out if your local grocery store offers a senior customer day. If they do, shop on that day for additional savings. Also, be sure to check the requirements such as the age requirement and if the discount is automatic. You may need to inform the casher about your age to receive the senior day discount.

5. Get a Rain Check

Did the store offer a fantastic deal that quickly sold out? Talk with the cashier or store manager and get a rain check for the item. Just because you cannot purchase the item right away does not mean you cannot come back and pick it up at a later time.

6. Compare the Price per Ounce

It may look like a great deal, but once you compare the price per ounce it may not turn out to be so great. Be sure to compare the price per ounce or if the deal requires you to buy more than you’ll be able to use.

Boost Shelf Life, Create Less Waste and Save Money

Have you considered that you may be storing certain staple items incorrectly which is leading to reduced shelf life and quality of the item? This may be causing you to spend more money on replacing the item. The shelf life of food can come down to where and how you store it. Keeping foods at the right temperature can not only help preserve quality and freshness, it can help prolong shelf life, create less waste and save you money on your grocery bill. Here are a few common mistakes that you may be making.

1. Leaving olive oil by the stove

Heart-healthy oils, like olive oil, have less saturated fat which makes it more susceptible to going rancid. Exposure to heat speeds up the degradation process, as does exposure to light and air. To maintain quality, keep olive oil in a tightly sealed, opaque container inside a cabinet away from the stove or other heat source. According to the USDA, a container of olive oil, once opened, can last three to five months when stored properly in a pantry. If you opt to keep olive oil in the refrigerator, it will solidify and need to reach room temperature before it can be measured for cooking.

2. Keeping ground coffee in the pantry

Coffee loses quality quickly at room temperature. When it is ground, coffee has a drastically higher surface area, causing its quality to degrade even faster. Keep ground coffee in an airtight container in the freezer to minimize exposure to air, light and moisture. Only remove the container from the freezer briefly to measure out what’s needed. The USDA estimates the shelf life of ground coffee after opening at two weeks in the pantry, a month in the refrigerator and up to a year in the freezer.

3. Chopping produce in advance

Pre-sliced fruit and bagged salads are convenient, but once a piece of produce is cut, it begins to degrade and the quality will decrease. Ideally for freshness, wait to chop fruits and vegetables until just before you’re ready to consume them.

4. Putting bread in the refrigerator

Fresh bread that you don’t plan to eat within a couple of days is best stored in the freezer. When left at room temperature it may grow mold and when stored in the refrigerator it may dry out and go stale. Pre-sliced whole wheat bread can typically last three to five days in the pantry, according to the USDA, but freezing will keep it fresh for three months.

5. Storing spices in a cabinet

Spices don’t go bad in the same way milk goes bad. Rather, the flavor and aroma of your spices may start to fade over time due to exposure to air, heat and humidity. Whole spices last longer in the pantry (three to four years) than ground spices (two to three years), estimates the USDA. The exception is salt, which spice maker McCormick says will last indefinitely. Preserve the flavor and aroma of spices, especially those you don’t use often, by storing them in Ziplock bags in the freezer.

6. Tossing out honey too soon

The USDA estimates that honey has a shelf life of two years in the pantry, though some people get rid of theirs earlier for the wrong reason. When honey loses moisture it crystallizes, causing an increase in the concentration of sugar. This can occur when the jar isn’t sealed properly, or when it sits on the shelf unused for too long. According to the USDA, this is not a sign the honey has gone bad or is unsafe to consume. To salvage crystallized, cloudy or solidified honey, heat the jar in the microwave or in a pan of hot water to melt the crystals.

7. Stowing flour in the cupboard

Unless you’re an avid baker, you probably don’t go through a lot of flour. You also probably keep your flour in a kitchen cabinet, which reduces its shelf life. According to the USDA, white flour lasts six to eight months in the pantry after opening, but a year if refrigerated after opening. Wheat flour lasts six to eight months if refrigerated after opening, about twice as long as it would unrefrigerated. To store flour in your refrigerator or freezer, seal it in an airtight container to block out moisture and prevent the absorption of odors. More storage information can be found on the USDA website.