When it comes to balancing your family finances, trying to save money on the necessities may seem impossible. But there are some easy steps you can take to keep some of that money in your checkbook instead of in the cash register.

Try to do your grocery shopping solo. Young children do not have the attention span for longer trips and will require more of your attention, distracting you from even the best intentions of being frugal. If you have no choice but to bring the kids along, let them each pick out one item within a certain price range. If your children are older, enlist their help by asking them to find particular items from your list or find the best bargain for a certain item. However, ultimately you will save more money and find the best bargains if you have the time and energy to devote to your trip.

Make the time to clip coupons. Start a tradition of scanning for coupons from the Sunday morning newspaper- assign your children jobs such as cutting and organizing to teach them the importance of saving money. Many grocery stores offer double-coupon promotions either daily or on certain days of the week- some even offer triple coupons! With one $0.50 coupon, you could wind up saving $1.50, and that’s not including the savings you’ll get if the item is already on sale. Websites like www.coupons.com and www.couponmom.com allow you to search only for the products you need, and print the coupon directly to your home printer. Start a coupon swap with coworkers in your employee break room or other common area. Review the weekly circulars that come with the Sunday paper for that week’s sales and specials. Take advantage of sale prices on items you use frequently- buy in bulk, but only if you have the storage space.

One of the most important ways to save money on groceries is to never underestimate the value of a shopping list. Remember that grocery stores are in business to make money- store layouts are designed to encourage you to purchase as many items as possible. The best way to resist temptation is to stick to your list. If possible, plan out your meals for the week ahead of time so you can purchase all the ingredients in one trip. Don’t compare costs by merely looking at the price of each item- calculate the product’s price per ounce or pound to determine which offers the best bargain. Opt for store brands instead of major brand names- in most cases you are only paying for extra advertising and fancier packaging.

The truth is there are always ways to save by paying a little extra attention. Put these tips to use and your budget will be much more manageable- at least when it comes to groceries.

Posted in Home Budget

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