Wednesday

Steps to saving more money at the store

As the recession forces all of us to tighten our belts, there are some steps that we can take to save more money at the store. While these steps will not save you hundreds of dollars a week, they will certainly save you hundreds of dollars a year.  Each step you implement will help you save more money at the store.
  • Step 1: Think about bulk purchases - Whenever possible, purchase items in bulk.  In general, bulk purchases will lower your cost per "piece" and can result in significant cost savings. Make sure if you are purchasing in bulk that you carefully check expiration dates - you do not want to have to throw items away when you are trying to save money.
  • Step 2: Look into store specials - Look for in-store specials on items you would normally purchase. You can often find vegetables and meats that have special "managers special" flags on them. These are typically items that are close to expiration date so be certain that you are going to use the items right away for the best possible value.
  • Step 3: Find cents off Coupons - Even if you do not get a local Sunday paper that contains cents off coupons, you can easily locate online cents off coupons.  Websites like Coupon Surfer allow you to browse by category or brand, and can help you save money off items you would purchase anyway.
  • Step 4: Apply for and use your store "Rewards" cards - Most stores today offer some type of a rewards program. These programs not only can help you save money at the store, but many of them also offer additional benefits.  If you do not have a rewards card, do not hesitate to contact a sales associate and ask if they have one that they allow for use by customers.
  • Step 5: Take advantage of rain checks - If you see an item on sale that you would normally purchase and it is out of stock, ask the store for a rain-check. Combining a rain check with cents off coupons and other rewards programs can help you save more money at the store.
These five steps are merely a few of the possible options for saving money at the grocery store. Every consumer is looking for the most cost effective ways to feed their family.  Using one or more of these steps each time you go to the store will help you save more money.  Shoppers should take advantage of every opportunity to save money not only during tough economic times but every day.