Trimming the Fat in Grocery Shopping

October 2, 2011 by Chad Groetsch.

The other night I got into a brief conversation about the cost of buying groceries for our family of four with a co-worker. His family was the same size so I figured that the relative costs were probably pretty close to the same. (I know, it’s egocentric of me to think everyone shops like me.) I said to him that our weekly grocery expenses came to around $50. I thought his jaw was going to hit the floor. He exclaimed, “What! 50? Only 50?” He went on to say he spends $150 a week in groceries. Then it was my turn to be shocked. That’s three times what we spend! How can that be?

Unsatisfied with the small sampling of one person I looked up a chart online from the USDA that had average food costs per person and for families from August 2007. I was stunned to find out that the average food cost for a family of our size was $109.50 to $125.50 a week. Amazing!

Naturally, and still with a little doubt as to the results, I had to post my question on Facebook. This article is a direct result of the shock a couple of my friends had after finding out how “little” we spent on food each week.

I’ve always LOVED grocery shopping. Ask my wife, I get giddy with excitement when I can score a big discount on our grocery bill. A 50% discount is a rare but great shopping trip. When I was a college student back in the early 90’s I had a weekly budget between $12 and $15 for groceries and I ate better than most. I’ve learned a lot about how to shop and live since then.

This is not a “How to walk away from the grocery store with $100 in groceries for only pennies” article. This is more of a “Sensible Guidelines for Shopping list” using the same rules I use every week. If this list helps reduce your grocery expenses, FANTASTIC! Then you have more money to pay off debts, donate to a worthy cause, or spend on your kids. That would be “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” for me.

Rules to grocery engagement:

1. Set a weekly budget that you can stick with – I would always bring my grocery list on a sheet of paper and write down the prices next to the item as I grabbed it off the shelf. Sometimes I still do. When you reach your budget limit, put back what you can live without and stick to the necessities. The other option is go to in and set a goal under what you budgeted so if you find some great special you’ll have room to get it without sacrificing something else on your list. Case in point, our budget is $52.50 a week but I often shoot for under $50 so we have a little extra room to fudge on a special treat now and again.

2. Specials and Quantity – If you find a special via coupon or otherwise that is really good, buy more than one if the special allows you to. If you can afford it in your budget, get the maximum as long as it’s not perishable. There is no telling when that item is going back on sale so why buy only one now and pay full price later for one more? That’s just silly.

3. Bread Stores – These are the stores setup by commercial bakeries. These companies always make overruns and defective loaves(with little holes in the middle). Sometimes they are close to the sell by date. You can easily get two to four times the value for your dollar by buying your bread there instead of the grocery store. This is especially true if you like the good 12 Grain and other hearty breads. Freeze what you wont eat that week to extend freshness.

4. Different Stores, Different Selection – Some stores have cheaper fruits or veg, some have cheaper meat, and others are better for box of canned goods. Know your market and NEVER buy all in one store unless you have no other choices. We’ve got a store that can’t be beat for fruit in our area, so where do I go when fruits are in season? You guessed it…which is a great segway to the next tip.

5. Buy Fruits and Veg in season – You may want strawberries out of season but you will pay a premium for that privilege. There are always deals for things when they are in season and/or locally grown. Buy, prep, and freeze fruits and veg for later use if you can’t use it right away. It also gives you seasons to your dishes which will help keep your pallet from boredom.

6. Name brands – You know why name brand items are so much more? Is it because they spend more on quality? No, it’s the cost of advertising that makes them charge more. Save your money and buy generic or off brand items when that is an option. They make generics for almost everything on the shelf that is not on the outer perimeter of the store and it tastes virtually the same.

7. Special Discounts – Most stores will put discontinued items or things close to the sell by date in a special place. The store we do a lot of shopping at puts discontinued items in grocery carts in the middle of the store and has a special cooler for fresh meat that they need to sell. It’s usually quite good yet(Use your eyes though) and can be substantially cheaper. 50% or more off it worth looking for.

8. Gardening is Great – Have space and love fresh produce? Plant a garden. For the price of some seeds and a little bit of your time you can easily produce more than you can eat. Learn how to can food and process it for later. I can a lot! It doesn’t take a lot of time and the food can be stored for years. We haven’t spent a dime on jelly in 10 years because I make apple jelly and apple butter enough to last 10 families. Gardening also gives you the self satisfaction of producing something for you or your family. Self-sufficiency is hot topic right now anyway.

9. Coupons vs Value – Sometimes a coupon is not worth the paper it’s printed on. If you have to buy something you would never buy just to save 25 cents, then consider the net cost as a loss. “But…Mr Chad, I SAVED 25 cents on this widget.” No, you spent $1.50 for the widget. It just cost you less than the other guy. Also, if you can buy a generic variety of the same product for cheaper than you can with a coupon, it’s also not worth it.

10. Nothing Beats Home Cooking – Ok, so you have a busy life style. That does not mean you can’t have 10 to 15 easy meals ready in 15 minutes for days when you don’t have the time for an hour of cooking. The biggest cost vs value difference is in prepared meals. You can make “from scratch” meals for a whole lot less than buying the frozen TV dinner equivalent. Here’s the shocker…homemade meals taste better. Think back to when you were a kid and what special meal comes to mind? For me it’s my mom’s lasagna. It wasn’t Stoeffers or Lean Cuisine…it was MOM’s. More than likely you have a memory just like this and it doesn’t involve something from the freezer section.

There! Now you have ten rules to help you trim the fat from your grocery expenses. You might even find with the money you save you can make the world around you a better place. Enjoy.

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