Plan Ahead
Before you head to the store, keep in mind your family's needs.
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What does my family like?
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How many of us will be eating?
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What do the kids or older people need?
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How much money did I budget for food purchases?
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Will we be eating away from home, so that I should buy less food?
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Will friends and relatives come over for meals?
Plan the menus for your family meals.
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Your family needs and tastes
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Good nutritious foods
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Variety of foods keeping in mind texture, color, flavor, and temperature
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Consider wise use of leftovers.
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Weekly specials and seasonal food, such as fruits and vegetables.
Use a shopping list
A shopping list can save time and help control your spending.
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Keep paper and pencil in the kitchen. You can write down things you need when you think of them.
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If you prefer, create a digital list on your mobile phone.
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Organize the list the same way the grocery store sections are laid out. You will save time and avoid forgetting items when you shop.
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Look at the newspaper and/or grocery store apps for sales and coupons.
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Be sure to check your cupboards and refrigerator before heading out.
Other helpful tips
Use these tips to get you through the grocery store without going broke:
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Join rewards and loyalty programs at your favorite stores.
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Buy a Sunday newspaper to get the coupon inserts.
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Eat before shopping for food. Hungry people tend to buy more food than they planned on.
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Know the current prices of the foods you buy most often.
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Set a grocery budget and stick with it.
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Buy the amount of food that fits your family's needs and your storage space.
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Buy larger sizes of items that won't spoil. It may be cheaper.
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Buy the quality and size of food that fits how you will use it.
Comparison shop
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Prices of different brands.
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Cost of frozen, canned, fresh, and dried items of the same food.
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Number of servings in each food package.
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Prices at different stores.
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Prices of similar foods.
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Larger packages versus two smaller ones of the same product to get the better value.
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The cost of convenience foods vs. the cost of making it from scratch.
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