Grocery Ads: A Powerful Savings Tool

Alicia Nelson-Bell, Empowering Financial Wellness Program Coordinator

I’m sure that over the course of the last year we have all seen that our grocery money doesn’t buy us as much as it used to. Because of this, it is even more important to be strategic in how we use our funds at the grocery store so we can meet our family’s needs without breaking the budget. Grocery budgets are a variable expense and with prices going up and up on many items at the store, let me share a simple tip that thousands of other people have found successful to save money on the food you buy.   

Grocery Ads = A Powerful Savings Tool
Everyone gets the grocery ads in the mail each week. Many throw them straight into the trash and refer to them as “junk mail”. If this is you, you may be throwing away one of the greatest resources to help you save at the grocery store! Yes, you heard me right, don’t throw them away when they come in the mail next week. Dedicate a few minutes to sit down with any other household members and plan your meals for the coming week. Base your menu mainly around the items on sale in the ads, particularly proteins and produce. 
 
Using the ads to plan your meals provides the following benefits:

• Save hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year by purchasing commonly used items when they are on sale rather than at full price. 
• Encourage your family to eat different meals each week since different items are on sale. 
• Break out of the ‘stuck-in-a-rut’ problem of eating the same thing over and over.
• Simplify meal planning and make it more fun by bringing out your creativity.
• Stick to your list to cut back on impulse buying and trips to the store.
• Save time at the store since you won’t wander the isles wondering what to buy.
• Learn sales cycles for different products and learn what is considered to be “a good price” for various items.  
• Comparison shop and see which stores have the best deals on the products you need. Be sure to evaluate how worthwhile it is to make trips to multiple stores. More trips mean more time and more potential for impulse buys. Try to stick to a plan and make as few trips to the store as possible. 

 
My challenge to you is to schedule a time this week to sit down together and plan out your meals for the coming week around the items on sale in the ads. Make a list of the meals and what ingredients you already have on hand and what you’ll need from the store and stick to it. I know this simple tip will help you maximize your grocery budget. We’d love to hear from you about what you are doing to save at the grocery store too!!