Practical and Smart Ways to Save a Lot on Grocery Shopping

Mothers are grocery shopping gurus, no doubt. Endless grocery needs for our family make us frequent the neighborhood sari-sari store(if you live in the Philippines)or the local grocery store around the corner. Even while at the mall, well, our minds wander off to sugar and shampoo, right? Here's what I do to save up on my grocery shopping, and brighten up my everyday sun!

1. Make a list. List only the most important things that you should buy. It could be a short or a long list, but it still is a list. And a list can guide you if you just focus on your list right there, before picking up that chocolate in the candy section. Pretty straightforward, pick up what you wrote beforehand, no more, no less. Your hand might wander off to something not written there, but remember the key word: focus girl.

2. Go straight to the deals section. You might find something on your list that has a great deal on bundles and freebies. Yup, this is my favorite. That free juice, taped around a pack of milk carton, or a free dishwashing pad on that dishwashing liquid I love to use, they light up my eyes. I get free things that I otherwise will buy some other time. The sun is coming out! Well you should only put in the cart something that you will actually get to consume, and not waiting in your pantry to expire.

3. Buy in bulk. If your budget allows you, buying things in bulk or in volumes gives you a lot of savings in the long run, but of course this may only apply to items that are non-perishable, or have a long shelf life like laundry items and canned goods. I usually compute prices of items by weight or by volume, so that you I get to compute the real value. Sometimes packaging of items may make them cheaper than its true value.

4. It is my practice to look for the cheapest tag on different brands of the same item. I often think, will that brand of toothpaste clean my teeth better than the cheaper brand on the next shelf? Will that gourmet salt (if there is such a thing) taste any different from the regular ones? Or will that virgin-pulp tissue wipe better than that cheaper roll? Why will I pay more for something that I can get for less?

5. Carefully look at the prices on the shelves. I once got confused with the price of that thickening shampoo I spotted, and looked at the price label at the top of the shelf instead of the actual price at the bottom part of the item. It was really pricey! Imagine the horror when I found out what made my total bill way higher than I anticipated.

6. Produce are cheaper in the local market, so I refrain from buying them from the supermarket. My fresh fruits and vegetables come from the palengke, and are about half the price cheaper in comparison. That's a lot! I also get to haggle for more savings, a little practice on my negotiating skills.

7. Don't do your groceries when you're hungry... or sad. You will be surprised if some items magically went their way to your cart in moments of hunger and despair. Everything is just so delicious and you want to take revenge on that innocent chocolate bar right before the counter.

8. Sometimes doing your grocery alone is best for the wallet. Why? Daddy and bunso is not around adding unnecessary items to your cart, which you find very hard to refuse.

9. Just before checking out, asking the cashier for credit card deals may just add savings for budget- conscious moms like me. Who knows? You could score freebies and deals on participating items, just by using your credit card, together with the rebates and rewards that come with it.

10. Lastly, online grocery shopping is a must-try. The temptation to get what's not on your list is out of the question. This platform could get you right on track! Needless to say, you cannot really accidentally put on your virtual cart anything on impulse. Plus, you will know how much you will be paying before actually checking out, and delete items if you need to lighten your cart and be on point on your budget.

Groceries are enjoyable moments for moms, but are recurring expenses nonetheless. Really, saving a little regularly compounds to a great sum in time. For budget-conscious moms like me, small treats like these bring enough joy for me to get through my day. Well, sometimes I can also find an accidental something in my cart at the counter, so forgive me when I find chips on my cart, or an expensive sauce I want to try. You may also find something in yours too. That's totally fine.

You might want to try these tips I shared, and I am waiting to hear some of your own too, will you let me know?