Keep a shopping list, and stick to it resolutely. The best way to reign in grocery and shopping expenses is to only buy what you absolutely need. Keep a shopping list in your kitchen, and make notes on it of what you need, or will need soon. Cellphones can also be a great place to keep a running list of what’s needed, as we almost always have them with us, and nearly all of them have notes and list functions. 

 

If you struggle with self-discipline when shopping, consider using a home/office delivery services. This may seem counter-intuitive, as they can cost a little more, but the savings to be gained from only buying what you planned to, can easily outweigh the extra expense of impulse purchases.  

 

Don’t shop when hungry. Making buying decisions on an empty stomach isn’t a great idea, as you’ll tend to make reactive choices, instead of rationally thinking about what you really need. You can also tend to buy more junk-food and comfort food, so it not only hurts your wallet, but your waistline too!

 

Try to keep ‘little fingers’ out of the shopping cart. If you think it’s hard to be disciplined as an adult alone, think about how much harder it can be to have to say ‘no’ to little Johnny every few seconds. To stop them boosting your trolley-load with treats and snacks, have an adult stay with the kids while you doing the shopping, or try and get in your shopping run when you’re child-free.

 

Buy in bulk, but not with everything. It’s common advice to buy in bulk to help you save, but only realistically for non-perishables (non-food items like toilet paper, or food items that will keep for an extended period of time). Buying in bulk reduces the per-unit cost of what you’re getting, and can also save you having to make more trips in the future. But be wary of buying more than you need. If you buy in bulk for something that’s perishable, and you don’t use or eat all of it, you could end up throwing away more than you save.

 

Local markets can be a haven for great prices. Local and farmers’ markets are popping up all over, and can be an excellent place to stock up on your groceries. Not only are you supporting small businesses, but because they’re selling direct to the public, they can often beat the prices that you’re getting elsewhere.

 

Be wary of making lots of small trips. Those little trips to ‘pop down the road for milk’ can add up, when you take into account things like petrol costs and parking. If close enough, walk or ride to the shops – otherwise plan in advance to avoid unnecessary trips.

 

Track mail and newspaper inserts for specials and promotions. If a certain retailer or store is having a hugely discounted day on beef, for example, and you were planning on buying a lot of beef in your next big shop, it could make sense to shop on that day instead of your usual one.

 

Shop at the biggest version of the store that you can. Supermarkets, like SPAR will tend to have lower prices and greater variety, than neighbourhood stores, which in turn, will tend to have lower prices than corner convenience stores and garages.