|
|
|
Last Updated: Aug 6th, 2008 - 18:20:22 |
(NewsUSA) - If you've recently experienced sticker shock while shopping for groceries, you're not alone.
Food costs have significantly increased and aren't likely to fall anytime soon. In fact, the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts that food costs will be nearly 5 percent through 2009.
But before you resort to eating left-overs five days a week, there are ways to save on food costs. All you need is a plan, some good old-fashioned discipline and a little technology to put a significant dent in your grocery bill.
Discover Card offers these tips on how to spend smarter and shave costs off those food bills:
- Comb through your grocery receipts to learn more about your shopping habits. The more you know about what you buy and what it costs, the more you'll be able to compare prices and save.
- Choose meal menus before you head to the store. If you make a list of the food items you need for the entire week, you will be less likely to overbuy and waste food purchases. Also, don't go to the store on an empty stomach.
- Take advantage of store sales on the ingredients you use most often, and stock up. Check the weekly circulars to see what is on sale before heading to the store. By keeping an eye out for these deals, you can cut as much as 20 percent off your grocery bill.
- Look for bargains on-line. Certain Web sites, like www.mygrocerydeals.com, allow you to type in your ZIP code and pull up the best deals on everything from rib eyes to coffee beans. Once online, you can create search lists for your most commonly purchased items to direct you to the stores with the best savings.
- Shop around. The grocery store isn't the only place to find food essentials. When you stop at the pharmacy or big discount store, stroll down the food aisles to see what they have to offer. You might find better prices on items such as milk, cereal, juice and other items.
Finally, don't forget the coupons, which can add up to significant savings. You can get free samples and manufacturer's coupons at Web sites like Coolsavings.com.
To find out more about how Discover Card helps its cardmembers make their money go farther, visit www.discover.com/edge.
|
© Copyright by Eveningsnews.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
