38 Ways to Save at the Market

First understand that grocery stores are professionally organized. Their job is to get you to buy more… Usually more than you need and more than you can actually afford. Always, Always, Always stay focused and stay within your budget…. Don’t be tricked…. YOU are in control of your money and what goes in your cart.

1. Don’t Forget your List! Making a list takes less time than running back to the market for items you forgot, So remember to take it with you!
2. During Hot Weather months be sure to carry a cooler. Foods can go bad quickly in a hot car.
3. Shop Alone if at all possible. Your husband, friends and children can cause a budget melt down. Make arrangements with another mom to trade off kids on shopping day. Husbands are perhaps even worse than the kids… They don’t mean to sabotage your efforts, but somehow they always seem to find a “special” that’s just not so special… Shopping with a friend causes you to lose your focus. If you’re too busy talking, you’re less likely to compare prices and perhaps more likely to toss a few items into your cart.
4. Take a Calculator / Pencil & Paper. You’ll want to keep a running tab on your purchases and be able to jot down prices for later comparisons.
5. Scrutinize Fruits and Veggies Carefully. If you’re paying top dollar for them, you should get top-dollar produce. Ask the produce manager or even the store’s manager for a discount on “bruised fruit”… You’ll be surprised at how many times you’ll be given a deal… I was!
6. Pre-Cut Fruits and Veggies cost 300% more than produce you prepare yourself. Though it takes a few minutes, you’ll not only save money, but you’ll be in control of the size of the dice. As always, a little time can save you a lot of money!
7. Check All the Shelves Grocery Stores have a very specific reason for the location of items on their shelves.

   -Specialty Items are typically placed on the top shelf. Though generally speaking, the store manager is required to follow his/her corporate headquarter’s layout designs, the top shelf is often left to the manager’s discretion. (If there is an item you’d like to see on this shelf, speak with the store manager.)

   -The second shelf down is the “bull’s eye” shelf. It is front and center, and at eye level. Manufacturers and distributors pay to have their products housed here. Most often, you’ll find the higher-priced items and those with the highest markup.

   -The third shelf is often the “kid’s shelf”. Those items which will most likely draw your children’s attention rest here. We all know how difficult it can be to say “no” to a five year old… (Another reason to shop alone, if at all possible). Items that draw your children’s attention are also likely to be costly.

   -On the fourth shelf you’ll find store-brands and other generics. This is where a good shopper should be looking. The same manufacturer that produces name-brand products, also often produce the store’s house brands. It could actually be the exact same product wearing a different label! Do yourself and your family a favor and check these items out.! The fourth shelf also routinely houses bulk-items as well. These may or may not be a bargain, so do some comparison shopping and the math before buying!

8. Buying in Bulk can certainly save you a ton of dough! But is it always cheaper? Absolutely Not! Buying in bulk is not an excuse for being lazy. You have to do the math! Compare the cost per unit of bulk items and regularly packaged items. Remember though, if your bulk item is the same or even slightly higher, it may still be cheaper to buy in bulk. The cost of gas is unpredictable, and every trip to the market exposes you to more opportunities of “impulse buying”. Besides, your time is valuable….
9. Watch out for “Sale Items” found at the front of the store or at the end of aisles. Manufacturers and distributors pay a display fee to have their products prominently placed. These might actually be on sale… but not always. While shopping, make a note of the price of these items and then be sure to check inside the aisles (often on the forth shelf) for other products which may be cheaper.
10. Don’t Shop on an Empty Stomach…Of course, your mother was right (again)!… We all tend to buy more when we’re hungry. It’s best to have a meal or heavy snack before entering the “war-zone”. Grocery stores keep the bakery busy for several reasons… churning out temptations, and the aroma of fresh cinnamon rolls are hard to resist… Even if you don’t buy the cinnamon rolls, it teases you to buy something else you don’t really need. If necessary, use the store’s strategies to your benefit… Head first to the free samples at the deli, bakery or at food demonstrations… Use them to ward of hunger.. but don’t buy the products!!
11. Buy the Deals… (but leave the rest) … Focus on your shopping list. Often a store will advertise a great sale in hopes you’ll also be tempted to buy other items “while you’re there”. Remember, as much as you may like the employees at your local market… Their job is to make a profit… Your job is to keep the family’s budget! (Yep, it’s them against us…)
12. Avoid Buying Foods in Single-Serve Packaging,… like snack crackers, pudding cups, fruit juice and ice cream.
13. Know the Usual Price of Items, so you can readily spot a real deal. Use a cheat sheet if necessary of items you most frequently purchase. Also, keep all receipts… These come in handy not only for spotting future sales but also in projecting future budget goals.
14. Take Advantage of any Manufacturer’s Rebates by mailing in the required forms. Of course don’t bother if the rebate/refund is less than the postage stamp.
15. “Stick to the Edges”… The interior sections of most markets are where you’ll find convenience foods, highly processed foods, less healthy and usually much more expensive foods.
16. Try Generics or off-brands whenever possible. For staples such as flour, sugar, salt, etc… There’s virtually NO difference in quality. I’ve tried many other generic items and my family has been just as pleased. Give generics a try. Yes, there are some items that just don’t cut it, but in the long run… Off-brands are the way to go.
17. Check the Clearance Section of your store, buy items you know are a good deal… but do NOT buy dented cans (going to the doctor with food poisoning is much more expensive than paying full price on a can of green beans).
18. Use Leftover meats for sandwiches rather than buying cold cuts.
19. Avoid Convenience Items ….like veggies in sauce or those “dinner in a box” products (like Hamburger Helper). The cost of convenience can be high… very high. The quality of your meal will most likely be lower.
20. Buy Day-Old Bread, it is excellent toasted. Also you can toast it in the oven while baking something else, then crush to make your own bread crumbs and keep them in the freezer.
21. Plan for Seasonal Items. Buy oranges in winter and peaches in the summer… Turkey goes on sale in November.. etc
22. “Dollar” Stores often have better buys on canned fruit and snack crackers. They are usually less expensive than ordinary “convenience stores” for milk, eggs and bread, but they’re just as quick, if not quicker.
23. Know the Market’s Routine…Like “Senior Tuesday” or “Double Coupon Wednesday” and use these days to your best advantage. (Still only buying those items your family needs).
24. Be Flexible: If you know your market has bananas on sale, and had planned to make a banana nut bread, only to find the banana’s look horrible… Select those good looking apples for an apple pie instead.
25. Don’t Go Down Aisles Unnecessarily… If you don’t need something in the soft-drink aisle, why bother…? The store hopes you’ll see “something wonderful” …..
26. Shop Mid-morning (9am-11am) when stores are less crowded, service personnel like the butcher and produce manager are less overwhelmed and their products are ususally the freshest of the day.
27. Bring only your Budgeted CASH with you… Do not bring backup, like debit cards, credit cards or checks. It’s way to easy to justify going over by… $5 here or $10 there…
28. Rotisserie chicken can be a very good buy. Most yield 2+ pounds of excellent meat ….and the bones, skin, etc can be slowly simmered with root vegetables to make a wonderful and cheap stock.
29. Find the Freshest …..produce, eggs, meat, and dairy items towards the back of the display. Check the “sell by date”. The fresher the better… both for quality and longevity. You don’t want to pour half a jug of milk down the sink because it’s gone bad!
30. Family Packs of meat are usually less per pound. Go in with a friend if you can’t afford such a large package or can not work it into your menu plan. Or better yet, repackage and keep in your deep freeze!
31. Make Your Own convenience mixes and save a bundle.
32. Make Ice Tea at home from tea bags. Jugs of prepared tea are expensive and tea in individual bottles are even more expensive. (You can fill a cleaned out soda or water bottle to carry your own blend.)
33. Reduced for Quick-sale meats are an excellent buy. Just be sure to get them rewrapped as soon as you get home and freeze immediately. (Unless you plan to have the meat that very evening).
34. Totally Ignore Check-out Displays. This is the store’s last chance to get your money. If necessary, carry a pocket paperback book with you.
35. While Unloading Your Cart at Check-out, keep cold items together and place them on the counter first. This will help ensure the bagger keeps cold with cold.
36. Watch the cashier carefully Mistakes happen. By watching closely you will be more likely to spot these errors and correct them before you get home and look over your receipts.
37. Also Watch the Bagger An inexperienced bagger may not be as diligent. Getting home to find your eggs are broken because a can of lima beans was placed on top can be frustrating. However, if this type of problem happens to you, be sure to call your grocery store immediately. Most stores will gladly replace damaged items. If they don’t, they may not be the type of grocery you want to deal with!
38. Keep those receipts and look over them once you’re home. Again, if you find a problem call your grocer.

In general, you must remain focused through all aspects of your grocery shopping. I just can’t say this enough!!!

The Importance of the Woman in the Home

n another article I had written on the importance of the man in the home. Men are very important to their family. Unfortunately, the man has dropped out of the home in our society. Equally important, though, is the woman in the home. Women hold a key position in the shaping of the next generation, and in the life of their husband. Just as men have disappeared from the landscape of the home, women have disappeared as well. While the industrial revolution, and other factors, contributed to the man becoming uninvolved in the family, there are factors that have contributed to the woman becoming second rate in the family. We will look at why women have become seemingly unimportant to the family, why women are so valuable to the success of the family, and how to help women get back to fulfilling their important role in the life of their husbands and children.

Why women have disappeared from the home

It has been common knowledge for some time that men are absent from the home. However, women are becoming absent from the home at an alarming rate. The good news is, however, that there is a trend toward women becoming intimately involved in the life of the family once again. But why did women check out of their role in the home?

1. Cost of Living

The high cost of living in modern society has put the family in the position where both adults must work full time jobs to survive. While many people do this purely to obtain a lot of possessions, many do so out of necessity. There is absolutely nothing wrong with women working a job outside of the home. In the Bible, the book of Proverbs mentions the woman of virtue working outside of her home. In the last chapter of Proverbs, she is pictured as working long hours to help her family with making money. The problem occurs when, after coming home from work, both parents do not put in an equal amount of energy into the home. Often, the woman is left with all the responsibilities with the children and household chores.

2. Need to be equal with the man

With the drive of many women to strive to be equal with men, many women have chosen to work to prove themselves. While this is a worthy goal, it can be accomplished in more meaningful ways. With this desire to work like men do, women have sacrificed the family in their pursuit. Do not take this as an attack upon women, because men in their pursuit of wealth have equally sacrificed their family to gain wealth.

3. Selfishness

While this does not describe most women, there are a few women who have disappeared from the home due to selfishness. They want what they want. They want to party instead of living a responsible life. They do not wish to be tied down to their family. This leaves the children without a mother, and the husband without a wife.

4. Lack of recognition

This is a vague title for this point. What I mean is that while women play an important role in the life of the family, many are not recognized for their efforts. Some have become so oppressed by their husbands that they give up. They do not see a reason to keep trying, because what they do is never enough.

The value of women to the family

Women play such an important part in the life of the family. Their value is beyond measure. No amount of money can adequately compensate a woman for her work. Words cannot express what women mean to the success of their husband and children. But women are valuable. They are not second rate. They are not inferior. They are not weak. Giving birth to children, putting up with the daily pressures of life, dealing with the demands of children, maintaining a good relationship with her husband, and often working a full time job on top of all that would drive many men to their grave. Women are truly strong in their ability to handle it all.

Why are women so valuable to their family?

1. They provide security

There is something calming to a child to know that mom is there. Men fall apart when their wife is not happy with them. Women give such a sense of calm and security to the home like no one else can.

2. They bring their gift to the family

By this I mean that women are made different than men. That is a good thing. Women have a special gifting that they bring to the home to balance everything out. Without the woman, a huge piece of the puzzle that we call the family is missing. They bring a different perspective on things. They balance out the man in their approach to raising children. Without my wife’s input on many issues that have come up over the years, I would be a pathetically sad case. She causes me to see the big picture, and to understand what I cannot understand on my own.

3. They love without limit

Women have such a way of loving their husband and children without conditions. You don’t have to prove yourself. You are loved just because. My wife has taught me, though I haven’t arrived yet, how to love fully no matter what. She has such an amazing capacity to put up with a lot from me and from the children, yet we know that we are loved. Men tend to be performance oriented. They want results. For the woman, just being there is enough.

4. They bring joy to the home

Women have their bad days. But for the most part they bring joy to the family. They are excited when the kids do well in school. They bring laughter. I have discovered that when my wife isn’t bringing joy to our home that it is usually because of something I did to ruin it. If you are a man reading this and think that your wife isn’t bringing joy to your home, you may want to find out if you have wounded her in such a way that you sucked the life out of her. If so, then do what is necessary to heal that wound. The joy will return.

Women returning to their role

The role of women in the home is not to make sure the house is always clean, though they can help with that. It is not to bow to the wishes of the man whenever he makes a demand. The role of the woman is to be a teammate with her husband in creating a home, and raising great children to function well in society.

How can women get back to their important role in the home?

1. Recognize where they are

Before women can get back to their place in the family, they must recognize that they have stepped back from that role. If you are a woman reading this, you may ask yourself whether or not you have steeped back from or abandoned all together your place in your family.

2. Get involved

Rather than coming up with some strategy on how to fulfill your place in the home, just begin again by being involved. You know what to do. You have the instinct for it. So, go for it. Love your spouse and children. You will make mistakes, but so will they.

3. Seek help

If you are struggling to get back to your position as the woman of the house, then seek out the help of other women who are doing a great job in their home. Take their advice. Watch them. Understand that they did not get to where they are automatically. They had to work hard at it. They had to make a lot of mistakes. But they kept at it, and never gave up.

4. Be content with your role

The valuable role that women play in the home is beyond words. Don’t take it lightly. Don’t think that you are less important. Avoid thinking that you are less valuable to society if you don’t work outside of the home. Our culture has presented us with a false notion that women who are not successful in the corporate world are inferior. Women who put their whole self into their spouse and children are the ones who are changing the world. The saying is true that ‘the hand the rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.’

This article is short and simple. I did not want to go deep with this. My mother and my wife have had such a profound impact on my life. If you are a man reading this, take note of your wife and praise her for her part she plays in your home. As the passage from Proverbs mentions, her value is beyond rubies (Proverbs 31:10). If you are a woman reading this I encourage you to take the steps necessary to either get back to your part in the home or to continue to hang in there and play that important role to your family. Without the woman in the home, the family would be left incomplete.