Your Money Matters

Here are some great ways to streamline your shopping making it seem almost effortless.

1. If at all possible try to combine a shopping trip to multiple stores if you indeed plan on purchasing items from different places. You will save on gas by combining your trip and also save time.
2. Make sure you have all your valid coupons in hand when leaving home. As for using coupons I will buy a store brand that is lower in cost. If I know that the name brand is vastly superior to the store brand I might consider paying a bit more within reason. Although I found that I can get used to the lower priced store brand quality with no problems.
3. If you return bottles or cans, remember to take them before you leave. I bring my empties in a large garbage bag and it keeps the empties together. Take the empty bag with you shopping and bring it back home to be reused for a trash bag.
4. To help from over spending on items you really don't need, take only the cash you feel you will need with you. Believe me, you won't miss those items after you get home.
5. Always take a list and stick to it without buying those impulse items, especially near the end of aisles of at checkout. I do the grocery shopping every week and know were most of the items are in each aisle. It's a lot easier if you chronologically list your items, you will save time not having to go back to an aisle looking for something you passed up and a chance of grabbing another item you really didn't want.
6. Some stores offer buy one get two or more. Take advantage of this if you know that you will use the items before they are past expiration or will spoil in a short time. Store brands of items like paper towels are great to look for sold like this.
7. When grocery shopping go solo. Having the kids, spouse and you all looking at different items can make it difficult to adhere to a shopping list. You'll be at the checkout with three times what you originally expected. I know, I've been there.