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Saving Money On Groceries

The Art Of Saving Money On Groceries With The Help Of A Food Pantry

By saving money on groceries, you can save lots over the course of a year. Here's how:

Perhaps you've noticed that some of the things you purchase every week at the supermarket increase by a cent or two between shopping trips. The price increases are barely noticeable, just a little each week, but over the course of a year the cost of your groceries increases.

Have you also noticed that some packages appear to be shrinking?

Another common marketing ploy is to downsize the product yet continue to charge the same price. Always be wary of new packaging. A closer look often reveals that the attractive new package contains several ounces/grams less product than it did before yet it still costs the same.

For example, that popular toilette paper roll might contain 25 fewer sheets for the same price as before, so the real cost of the product has risen.

To protect ourselves from these types of price increases we need to shop as Grandma did in her day. We need to look for the best prices and practice bulk buying.

Whether you shop for yourself or a household, saving money on groceries is a simple case of spending wisely to save money.

Saving Money On Groceries With A Pantry

I am old enough to remember my Mom's food pantry in our old farm kitchen. It was a big walk-in closet lined floor to ceiling with wooden shelves. Aside from her homemade cakes and cookies, those pantry shelves were lined with canned goods, everyday food items, and household cleaning items that kept just as well there as they did on the grocer's shelves. That's because Mom always bought in bulk.

For example, canned pet food costs about 10% less when purchased by the case than it does when purchased by the can, and if you watch for sales, you can save even more. Over the course of a year or two, those savings can really mount up.

For many food items, bathroom items, laundry soaps, and cleaning supplies, you can save by watching the weekly or monthly specials and stocking up more than a six-month's supply. Both dry and canned foods are perfect for bulk buying.

Bulk food stores are a great place to stock up on baking supplies and cereal items. A twenty-pound bag of rice offers a significant saving compared to buying a small one-pound box. And buying corn flakes and other kinds of cereal in bulk works out to be lots cheaper than buying an expensive box of name-brand cereal.

You will be amazed at how much you can save by using such strategies to save money, and saving money on groceries makes cooking on a budget positively easy. You CAN have your cake and eat it too!

For these creative ways to save money to work, though, you will need to lay out some up-front money to build and stock your kitchen pantry. Just consider it an investment that's sure to pay off quickly.

How To Build A Pantry

Building a food pantry is neither difficult nor costly. You will need to set aside some adequate pantry storage space, preferably near your kitchen. Pantry shelving is also needed. My wife and I simply lined our kitchen broom closet with affordable wire shelving. A closet in a spare bedroom could also be used.

You will need to invest in some large, stackable, airtight containers in which to store the perishable items such as flour and grain products. Good quality containers are sometimes on sale, so watch the department-store sales flyers. Rubbermaid� brand containers work well for food storage.

Consider installing a lock on the pantry door if you have small children and wish to store cleaning supplies. Stored cookies and treats also offer a big temptation to children. Mom always stored her baked goods on the top shelf of the food pantry to keep me from getting into them when I was little. That worked fine until I learned to use the kitchen stool. ;-)

How To Stock A Pantry

List the things you buy regularly from the supermarket and hardware store and set out to locate the best quantity prices you can. Purchase items whenever you have the extra funds available. It may take several months to stock your pantry, so don't rush your purchasing, but keep your eyes open for specials and closeouts.

Never be afraid to ask your grocer for a special discount on a case lot. If he or she refuses, try another store where you can save money on food. Small independent stores are sometimes more accommodating and better able to cut you a deal. For these strategies to save money on groceries to work, you must pay less than the normal prices for your food.

Another thing, but it's important. Use a black permanent marker pen to write the purchase date on all food packages and canned goods as you store them on the pantry shelf. This way, you can quickly tell whether the item is close to its expiry date. Always position the soon-to-expire items at the front of your shelf to be used first. You won't save money if you end up having to throw expired food out.

Stocking a pantry is part of saving money on groceries and good monthly budget planning.

Saving Money On Clothing

Bulk buying is not just reserved for supermarket items. You can also buy quantities of some clothing items such as underwear, socks, and pantyhose when they are on sale.

Do you often purchase a favorite kind of shirt or top? Then buy three or four in different colors when they are at a good price and not only will you save expenses, but you will have quality shirts in a variety of fashionable colors to wear for several years.

However, avoid purchasing kid's clothing in quantity because their sizes change too frequently. Also, women's clothing sees frequent style change, so be wary of purchasing any clothing item in quantity that you might want in a newer style later.

And be sure to check out neighborhood thrift stores. They often sell brand-new or almost-new clothing at amazingly low prices.

Enjoy Additional Advantages

A big advantage of building a pantry for saving money on groceries is you won't have to cut back on your lifestyle. You still get to enjoy all the foods and other things you enjoy; you're just getting them cheaper by purchasing them wisely and in quantity.

And, whenever natural disasters, labor strikes, or power failures occur, you will always have an adequate stock of food, clothing, and other needed goods to see you through. Let the prices rise and the store shelves empty, you will always have your own fully stocked store at home.

Plus, by keeping a good supply of items on hand, not only can you save hundreds of dollars a year, but you will save yourself multiple trips to the store and valuable time.

Believe me, you'll wonder how you ever got along without your panty. Saving money on groceries by stocking a pantry is one of the best ways to save mony yet invented.

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