Princeton Happenings

We’re all guilty of racking up a big grocery bill! By the time we’ve gone up and down every aisle in the supermarket our shopping carts can overflow. The next time you are heading to the store to fill your pantry, remember these tips so you can keep your grocery bill on the low side!

1. Plan your weekly menu. By thinking ahead of time what you want to eat for meals throughout the week, you’ll not only save money you’ll also save time at the store. Making a menu keeps us from throwing lots of random, unnecessary items in our carts.

2. Make a list and stick to it. When you write out your shopping list, try to write it in order of the flow of the store. You can follow it as you go up and down the aisles and avoid going off track and overspending.

3. Buy items that are store brand when you can. Store brand items can be significantly cheaper than name brand and most of the time you won’t even be able to tell the difference (other than having more cash in your wallet!)

4. Avoid coupons that say “buy one get one.” Typically the items that are offered in these deals are items you don’t even need in the first place. What’s even worse is that the stores tend to mark up the prices on these items anyway so you’re actually paying for the “free” item in the long run.

5. Make sure you’re not hungry! Food shopping on an empty stomach can force us to make some bad decisions. Make sure you’ve recently eaten so you aren’t basing your grocery choices off of your growling stomach.