Find MORE Ways to Save Money on Groceries!
Now that we know where to shop and how to plan shopping trips to save money on groceries without coupons, it’s time to take a look at how to shop once you’re in the store. So, with our list in hand, let’s get shopping!
1. Take a Calculator
Always take a calculator with you on your shopping trips! This can come in handy for a few things, including keeping track of your purchase subtotal as well as calculating and comparing the price per unit of products.
2. Watch the Unit Price
Many grocery stores list the price per unit of products right on the shelf tags. These will usually be in a small box with the words Unit Price. If you’re unable to find the unit price of an item, you can pull out your handy dandy calculator and divide the price of the product by the quantity, which is usually in ounces. You can usually save money by buying items in bulk, but this isn’t always true, so check those unit prices! You’ll also want to check the unit price difference between different brands or forms of products. For instance, I was surprised to find that shredded cheese in one of my local grocery stores actually cheaper than block cheese of the same brand if I considered the unit price.
3. Stock Up During Sales
Save money on groceries without coupons by stocking up during good sales. If you normally buy a certain cereal for $3 per box but you find a great sale on it for $1.50 per box, don’t just buy one. The savings from stocking up during sales like this can really add up, since you won’t have to buy that item until the next sale when you can stock up again.
4. Look High and Low
Look for products on higher or lower shelves first. Since we normally look straight ahead, retailers generally place their pricier items at eye level and the less expensive items out of our normal range of site. ,You don’t have to avoid the eye-level shelves completely, but you’re more likely to find lower prices high or low.
5. Try the Generic Brands
If you were a couponer, I’d tell you that buying generic brands are actually a little more expensive than buying national brands with coupons during a sale. However, since you’re interested in saving money on groceries without coupons, that rule is reversed. Generic store brands are generally less expensive, so give them a try. You’ll most likely find that they’re just as good and sometimes better than the more well-known national brands.
6. Buy Produce in Bags
The bins overflowing with scrumptious fruits and veggies are pretty and appealing, but they’ll also usually cost you more. In general, bags of produce like apples and potatoes will be less expensive than fruit from a bin.
7. Buy Large Quantities of Meat
We save big bucks on meat by buying large quantities and separating it when we get home. The price per pound on uncut or unseparated meat and poultry is lower than meat and poultry packed in convenient portions. Look for large bags of ground beef, uncut pork loins, and uncut pieces of beef. Pork loins can be sliced into boneless “pork chops” and pork roasts, and uncut beef can be sliced into steaks and cut into roasts.
8. Shop Clearance Aisles
Don’t avoid the clearance aisles! Just because something is in the clearance aisle doesn’t necessarily mean that it has gone bad. Most merchandise is moved to the clearance aisle in grocery stores to make room for a new shipment or because it was a product with holiday packaging.
9. Watch for Peelies
I know you’re trying to save money on groceries without coupons, but peelies can save you a little extra money and they require minimal hassle. All you need to do is remove the coupon from the product you’re purchasing while in the store and hand it to the cashier when you check out.
10. Consider Cash Back
There are a few different ways you can get cash back on your grocery coupons, and they don’t require any coupon clipping! Well, not in the traditional sense. First, you can sign up for SavingStar, which offers e-coupons on a variety of products, including fresh produce. Just hook your store loyalty to your account, activate offers, and go shopping. Cash back on eligible purchases will be deposited into your account within 2 to 21 days. There are also cash back grocery shopping apps you can use, like Checkout 51 and Ibotta, which require you to upload pictures of your receipt.
