I have written an essay for my Comp Class that I thought might help a few people so i decided to pots it. Hope you get a few ideas from this.
Due to the failing economy, the widely known phrase “pinch a penny or two” has taken on a whole new meaning. People are not only trying to pinch pennies, but nickels, dimes, and quarters too. Several Americans have found that saving on their groceries each month can be an easy and effective way to cut back on living costs. There are many ways to do this, such as clipping coupons, creating a list to help prevent waste, and shopping the sales.
Each week, the Sunday Newspaper is printed and available for sale in many different location, including gas stations, grocery stores, and even on street corners. For as little as $1.75 to $2.50, you can have access to over $200 in savings. To be realistic, over 75% of the advertised savings will be for spas, electronics, and other non-important items, but that still leaves over $50 in potential savings. The cost of the paper is minimal compared to the value of the coupons inside. You can also find a lot of useful coupons in the circulars that pop up in your mail box each week. By utilizing the coupons, you should, be able to save 8-20% on every trip to the grocery store.
Although coupons are very helpful, make sure you refrain from buying items merely because you have a coupon. Making a list before entering the store will allow you to get what you need and not waste money on products that will go unused and eventually be wasted. Creating a meal plan for the week, or even the month, will help you see what you need and what you don’t. For example, if you plan to have spaghetti, you know you will need noodles, spaghetti sauce, and hamburger. If you will not be using shrimp during that time period you know that you do not need to buy shrimp. Also, by having a meal planned and the food you need in the cupboards you will eat out less, which is another good way to save money. Sticking to your list will help you stop buying things you don’t need such as cookies, candy, and other junk food.
Keep in mind that while sticking to your list is important paying attention to sales can help you just as much. One example of this would be if there is a good sale on chicken tenders, but you don’t have then on your list, ask yourself the following questions: Is the sale worth getting something I don’t need right now? ; Is this a product that I use often? ; and Will I use it before it goes bad? If the answer is yes to all three questions, then ask yourself how much you should get. Furthermore, consider replacing items on your list as well. If you have chicken breasts on your list but there is a sale on chicken tenders, get the chicken tenders instead. Finding the best sales on items you need will help, but try not to hop from store to store. You will often waste more gasoline than the sales are worth. Check your local grocery store ads to see what store will give you the most benefit. If you do not get them in the mail, you can call the stores and request to be added to their mailing list. If your local grocery store offers a saving card, this will increase the amount you will save on the sales and sometimes increase you coupon savings as well.
In conclusion, implementing all these suggestions will lower your grocery bill and fatten your wallet. It may take a few minutes out of your day to clip coupons and create a list, but the benefits far out weigh the cost. If you take 20 min out of your week to create a shopping strategy, you could save up to $20 on a $100 grocery bill. That comes out to be $60 an hour. Over a period of one year you could save almost $1050. When money is tight and bills are high, every little bit can make the difference between financial comfort and overwhelming debt.
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