Grocery Shopping on a Budget

How to save two of your most precious things: Time & Money

 

By Heather Kempskie

 

In my home, I do the grocery shopping. I go alone. Early in the morning. From start to finish, I can be in and out in 30 minutes with a week’s worth of food. Lately, I’m also leaving with less – less money that is.

 

According to Rutgers Food Policy Institute, food prices increased 4.5 percent from March 2007 to March 2008, the largest one-year jump in nearly 20 years. Butter prices are up 31 percent, cheddar cheese prices are up 65 percent and nonfat dry milk prices are up 117 percent from a year ago. Rising energy cost surely have most of us worried but when we’re faced with an extra $20, $40, $60 per week at the grocery store, we feel the pinch on a more personal level.

 

It was time to straighten out my grocery shopping habits, so I called in some experts from Stop & Shop. The Massachusetts-based chain operates over 375 stores throughout 7 states.

 

“The economy has definitely impacted the way customers are shopping for food,” says Andrea Astrachan, consumer advisor to Stop & Shop Supermarket Company. “We’re seeing an increase in corporate brand purchases. Just a year ago, people who were not willing to buy generic brands are now seeing they can save. People are changing their shopping habits.”

 

Here are some tips to help you save time and money at the grocery store:

 

Before you leave home

• Make a list and plan out meals. This helps deter you from making impulse buys.

• Check your cabinets before you leave so you don’t buy any unnecessary items.

• Clip coupons from magazines and newspaper inserts, or search the Internet for coupons.  

• Bring a calculator to keep track of purchases

 

Money-saving tips

• Shop seasonally. Stock up and store non-perishables; freeze others (see sidebar) “Fall produce is delicious – acorn squash, all varieties of squash, pumpkin. This is the time to buy seasonal produce. It’s in season, fresh and it’s lower price – about 10 to 15 percent lower,” says Astrachan.

• Shop corporate brands. There is on average a 20 percent savings for corporate brands

• Only buy produce that you plan to use. Otherwise, Astrachan suggests buying frozen produce. “Same nutritional value, they’re handy, they’re easy. Don’t feel guilty about using those frozen vegetables,” she says.

• Buy bigger portions when possible. Instead of purchasing one pound of ground beef, I purchased a Big Buy at Stop & Shop. The discount is between 20-25 percent on chicken and 10 percent on steaks.These are not just for a larger family take lower unit price, take home and divide it in to four sections, have it ready when you need it.

• Stock up on sale items. Especially products that you tend to buy each week like juice boxes or canned food or household cleaning products.

• Stick with produce when buying organic products. Organic products tend to be more expensive than non-organic products.

• Consider other meat alternatives such as egg or tofu dishes.

• Use your store rewards card for extra savings at check out. At Stop & Shop, you can use hand-help personal scanner to shop and scan as you go. This not only helps you track your spending but it stores past purchases made with your card and throughout your visit, it will offer special coupons based on previous buys.

• Use re-usable “green” bags. Stop & Shop offers a 5 cents discount for every bag used. The bags can fit a ton of stuff and are way easier to carry than plastic bags.

• Check out other money saving promotions. Stop & Shop offers great recipes based on their sales items every week. Shaw’s and Star Supermarkets have a Duckling program geared towards families with children under 5.

 

Time-saving tips

•  
• Review the “before you go” list!
• Keep a running list of items that you need. Family members can add to the list throughout the week. You’ll be less likely to forget something and get to skip the mid-week run back to the store.

• Consider the prepared food section when dinner has to happen quickly. “I recommend prepared food to save money if the alternative is eating out. Tend to be more healthy than meals eaten out on the run. Prepare with veggies and you’re good to go,” suggests Astrachan.

• Don’t have to wait in line for your deli meat. At Stop & Shop, use the deli kiosk to place your order. Continue shopping and they’ll call you when it’s done. Available at most Stop & Shops.

• Frozen foods are very convenient. Less expensive when compared to going out to eat and in some cases more healthful. Buy some frozen ravioli, pair with bagged salad, wheat bread and it’s an easy 5-minute meal.

 

Sidebar #1

The average American family of four spends more than $700 monthly on groceries.

 

Who Shops?

Female Head of Household 69 percent

Male Head of Household 19 percent

Both 11 percent

Other 1 percent

 

Busiest days of the week: Saturday and Sunday (slowest: Wednesday)

Most shoppers shop between noon and 5 p.m.

 

Source: Food Marketing Institute

 

Sidebar #2 (make this look like it can be cut out)

Time to stock up

November

Baking Items

Canned Fruit

Maple Syrup

Stuffing Mixes

Top Round

Turkey

 

December

Canola Oil

Grape Juice

Ham

Horseradish

Lamb

Roasts

Yams

 

January

Avocados

Chicken

Condiments

Ground Beef

Kielbasa

Salsa

 

 

Good for the Wallet, Good for the Family

Most popular rot chicken – eat as chicken or pull apart and make chicken tacos or chicken salad.”

 

Ranch Chicken Pasta ($9 - &12)

Serves: 4

 

1 lb. Boneless skinless chicken breast

2 tsp. Vegetable oil

8 oz uncooked angel hair pasta

¾ cup reduced fat ranch dressing

1 can diced tomatoes, drained

¼ tspl black pepper

2 Tbsp, parsley, fresh chopped

¼ cup Parmesan cheese

 

Trim fat from chicken and cut into cubes. Heat large skillet and oil over medium=high heat. Cook chicken, until chicken becomes brown. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to package directions, drain. Stir in Ranch dressing, drained tomatoes and black pepper. Top with cooked chicken, parsley and if desired Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

 

 

P&K Birthday Bash

Enter to win a personal shopping tour with Stop & Shop’s consumer advisor, Andrea Astrachan.  As you tour Stop & Shop, Andrea will provide money and time saving tips that every family should know about. Plus the winner will receive a $100 gift certificate.

Email parentsandkids@cnc.com with subject “Grocery” by Dec. 1. 

 

Watch

P&K Editor Heather Kempskie and her personal tour of Stop & Shop with Consumer Advisor Andrea Astrachan at WickedLocalParents.com.