By Sally M Simmons

You might have read some articles on how to save money on your groceries. Some of these saving tips include having a shopping list, use discount coupons, go to membership stores (like Sams Club), stock up when things are cheap and lookout for bargain sales. All these work, but there are other less common ways too and I am going to list a few of them.

About Your Loyalty Cards

The loyalty cards issued by many grocery stores give their members special discounted prices on various items. It does save you money on your groceries, but it can cost you your privacy at some stores. Some grocery chains are selling your purchasing information. Health insurance companies are known to have been some of the most active buyers.

Let me give you an example. You might not smoke, but suppose you buy cigarettes for your friend. If you bought using a card with your name on it, you might find yourself having to pay more for insurance as a result because the insurance company thinks you are a smoker.

Often times it doesnt pay to have real actual information on your card. No matter what you put on the applicant, your card still works. Try this: Put your middle name as your first, or use a different spelling.

Keep your membership card in your wallet or purse so you dont forget it. Depending on what you buy, you can get 10 - 15% or more off your total bill, and often they have particularly good deals for members, so you can stock up on something you use regularly.

Are Coupons Really Worth It?

Coupons are almost always for name-brand products. Name-brand saltine crackers cost $3.29 as I write this, while it was just $1.29 for the store brand we just bought. A 50-cent coupon on name brands is still twice as expensive as store brands. Coupons rarely save you enough money to make a product cheaper than other store brands that are available.

There is an exception. Some pharmacies that carry grocery items have very good coupon deals since they are willing to lose money on certain products to draw customers into the store.

Watch The Register

Some discounts might not be entered into the computer system, and as such will not be reflected in your bill. Watch out for those! Keep an eye on the register, and have any mistakes corrected immediately. Otherwise you might find yourself having to spend three dollars in gas to correct a two dollar mistake the other day.

Should You Bring Children Along?

Children should be left home when you are out shopping. They tend to grab things and beg for things you dont need. You end up giving in to their demands most of the time. Why make shopping more stressful for you? It is almost certain that you will save money on groceries if you dont bring children along.

Check The Per-Unit-Price

In the past, larger sizes were typically cheaper per-ounce. This is changing. Many grocery stores now have larger items at a higher per-unit price " possibly an attempt to trick you. Check the price-per-unit to find the best deals on each item.

Great Advice From My Aunt

My aunt gave me this advice. The best way how to save money on groceries is to eat before you go to the grocery store. Not only will you buy less than if you are hungry, but youll probably buy healthier foods as well

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