Going Domestic: 5 Tips On How to Grocery Shop

Grocery shopping can be a nightmare, especially when you would rather finish that last episode of How I Met Your Mother, or go out and have a few drinks. But, if you are a young adult, trying to make ends meet, it is a necessity. You’re mother isn't always going to be there for you.

If you’re like me, you worked at a grocery store and your mother made you shop for the whole family every week (more than once a week). She would call you right as you’re leaving work and say, 

“Caylinn, do you mind picking up a few things for dinner tonight? Here’s the list…” 

Then she would go on to tell you a list of 20 items, only one of the items actually geared towards dinner food.

Needless to say (but I’ll say it any way), I have become an expert at grocery shopping. But, I am willing to share my wealth of knowledge with you.

I am not getting paid for saying this, but Winn Dixie (if you live Florida) is the place to go. I don’t mean to put down other elitist grocery stores, but seriously, it’s better. Here’s why…

1. BUY ONE GET ONE.  BOGO is an amazing invention. It makes it easy for every person to shop the sales. I mean, if you have a freezer you can buy 2 huge things of chicken, then, when you’re ready to eat it, you can defrost it in the morning, and when you get home, stick that chicken in the oven for 30 minutes and you’re ready to go.
2. Shop the sales.  If you go to the store ready to buy a list of planned dinners that’s great! However, if you are looking to save some money, you have to be flexible. Go down the aisles and shop the sales. You might get lucky and get a meal for half the original retail price.
3. Do the math. I know it can get incredibly frustrating, but taking the extra 2 minutes to decide the difference between 2 for $5 and 3 for $10 is well worth the effort in the long run.
4. Don’t be fooled by the “sales” price.  If it says 2 for $5, you don’t have to buy 2. If you need only one, buy one. It’s only the BOGO that you need to buy in pairs. This is a sales tactic that works on many. Then you just have extra food sitting around taking up room in your tiny pantry.
5. Generic Brands.  Usually, believe it or not, generic brands are made by the same company as the name brand. In Winn Dixie’s case, they have their own manufacturing plant; however, it is a very healthy, non contaminated environment. If you are a health nut, like me, this is very important. If you don’t care, think about this, generic brands are 20-50% less than name brand items. They might not look as fancy, but they taste just as good and are usually better for you.

If you are not a grocery store advocate, and these tips are just too much, consider these numbers. I spend, on average, $75 a week for two people to eat all of their meals at home, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, everything. Before I lived on my own, I usually at out at least once a day when I worked. It was easier not to bring my lunch/dinner. I spent an average of $8 a day on food. Since I worked or went to school every day in the week, I ate out once every day… that adds up to $56 a week. So, while living on my own, I decided to only eat out it would cost me $168 a week. So, by me shopping for all of my meals, and never going hungry… I save myself $93 a week. Honestly, think about what you can do with an extra $93 a week! Think about it!

That’s why you should cherish these tips, save yourself some money, and go to Busch Gardens, moneybags.