If you find that you are regularly going over your budget for groceries and coming home with lots of items that weren't on your list then this tip might work for you, and help you start to focus on shopping on a budget. As an idea (even if just for the short term) you could consider taking a set amount of cash with you (and leaving your cards at home) so that you are forced to look at prices and stick to your agreed limit.

Photo: jimmyweee, Wikimedia Commons
The benefit of taking cash and no cards with you, means that you have to stick to your list, and stick to a budget. In advance of your shop, you'll need to know an estimate of how much items cost, so that you know what your budget should be, and it's helpful to tot up your purchases as you go around the store so that you're not caught short at the checkout.
This is a strategy that helps you to notice what the price of items are, rather than just going around putting things in your trolley without a thought for the cost. I will regularly not buy certain items (particularly produce) when I know that the price is inflated or over what I would normally pay. For example, this week, I wanted to buy some broccoli but in one shop it was over $4 for a small bunch of the green vegetable. I shopped around and found a better deal where I got two big bunches of broccoli for $3; a saving of $1 but I got double the amount. By forcing yourself to learn more about the cost of items, you're less likely to get ripped off.
What strategies do you employ to keep the cost of your groceries down?
#Quick Tip
#Groceries
#Budget
#Shopping
#Shop Around