STEP ONE
Watch the Video Above
STEP TWO
Do the Homework
STEP THREE
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Watch the Video Above
Do the Homework
Leave a Comment Below!
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Workbook, 3 guidebooks, and lifetime access to the videos.
Turning left when shopping makes a lot of sense. The most expensive, tempting items are on the right as I go in, fresh bread, exotic fruits and vegetables, etc. Plus, shopping for produce last, instead of first, means produce will be on top and I don’t have to keep re-arranging items in the cart and nothing will get crushed. Thanks for another great video.
Crazy isn’t it? You’re welcome Charlotte!
Shopping clockwise, using my calculator and using a timer will help. Thank you!
So enlightening!
Went to Wal-Mart today and spent too much! Your video is so helpful. By the way, where do you shop for women’s bras, panties and socks? Thank you!
Using a calculator. I’ve done this before, but then got lazy again!
Hi Tiffany
I use to use a calculator as things were really tight then stopped. However things have always been tight will start using one again. I have always used a list but have often strayed. Your so right when you say the grocery carts have gotten bigger. So far I still shop with a list or make one for my husband as I can’t work due to some physical challenges. I write it according to the store’s layout and start at the left as that is how our stores are layed out. Produce and meat first bakery last. I have started to avoid isles a strict list and check the sales and use some coupons for what we need. I am a fanatic on collecting points for free groceries but only on what we buy. I have always stocked up on sales items we use for when we don’t have enough money. This has worked as I always love everything full. Now that I the only one is vegan with no oil and fat it is harder for shopping and cooking. However I have started the basket or handful and that works stick to my strict list and go back to using a calculator. Your info is great I don’t have a printer so I have drawn up some of your worksheets and started using some at the beginning of March, will let you know how it works out.
Sincerely
Sandra Jaques
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Very helpful hints! I already do some of these, however a couple items on this list I will definitely start applying. I can’t necessarily use a smaller cart as I have a 1 year old on the move and I need to strap him in the cart; however, I think I will try placing a hand basket in the cart and strive to only fill the hand basket instead of the entire cart. Also, I never thought about asking the butcher service at my local store to cut my meat into different cuts. Will definitely do this!
turning left takes me to flowers, pastries and exotic veggies and fruits.
Shopping clockwise/counterclockwise was helpful
So glad it helps Delphia!
I think the best thing I could do is shop clockwise…use my calculator….and set a time for 20 minutes….
Totally agree!
I consider my self a frugal shopper but recently fell for the grocery store gimick of collecting stamps for free cookware. I figured I was doing my shopping there anyway why not collect the stamps and get the free cookware. I earned my free pan, but then realized it actually cost me $700.00 or more in grocery spending to get a free 8.5″ fry pan. I would have been much better off spending the $20.00 purchasing the pan than trying to make sure I had enought items in my basket each time I stopped to collect the stamps. I love the tips you are sharing in your Grocery Budget Bookcamp videos. Thanks so much.
Phyllis, it’s so easy to get caught up in the grocery store games isn’t it ? My mother in law and I used to get sucked into the Save Mart Monopoly style games in order to win prizes (big no no)…
Great job recognizing what it “really costs” instead of what you think you’re paying. You’ll do great moving forward and always have grace on yourself!!
I think that avoiding the aisles you don’t need is great advice. Saves time and therefore money.
These videos are great! I’ve been a blog follower for awhile now, and I can honestly tell you that your tips and helps have saved me way more than anything else I have tried. This includes “extreme couponing”. Thanks so much!
Thanks Pam! Love your enthusiastic comment!
I have watched all 3 videos and am impressed. Nice job. I’ve learne a lot of your techniques over the years and they work. I love the left to right one, however, it does make it harder for me to focus believe it or not. Now that my chidren are gone and I’m only cooking for 2, I don’t use as many coupons, however, they are very useful for paper products at Walmart and sale items at CVS/Walgreen’s. I haven’t paid full price for soft soap, kitchen detergent, laundry detergent, cereal, etc. forever. I also collect coca cola caps and box ends for free coke.
Thank you
KJ Favreau
Thanks for the compliments KJ, and I’m so glad that some of my tips have helped you! Great job for using coupons on paper products and toiletries – those are solid ways to save!
I use the Pomodoro technique in my office and with housework but I *never* thought to use it for shopping. Brilliant!
Lol! You’re welcome!
I am definitely going to try using a timer and running total as lingering in the aisles is something I’m certainly guilty of. Thanks for these wonderful videos!
I think that setting a timer will be the most beneficial because I get too caught up in looking at other things, or distracted by extras that it seems to take forever to shop.
Agree completely Kristina!
I have watched all 3 videos and think your tips and strategies are amazing. I only shop for two adults but every tip helps me be able to spend my money more wisely. Thank you!
You’re welcome! Let me know how it goes!!
I have been following your blog for about 1 1/2 years as well as the meal planning you created. I am learning so much! I Love the timer and running total idea!!
Jen, thank you so much for being a subscriber! I’m so thankful to be able to serve you.
I am going to shop clockwise ( I think I do) but the biggie will be to set a timer.
Woo hoo! How funny would it be, if this idea caught on – then all the stores had to re-organize the aisles again?
Ugh Kroger drives me nuts… I work at one of their division stores… they’re constantly moving things around the store… I’m guessing their strategy is to get people to look at other things when they go to get the item that they normally get and it’s not in that spot… People are constantly asking where things are because they’re always doing “resets” and removing things… and they too now place the same items in multiple places…sure they’ll say it’s to give customers more choices… but you know it’s a ploy to get you to spend more… even with my discount I pretty much refuse to shop there anymore because of the way
they do things…
Can’t wait for the next video…your tips are amazing…thank you so much for sharing your time with us
Awwww thanks Danielle! You’re very welcome, and I’m glad that you find the videos useful.
Regarding moving things around: yes, that’s such a pain. I remember sending my husband to the store for bread crumbs or anchovies and it took him 1/2 hour to find them because of the recent changes!
I love the grocery store music. All seventies and eighties soft rock. I have been singing along not realizing that I was spending extra money! The timer idea is great. I use it for household stuff, but I never thought to do it for groceries. Good reason to not bring the kids. Going the opposite way would be useful too. Thanks for the tips.
Lol, just don’t stay for the music! Otherwise, you’ll spend it all 🙂
Best tip for me is: know your prices! This way I know when something is on a good sale (keep in mind your tutorial on sales gimmicks). I am pretty frugal and buy only the essentials, but I fall prey to canned beans, shredded cheese and buying cleaning supplies at my grocery store. I’ve got my work cut out for me to streamline my stores and habits. Thanks for all your help and I love your blog!
YES!
Thanks once again for the great ideas.
I started shopping the supermarket from right tto left here in Australia and it does seem to help, but that’s the onLy strategy I have used on your list.
I,m off tomorrow so will try the timer idea and the upbeat music.
I,m looking forward to the Budget Bootcamp.
Joanne
Great job Joanne, keep us updated!
Best strategy make a menu for a month then a list, shop only from your list. Shop which ever way makes your produce last. Skip all aisles not needed. BUT if you are like me and find shopping your only relief from family and housework then you may like to shop slow, read labels, visit with other shoppers etc. I still only shop from and only from my list. But I relax and enjoy the experience, the music and people. I have been shopping for 40 years and have it down pretty good. Buy mostly the same items every month. But I think I will be trying to buy none grocery items other places. Never tried that before. Thanks for the advice
You’re welcome Kathy!
Hi!
Thank you for the tips! Do you think the course that you are about to offer works the same in other countries as well?
I’m actually even wondering what exactly is a “grocery store”. I searched wikipedia for “box sotres”, I didn’t know before about what exactly they are, either, and I found out that some of them are called “hypermarkets” in Europe, and then I came to think that most of the stores where I shop for food and some other things seem to be the hypermarkets. And then there are smaller stores, where I shop for organic foods, and some of these items aren’t sold in any other stores, so I don’t seem to have many options when I want the specific thing. I do compare the prices of similar not same things in different stores and can choose then which price-to-product combination best fits me. I’m still kind of puzzled about what the “grocery store” is, though 😀
Hi Kristi! I do think my course works in other countries, but you would have to figure out the equivalent of which stores are which first. 🙂 To help, a “big box store” is like a catch-all store that sells anything from laundry baskets to pots & pans to food to underwear. Walmart is a big box store here in the states, and it was originally a home good store, but eventually expanded to include food items.
This is wonderful. Thank you. One tip I have is to organize your list according to aisle. I do this and it saves me time because I’m not having to run back to get something I forgot (which is something I do all the time when I just make a quick list and run to the store!)
Of course this means knowing your specific grocery store since they are all different.
OOooooohhh! That’s a great one! I never thought about organizing the list according to aisle…!!
The only consideration with this, would be if they changed up the aisles 🙂 I’m not sure how often this happens though.
Thanks Mary!
I think the best tip for me was knowing all the different services a grocery butcher can potentially do for me. I often skip meat altogether because I simply do not like the effort and mess that goes along with preparing the raw meat at home. So I have been known to purchase the pre-cut meats at a higher cost just to avoid this. I will be asking my grocery butcher tonight what sorts of things they will be willing to do! Thank you!
Yes! It’s amazing what the butcher can do for you, to help you cut costs 🙂
I am loving your videos Tiffany! My family and I have cut out all processed food and sugars from our diet over the past six months and we love it! However, I am finding myself spending upwards of $1000 at the grocery store some months and we just cannot maintain that level of spending!
I am trying your techniques but I shop at Aldi as my local Kroger is way too expensive. I save $3+ on just 1 pineapple when I go to Aldi over Kroger.
My question is: Will your techniques and boot camp help me even though I am shopping at a discount grocery store? I also purchase all of my meat from Zaycon (an online pickup service) and get really good prices on a regular basis. I am just worried about getting my hopes up :(. Thank you!
Rebecca, I’m so proud of you for cutting out all processed foods and sugars. Sugar is one we still have trouble with, but mainly because of the occasional batch of cookies… 80/20 rule right?
How large is your family? $1,000/mo. may be high, but it really depends on how many people you are feeding, the types of meals you are preparing, & where/how you are shopping. If you are shopping primarily at Aldi and Zaycon, I’d be interested in knowing what types of meals you are preparing on a regular basis, as in, are they meat centric – and for how many people.
Grocery Budget Bootcamp should help anyone save money! We just put a focus/test group through the program, and quite of a few of our members are saving $200-325/month (that’s $2,400-$3,900 year)!!! Other testers who weren’t saving “as much” reported they were able to buy much more food with their money as opposed to before – which of course, translates into savings over the long haul. I will warn you, this course is hard work 🙂 In order to see results, you have to be willing to put in the time & effort!
I completely understand the struggle Rebecca! I know what it’s like to struggle feeding my family, and to stay within budget. Hopefully these videos helped you, and if you think it’s a good fit, that Grocery Budget Bootcamp will be able to help you out even more 🙂
Thank you for your reply! When I said we cut out sugar I meant processed sugars! I wish i could cut out sugar completely but it is so good and like you said 80/20 rule! Anyway, I am feeding a family of 4(ish) including my 6 month old and almost 2 year old. For my 2 year old I try to provide a variety of snacks throughout the day. Many are home made and include fresh fruit, veggies, wheat, baked goods and dairy products along with almond milk. For breakfast my husband and I have eggs, toast and fruit while my son has whole milk plain yogurt with frozen blueberries and whole wheat bread. For lunch, I have some type of salad I prepared ahead of time such as broccoli or black bean salad. My husband eats lunch meat everyday along with a granola bar and container of fresh veggies that I prepare weekly. My son has a veggie red sauce on pasta I cook and freeze ahead of time with some type of fruit.
When it comes to dinner I am used to having meat as the main dish and do still struggle with changing that mentality. I try to offer two vegetables (at least one), fresh fruit, brown rice or beans and a meat option. Usually there is meat leftover that ends up tossed out because I feel it is not enough to make another meal from. Most of my meals are freezer meals because I find it difficult to cook with my children running around so most of our dinner is prepared in a crock pot or in advance. For example, on Sunday I will prepare a vegetable side dish to accompany any freezer meal I am making that week and they usually include at least one vegetable already. Any fruit we will be eating with our meal will be cleaned and ready to head to the table. 30 minutes before dinner is ready I will thaw any rice or beans that I have precooked in the freezer and then heat-up the vegetable on the stove that I made ahead on Sunday. Once those are reheated I fill the fruit bowls and dinner served! It’s a very effective way for my family to have a healthy meal that includes fresh fruits and vegetables without the nightly time commitment.
Lastly, before my husband and I truly made the change to whole foods we struggled with the idea of eating less meat. Whenever we would have a meat-light meal we would both end up hungry later in the evening or not satisfied at all once we were finished with our meal. Now that I am adding in more vegetables and offering fruit with dinner (something I never did before) I could probably cut back the meat portion of our meal without leaving us feeling starved.
Thank you for reading my questions and responses even though they are so long! It means a lot as everyone around me thinks I am crazy for how I am feeding myself and my family!
Thanks for the videos! Very informative! I want to try the timer idea and see how that would effect things. Also, the running total and listening to music ideas. I actually do a counter clockwise rotation in my store. The reason is that I try to start with the non cold items and them get the cold stuff last. One thing I was wondering though is that the tips you mention seem to be for a regular grocery store. I used to shop exclusively at Kroger and I would use your do not buy trips for sure there. But my little town got a Walmart about a year ago. And I had to repent for all the mean things I had said about walmart. It really has been soooo nice to have a grocery store within about a mile or two. Do all the tips apply to Walmart too? Mainly the do not buy lklist and the sales strategies?
Hi Melinda! The tips to apply to Walmart too, but they should be modified slightly because of the ways Walmart markets sales and set up their store. For example, they have monthly sales. In Dec their apples were advertised as $1.97/lb, but I knew that wasn’t a good deal b/c I had seen it for less elsewhere. Just have to keep an eye out and not assume that every “deal” is a good one!
Rebecca, Just a suggestion for the small meat portions you usually throw out as they aren’t enough to save for another meal–freeze them. When you have enough, add some black beans (or other bean of choice) and have beans and rice for dinner that night. My family wouldn’t mind the mixing of different meats in with their beans, but if that is a problem, save the different types of meat in different bags, and then use as that particular bag reaches a level that can be used. Also, if different sauces are used, that’s okay as black beans are pretty forgiving and blends well with salsa, spaghetti sauce, gravies, etc. Another way to blend the flavors–lots of cumin! One other idea– veggie soups can be made with more than one type of meat in it.
Rebecca,
Freeze all those left overs. You can make amazing soups with a little of this and little of that. I did it today. Left over veggies, pasta, meats and some broth. I sautéed an onion and some celery, added chicken broth and threw all my left overs in to the pot (taco meat, corn, pasta, chopped up steak, pureed carrots and tomatoes). It really was good. Just tiny little Tupperware containers of leftovers made a great meal.
The strategies give me a lot to think about the next time I go shopping.
Some I already do some I will try.
I like to use the big carts, will adjust to my list from now on.
I already keep a running total already when I shop. I usually have a certain amount to spend, sometimes with a little cushion. When the kids were home I had $100 to spend on groceries, and that had to really stretch when I had to by meat (eased up some when they got into 4-H). Don’t buy most meat at the grocery store any more, usually from the local meat packing plant if we don’t have our own animals butchered. I actually did a lot more homemade baking/cooking back then, before I knew
anything about reading labels and “eating healthy”. GMO’s started me on being more aware of what I serve my family. We have already cut out a lot of processed foods and sugar over the last several years.
I have been learning a lot from you and other websites about real foods and budgeting (don’t do too well on the budget) .
I wish I had known some of this years ago. Thanks for all the great information.
Betty Ann <
I’m DEFINITELY going to set a timer as well as use earbuds on my next shopping trip! In fact, I’ll use all of your techniques. I’ve had a tendency to mosey through the store looking for “deals”, but that’s not going to happen anymore! I also took a leap of faith and lowered my (very high) budget from $1,400 this month to $1,000. Another place that I have trouble getting “in and out” is the farmer’s market. It never fails that I buy something that I don’t need because I’ve struck up a conversation with one of my favorite farmers and feel obligated to purchase something from them! Although, I feel better about spending this money and fostering the relationships I have with my farmers, I really need to curb that habit. I can’t wait for more!! Thanks, Tiffany!
Hi Tiffany – Great series! Thank you! There were two things that I think will be most helpful for me. The first is using the butcher. I always thought the butcher was more expensive than the already cut meat, but noticed a few weeks ago that the prices were the same. I will definitely be using the butcher to cut my chickens, ribs and roasts. I am excited to try starting on the left side of the store and see what that will do for me.
I am loving the series. Some of the things I apply but definitely need to tighten up on. I haven’t thought to weigh the items to get the biggest/heaviest when the price is set. I do have a question though, do you include house hold items in your grocery budget or is that a separate category? You also commented earlier that the boot camp was pretty intensive. How time consuming is this estimated to be/take per se? I am definitely interested but the timing may not be the greatest for me right now. I am desperately needing to get a budget in place and I struggle with meal planning. These two are HIGH on my priority list. Also, real food is a must so I don’t use coupons as I once did (not the super couponer though). Thanks for all the great tips and hard work!
Hi Penny! I used to keep household items with my grocery budget until I really buckled down to get my food spending under control. If that’s your situation, I recommend having a separate line item. As for time involvement, it could be anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple hours each week. It depends on the lesson and thinking of one week in particular, your kitchen. 😉
Thanks for all the info and taking the time to help us out! I may be talking to the butcher 🙂
I have a question regarding your course. Do the videos add info to the 13 core lessons or is it verbal communication of the 13 core lessons? If the videos add content, how much more?
Thanks for your time!
Candace
Hi Candace! Yes the videos add to the core lessons. They’re based off the lesson, but they include more real life examples and off-the-cuff ideas I had when I tested the course with a focus group. I hope that helps!
The ability to online order now has been a great help. Functions as many of the tips you relate. Also, I’ve always hated shopping and now since I live so far from town, errand runs are a once in a while all day thing.
On the subject of smells, fun fact, if you don’t go into a conventional grocery store for a month or more and then you do again, you notice that they have a really unpleasant smell, which I presume is the conventional cleaning products. It’s a pretty good deterrent/motivation to get in and out a quickly as you can.
Totally agree on shopping the other way around! I actually do this already. Because I’m in a wheelchair and only use the bags I can store on my powerchair my budget dropped with ease. When I realized that the non breakable items are in a different routing I decided to reroute my grocery shopping trips. And put a big dent in the budget again!
I am so glad to find out this is actually the right way to shop. So thank you Tiffany!
Hi Tiffany, thank you for the effort you have put in your these videos. I think one thing I will definitely try is the clockwise route around the store. We are creatures of habit and tend to do things always the same. That will be on my list to try next. I tend to use a list whenever I go to any store and am not one to dilly-dally around, so time is not usually an issue for me. Only time I really have an issue is when my husband decides he wants to join me, which is not very often, thank goodness, as I always wind up spending more when he’s there!
I’ve been on the AIP program for a year and a half, but my husband eats a regular diet, so it makes meal planning rather difficult as he doesn’t always like what I make. But meal planning is something I really need to incorporate into my routine. Any help in that direction would be great!
Thank you again Tiffany.
Wow. Brilliant. All of it. I thought I was pretty well aware of my grocery store surroundings, but videos 2 and 3, especially 3 was greatly enlightening. Wowzers. The timer, fixed prices was a duh but never thought about it, listening to upbeat music. I loved it all!
I did have a question- for the butcher tip… are you only referring the store brand meats or could I ask them to also cup up let’s say Tyson bagged whole chix?
Thanks!
Hi Lael – just the store meats. You can definitely ask if they do brands, but my hunch would be no.
I haven’t been able to find the 4th video to the Grocery Bootcamp. Have you sent it yet?
Hi Kim! The 4th video was available for Jan 5-10. I hope to open enrollment for GBB again in the Spring, so keep an eye on your email!!
I tend to get in and get out quick, but I like the idea of timing myself to make sure I don’t browse too long on items I don’t need. Thanks for the tip!
Hi Tiffany. I love these tips and your blog. I have never ‘gone left’ while grocery shopping so I am going to try that one and setting a timer on the next shopping trip. I have used a calculator many times, but had gotten a little lazy, so I’ll also use it on my next trip.
I can’t wait for the next video. We’ve been on the road to eating real food for many years. And, we are always trying new things to help cut the rising costs of buying real, fresh and good food. Thanks again!!
I wasn’t able to open up Video 1, 2, or 3. My computer would not allow me to work through it
Thank you for your videos. Some of your recommended techniques I have already been using. For instance one should not shop when hungry, because you will buy something that is not on the list. Using a list is very helpful. The idea of using a timer is interesting. I am going to try that technique. How many times I meant to go in and buy certain few things, but end up buying more. For that reason I always took a cart, rather than a hand basket.
Your videos made me more aware of my shopping techniques, what I can change to make my shopping more effective, and save more money.
Thank you!!
I once got a bag of organic potatoes
and asked the cashier to weigh it because it was small 3 lbs for 3.95 a bag maybe 4.95. It was under weight by 3 0r 4 ounces. I comented that it was less than 3 lbs and i am getting short changed. She said they are all l7ke that abd its ok.
I keep on grabbing the bags and not checking because I fear looking like I am cheating. Its absurd though sinse they are cheating.
My grocery bill went up from $450.00 a month to around 6 or 700.00 amonth for 1 person and 4 animals. I get them real food as well and share my meat w them. I am frugal as I know how so I asked Gid to help me improve. You are the first and only person I know who can help me. I don’t want to be a mizer just be thrify yet happier for it. I see prices that are rediculous.
I live in an apartment and am growing my own herbs. And learned to keep green onions in a glass of water and trim as needed. It always stays alive and keeps producing rapidly suppling my need. My dogs are cancer free and happy eating real dogfood and a serving each of my meat cookings. They love my beef veggie soup and chicken veggie soup
Rice added is good to them too.
I like how you capitalized on the delimma at the grocery store for city folk,and can help. A person dillagent in their work will stand before kings.
I have watched all 3 of your videos and love them! I will be using the timer and calculator when I shop; and will be shopping the other way around. I will be focusing on the items I came in to the store for. It’s amazing how I was getting distracted by the soft grocery store music, free samples and bakery department smells, which caused me to spend more money. Thank you, thank you, thank you for educating me on the strategies of a smart shopper!
You’re very welcome J.Heather!
Hello-I’m enjoying these videos at the prompting of the Dating Divas. The 4th video won’t play for me. Is there a different way to access it? My husband and I are sitting down tonight to make the decision on ordering the whole bootcamp!
I have been praying for God’s help in ‘multiplying my time and money use’ for His glory. I think that you are a part of that answer and please know your faithfulness in sharing is making a difference. I will definitely try to beat the clock and start shopping clockwise, after having a clear menu planned and written. Thank you!
Hmm, am wondering how you deal with the Levaithan, Costco? I have a love/hate relationship with that store. Always spending more money than I want, except for one time when I made a list, stuck to it, and came out spending exactly what I had planned!
shop early Mondays.
Thanks for the tips on using the butcher to cut up meat. I’ll have to give it a try.
Tiffany, I find your suggestions great for those people who actually step foot into grocery stores, Target, Sam’s Clubs etc, but . . . .I’m disabled and find that ordering on line with either Peapod, Fresh Direct, Instacart or Amazon has been a big help as carrying groceries into my home is not an option. Yes, I can compare prices with the stores, but are there other tweaks that I can use to cut my budget down from ~$600 a month for two people aside from eating beans at every meal???
I must combine two — setting a time and using a smaller cart were my two eye openers.
I’d like to learn more about how to use but your services to save on meat !
This is great! I’m familiar with a couple of these things, but you have opened a whole new world.
One very helpful thing I did was to make a list of store items by isles. My list has an isle number line for each isle. I also have boxes for things are not on a specific isle like produce, diary, and meats. On the left side of my list are seven boxes for a weekly menu. My grocery list is by isle so I spend less time going back and forth across the store to get items missed the first time through the store.
I also heard about shopping the outside of the store and as you mentioned to skip the isles I don’t need. I see there is much more to learn.
So I have my menu and grocery list all on the same page which help me stick to my list and get through the store more quickly. I think the timer idea, among most others you mentioned, will benefit me.
I need to start using a calculator and the butcher and timing myself. I spend way to much time trying to figure it out.
Thanks for all your videos. I noticed that my local supermarket keeps changing where the products are every few weeks. This actually started to annoy me and actually made me spend less because I couldn’t find what I wanted and felt tired looking for it. Also music in stores annoys me and I only shop at stores without it . So I tend to shop at discount stores anyway. I remember shopping the wrong way a couple of times and feeling awkward because everyone else was going the other way and they had to get out my way!
Also I found an ethnic supermarket near to my house and it’s a budget shoppers dream come true. No sales, whole foods really cheap everywhere. Huge bulk items like 25kg bags of rice at low prices. All the herbs and spices in bulk at super low prices. Lots of rare stuff like neem oil really cheap. I now buy bulk rice and beans. I make dosas alot which is fermented lentils and rice pancakes. They are super healthy and tasty and can be eaten any meal. I’ve even used them as a pizza base. It’s save me huge amount of money over bread. I have been following your blogs for a while now, so I think I’ve picked up tips here and there and thought about how I’m spending my money. But I still have learned a couple of new things from your videos, mostly about buy something get something free. I have fallen for them even recently and got something I wasn’t planning on buying. So thanks again.
Just to add I original found your site because I was looking for tips on healthy eating as opposed to saving money but the saving money is a bonus.
I use something better than a calculator. A paper grid with each block representing $1 and only enough squares to match the planned spending. I round up to the nearest dollar. I mark off the squares as I put items in the cart. Rounding up usually takes care of sales tax. Love your boot camp ideas. Used the ‘what not to buy at the grocery’ on this week’s trip.
Shopping in a different direction, such a simple suggestion, never thought of doing that! Taking advantage of the butcher services, great idea!!! Ready to hear more about the Grocery Budget Bootcamp! Can’t wait!!!
Definitely ready to try all of these! I’m thinking the shop to the left, timer and butcher services would go a LONG way!
I wish it was text that I can read. I don t watch videos because of hearing issues.
I’m going to start now – setting a timer, using a hand basket, and grocery shopping on weekdays. I believe each of these steps will help me reduce to cost of my grocery shopping.
I need to get better at using my calculator at the store also I really need to look into what my butcher can do for me to help save money on meat.
I shop on Wednesdays. I hit Costco, Sams, and a local store called Fresh Thyme (Wednesday is their day the week’s sales overlap last week’s sales.) The idea of a timer is perfect. I know exactly where everything is in all three stores. I don’t need to browse and search, so there’s no excuse for my dawdling. My son will be thrilled when we start shopping in high gear and get ourselves home sooner. I also like the calculator idea to keep track of what my total is in the cart. It is easy to overbuy staples in the warehouse stores.
Love your well-organized and well-presented tips. I’m glad to say that after many years of grocery shopping on a budget for a family of seven, I’ve learned many of your strategies, but I know there are ways I can do better. Using the butcher services is something I’ll have to check into to see what a difference it can make. Meal planning ahead of shopping is one of them.
I love the timer idea. Thanks! Looking forward to the secret 4th video.
I love this information! Thank you!
You also need to be careful at those “$1” Stores as well.
I like the idea of spending some time learning the layout of the store. That is a very helpful idea. I had wasting time looking for an item when I go!
Another idea, if I only intend to be in the store for a few items, I go get my perishables first, so that I don’t waste time looking at to much other stuff while there because I don’t want my perishable to get warm before buying it.
Great info!
Hey Tiffany! Thanks for all the reminders of how I used to shop when I had my family at home. It’s time for me to get back into using a calculator so I don’t have to be surprised and frustrated by the total! I’m so grateful for the new smaller grocery carts that are in a couple of stores where I shop. Thanks for all your hard work with this bootcamp!
I am learning quite a bit from the videos and appreciate the workbooks. I am semi-retired but have some income from teaching piano still. My husband and I go to Costco and Sam’s club mainly and get what we can’t get there in regular grocery stores. Walmart neighborhood market seem to have the organic produce we want. We should be on a budget but food is practically the only splurging we enjoy. I make my own soaps and lotions and love to cook healthy meals. Organic produce cost a lot more but is important to us. We would like to grow our own food but are novices in it. Thanks for your tips, though.
I had no idea on the left to right strategy… thanks for the tip