Grocery shopping is a task that all of us encounter at some stage, yet despite being a weekly event, many of us still don’t get the hang of how to grocery shop in a way that’s optimum for our bank accounts. Here are fifteen hot tips to help you get frugal at the grocery store.
1. Planning exactly what meals you’re going to have will mean knowing exactly what you’ll need to
purchase; this will cut down impulse buys drastically, and also reduce the number of times you’ll need to go to the shop.2. Before you leave the house to go grocery shopping, do a “once over” of your kitchen cupboards and check what items are there; this will save you doubling up on items you forgot you already had and wasting money.
3. Check the use-by-date of any perishable items, like milk. If you found that you didn’t use it that much last time, buy a smaller quantity next time. This will save money and wastage.
4. Write a shopping list and stick to it - no more aimless wandering in the candy aisle for things you don’t need!
5. When you go to the grocery store take cash only, and leave your EFTPOS or credit cards at home; it’ll limit the amount you can spend and get you thinking more critically about what items you really need.
6. Buy items with a relatively long shelf life in bulk - rice, pasta or a large block of longer-lasting cheeses like cheddar are good examples. Only buy in bulk items that you know you or your family will consume.
7. Avoid frozen and pre-packaged meals; they’re expensive and usually don’t yield that many servings. Buy fresh and cook from scratch when possible.
8. Buy vegies on an as-needed basis; you’ll want them to be fresh, and they’re fairly inexpensive. This is better than buying lots of vegies and not being able to use them all then throwing them out.
9. Fresh fruit should be bought in small amounts and in a decent variety; this will ensure a bit of something for everyone. You can always go back to buy more fruit later if needed.
10. Buy canned fruits and vegetables; they’re cheap, have a very long shelf life, and can be used in a wide variety of ways.
11. Keep your eye out for weekly flyers or catalogues from your local grocery store; it will alert you of the best discounts and offers at the time.
12. Meat is usually the most expensive item on the shopping list, but many people don’t want to skimp on the quality, so head out early to a market and bulk-buy meat, then freeze it in portions (but don’t buy more than you’ll realistically use!).
13. You can also save on meat by buying less expensive cuts, like brisket or ham hock - they are slightly more fatty but can be slow cooked so that the fat melts and the meat is tender. Chicken, turkey and pork will generally be less expensive than beef and lamb. Alternatively, serve meat in less meals.
14. Canned tuna is cheap, high in protein and easy to add to pasta, or salads to make decent meals.
15. “Home brand” items are often very similar in quality to branded items, but much cheaper. “Home brand” cereals, yoghurts, cheese, bread and cleaning products can be significantly cheaper than their respective branded versions - remember you want to pay for quality, not fancy packaging, so do your research and compare nutritional values if unsure; you’ll often find that the “home brand” versions are not far off branded.
on. As a smug bargain shopper who has not only bought all her Christmas presents, but wrapped most of them too, here are a few tips and gift ideas to help those of you that are lagging behind. 
It’s official: the Aussie dollar is hovering around parity with the once mighty US buck. What this means is our humble golden-kangaroo coin now goes further when purchasing products from US-based stores online and elsewhere overseas. Known for its already slightly cheaper prices than Australia on many fashion and beauty products, American retail is now even more attractive. Even with postage costs included, the bargains up for grabs are enough to turn online-shopaphobics into add-to-cart addicts. 
Daily deals have momentarily taken over my world. Along with doubling my inbox’s waistline, they’ve added a host of new bargain-priced temptations to my wish list of “one-day-only!” specials from private online sales clubs, retail stores and shopping centres — all begging me to buy them, day in and day out. Not that that’s a bad thing ... I love bargains as much as the people you see camped out the front of department stores before Boxing Day. But are daily deals really all they’re cracked up to be? 
When it comes to buying Dad a gift for Father’s Day, size does not necessarily matter (size of your receipt total that is!). You can still find quality, meaningful presents that show just your how much you love him without spending all of your Spring savings. 
$20 – $50 
Over $50 
I’ll show you mine if you show me yours... 
Who do you think is happier — the bargain hunter who shops around for the absolute best deal, or the consumer who is content with finding a product that’s “good enough”? The answer may surprise... 
One of my most fruitful sources of bargain shopping advice is... my flatmate. Those days when I come home raving about this bargain top or that discount dress, or my so-much-cheaper-than-last-week grocery shop, she can usually top it with a slightly more amazing bargain story of her own. 
