Pre-portioned snack packs and single-serve containers cost more per ounce than buying in bulk and dividing things up at home into reusable containers or bags.
Five Ways to Save Money on Groceries, Part One
Grocery bills keep creeping up, so here's the first batch of hints in a two-part series on cutting costs at the store without cutting corners on what's in the cart.
Don't Buy Serving-Size Portions
Plan, Plan, Plan
A few minutes spent planning meals around what's already in the pantry and fridge, plus what's on sale that week, cuts down on impulse buys and wasted food.
Shop Alone
Trips to the store without kids or a distracted partner tend to stick closer to the list and the budget, with fewer impulse additions to the cart.
Stock Up on Sales
Nonperishable items and freezer-friendly staples are worth buying in larger quantities when they go on sale, since the savings add up over the weeks that follow.
Write a Reverse Shopping List
Organizing the list by the store's own layout, aisle by aisle, cuts down on backtracking and the extra temptation that comes with it.
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This edition is part of the Genius House Hacks archive: 20+ years of tips, rebuilt from the original Handy Hints newsletter. Browse more hacks →