Go Grocery Shopping With Fifty Dollars in the Bank

This article will show you how to go grocery shopping for one to three people with only $50 in the bank.

Steps

  1. Know what you need. Make a detailed list, organized by the area of the store you will find the item (produce, deli, meats, dairy, frozen, grocery, etc.). You can customize the list to fit the aisles at your favorite store and save a lot of time. This will also keep you from impulse shopping as you can just grab-and-go with most items. Buy only the items on your list!
  2. Look at your list again to make sure you haven't grabbed any extra items you don't really need.
  3. Shop at a low-cost grocery store or discount outlet.
  4. Buy only necessities. This means food (no specialty items) and toilet paper. Allow yourself few if any luxuries.
  5. Use coupons. They are an excellent way to save money on certain items. Make sure that the coupons that you have can be used in your store. Mark your list with a "c" or other symbol to remind yourself that you have a coupon for that item.
  6. Allocate a little extra money for taxes unless you live somewhere without food taxes.
  7. Buy generic or store brand instead of the expensive name brands.

Tips

  • If you truly only have $50, you will need to keep a running total. You do not want to get into a situation where the cashier rings up the total and you lack the funds to pay for it. A few "flex" dollars on hand can help in case you exceed the budget slightly.
  • Check the meat section for "reduced for quick sale" items. The store has legal limits on how long it can keep meats, but the true shelf life can go a day or two longer in your refrigerator or a month or more in your freezer at home.
  • Using a bread machine can be cost effective if your family eats a lot of bread and you don't have time to bake bread the hard way. Get ingredients and mix them by a recipe instead of buying pre-mixed packets.
  • Don't shop on an empty stomach. You will be tempted to buy more if you're hungry.
  • When checking out with your groceries, unload them in order of priority. Discreetly inform the cashier that you have a limited amount of cash, and ask him or her to tell you when you're getting close. Don't be embarrassed! A good cashier has seen many people in the same situation, and will likely be sympathetic and helpful. They may even be aware of better prices or deals you may have missed.
  • Leave the kids at home. They don't know a luxury from a necessity.
  • Look for sales, and stock up on canned vegetables and fruits. Plan this into the budget, and rotate what you're getting on "bulk sale" each week so that the larder always has some variety. Do not grab all the items that are on bulk sale. Get the best bargains from the list of what you don't already have.
  • Round up prices as you put things in the cart so that your total comes out slightly less than what you calculate.
  • When using a coupon, make sure it makes the purchased item the best deal on the shelf. Sometimes brand-name coupons do not make the product cheaper than the already low-priced store brand.
  • Buy only necessities.
  • Stock up on butter whenever it's on sale and don't buy it when it's not. It usually goes on sale in cycles, so watch the ads, and stock up when you can. Keep butter in the freezer. Margarine goes on sale at the same time as butter, but it's not as healthy as it sounds and can be toxic if cooked in certain ways. Use margarine only as a spread, not for cooking.
  • Shop the perimeter of the store. This is where the basic foods, dairy, meat and produce, are displayed.
  • Don't buy something just because it is a "good deal" or you have a coupon. Unless you normally use it, or it is something you planned to buy now anyway, don't buy it.
  • If an item comes up at a higher price than was listed on the shelf, politely but firmly insist that it be checked. Many stores have a "scan accuracy" policy that will allow the price to be backdated to an incorrect sign, if the price displayed is lower. Some policies even dictate that the item will be given to you for free. This policy should be noted in writing somewhere near the entrance of the store. It's important to have a good grasp of this policy if you plan to use it to your advantage. It's not universal, however, and smaller grocery stores may not be quick to embrace it. If the policy is advertised, be sure to cite it.
  • Look for a display of bruised produce. It's often a lot cheaper. It may not look as good, but it can still be tasty and nutritious. Use your judgment. If you buy bruised produce, use it right away.
  • Make sure to compare quantities and prices when selecting a product. Sometimes the generic brand may not be the best deal on the shelf. The lowest-priced item is not the best deal if it is smaller or contains less or costs more per unit. A calculator can be useful here.
  • Go easy on meats and prepackaged frozen items. If you have extra money, stock up on meats that can be used in various ways (hamburger, frozen chicken breasts), and use them later when times are lean. Use them within six months for safety's sake.
  • Turkey is not just for the holidays! It's usually a lot cheaper per pound than red meat and is always satisfying. Ground turkey is a good stretcher for hamburger that still gives a beef flavor. It's also a good break from chicken. Whole turkeys and chickens are cheaper than buying them pieced out and skinless unless that's on deep-discount sale. Roast it, have one really good feast, and then use the leftovers in other meals. Turn the carcass into homemade soup with some potatoes or noodles, onions and vegetables.
  • When they're on sale, buy lots of onions. They make anything else taste good. Also potatoes make for very good quick microwavable snacks. Baked potatoes by microwave are good.
  • Forego all luxury items if you have only $50. You can reward yourself by seeing your children eat and by taking care of yourself. Convenience food is a luxury item. If you have trouble sticking to this or get depressed, tighten up in general but allow yourself a small budget for impulse items--one to five dollars depending on how you're doing with bulk necessities. Reward yourself occasionally with something you like. Perhaps you could take your last two dollars to Starbucks. Some people can budget up to $5 for impulse items by cutting out "normal" foods (like breakfast cereal) that are actually convenience foods.
  • Plain white vinegar can substitute for several household cleaners. Your house might smell like a salad, but it will be clean for less money.
  • One exception to convenience food as luxury is the cheapest kind of macaroni and cheese which is sometimes cheaper when bought in boxes than when purchased by the bag. Ramen blocks are not convenience food. They're on a par with potatoes or pasta as a good carbohydrate to build a meal on. Add vegetables, cheese, diced meat and other ingredients to the ramen dinners. This can stretch a small amount of meat into more than one meal even if it's just hot dogs.
  • Browse fliers for essentials. Don't limit yourself to one store. Many stores honor sales in competitors' fliers if you bring them with you. Consider travel costs before you shop at multiple stores.
  • Eliminate cold cereal. It costs a fortune for very few servings compared to big boxes of non-instant hot cereal. Get oatmeal one week, grits another week, coco wheat the next until your larder has several varieties so that the family doesn't get bored with the same hot breakfast every day. Instant oatmeal in packets costs a lot compared with cooking bulk oatmeal with your own brown sugar, applesauce, raisins or other toppings.

Warnings

  • Not all coupons are accepted at every store.
  • The items that you buy as suggested here may not be of the best quality but should get your family through the week.
  • Household items such as cleansers, paper towels, toilet paper, cosmetics, toothpaste, contact lens cleaner (to name a few) are often less expensive at discount stores like Walmart or Target. These stores will often offer more varieties and product options as well, which can also save you money.

Things You'll Need

  • calculator
  • coupon organizer
  • detailed list, organized by department to save time

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Sources and Citations

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