Asians Love Saving Money On Groceries

Next time you go shopping for groceries, why not drop by an Asian supermarket? Seems like there are very cheap prices for fruits available.

10 Tips To Improve Your Grocery Budget In 2010

The year 2010 has just started. Have you made any resolution to save money and elimiinate your reckless spending?

Most of us have a habit of making New Year resolutions but we hardly meet any of our targets because our discipline fail us. Especially when it comes to saving money. We give in to temptations when our neighbors upgraded their cars, bought the latest gadgets or renovated their houses.

This year, you may find it easier to economize though as we are still struggling to emerge from greatest financial crisis in decades. There is also the possibility of a double-dip recession, meaning unemployment figures will not recover for years to come.

In order to save more money in 2010, here are ten tips to improve your grocery budget.

1. Monitor prices of commonly bought items

Create a list of products which you buy most frequently and then research the unit price for each item. This is useful for comparing prices when a good sale comes along.

2. Use coupons

When you talk about coupons, it may seem troublesome at first, just to save a few cents or dollars here and there. The coupons have to be cut and kept properly (in envelopes), lest you mix them up or cannot find them.

However, a little organizing and getting used to coupons can overcome your apprehension of coupons. You will save a lot of money in the process (at least 10% of your annual grocery budget). So stop procrastinating and start clipping now.

3. Stockpile your fridge

Who can resist a sale with products being sold at wholesale prices or coupons which offer 30% discount? Keep an eye out for such sales or coupons, and stockpile your fridge with your favorite grocery products.

4. Prepare weekly menus

Check your pantry or fridge for items you already have and plan your weekly menu around them. This will save you the trouble of cooking meals and then realizing you don't have the necessary ingredients.

Rushing out to buy them will always be more expensive as you buy in single, small portions and no discounts are given.

5. Watch for regular sales

Some items go on sales on a cyclical basis, like turkey during the holidays or fruits when they are in season. Watch for these sales and buy enough to hold you over until the next sale.

6. Don’t buy pre-packaged meals

Pre-packaged meals are very convenient as we can just put them into the microwave oven, wait for a few minutes and food is on the table. But they are more expensive and less healthy due to the preservatives and processing involved.

My wife prefers to buy uncooked chicken breasts rather than pre-chopped and cooked chicken.

The convenience comes at a premium, so if you don't want to pay more, just buy as much uncooked chicken as possible and freeze what you don’t need. You can use this approach for pancakes, snacks, bread, etc. too.

7. Join a co-op

A food co-op can reduce your weekly food bill up to 50% by volunteering and buying in bulk.

8. Shop early

Hit the grocery stores before 9 a.m. and you’ll have a better chance of finding sale items, particularly produce, dairy and baked goods.

9. Cut down on meat

Meat is a good source of protein, but it’s expensive. As we get older and lower metabolism, we don't need to consume as much protein in our diets as a budding teenager.

Substitute meat for peas, beans, cheese, and peanut butter to save money at check-out.

10. Use discount gift cards

Gift cards from big-box merchants like Target and WalMart can save money before you even hit the stores.

Buying Groceries From Auctions

I never imagine there will come a day when Americans make a beeline for grocery auctions (yes, taking a number and bidding for dry and frozen food) but this idea is getting popular. There are already grocery auctions held in at least nine states from Oklahoma to New York and more are on the way!

This economic crisis has indeed changed consumer behavior. Brandishing coupons or food stamps and lowering our standards by using store brands are no longer embarrassing or a sign of frugality.

To stretch our budget to the max, coupons are passe, think grocery auctions instead. Deep discounts (as much as 50%) are available so long as you don't mind leftovers and expired or damaged products.

Though the quality and flavor may decline, the food are technically safe to eat. There is no prohibition from the Food and Drug Administration on the sale of food past its sell-by date. However, we should avoid merchandise well past expiration or severely damaged.

Also, exercise restraint during bidding as the excitment can cause you to overpay. Being savvy about unit prices in supermarkets grocery auctions is necessary to save money.

Back when I was in college, I had a part time job in a grocery and we threw away perfectly edible food that was only a day past their use-by date. Considering there are more than a billion people living in abject poverty and malnourished because of a food crisis, that is really wasteful.

It is not just about money, dumping edible food is a sin when it is a life and death matter for children in Africa. Nevertheless, grocery auctions gives me hope that Americans are no longer taking things for granted.

Though my family is suffering in this recession (like many Americans), I think all the hardships are worth it if we can emerge as a thrifty people and be more caring towards the less fortunate and our environment.

I am looking forward to more grocery auctions for products that are going to end up in the dumpster. It is a win-win solution, the store makes some money and people get discounted food.

What do you guys think?