Save Money Food Shopping Outside the Supermarket

To save money go food shopping at other places besides the supermarket.

Food shopping at supermarkets once meant saving both time and money, but that isn't always the case anymore. Once upon a time, people (women, mostly) spent good part of the day food shopping and then preparing meals. Food shopping meant going from the butcher to the baker to the produce seller and so on, and so the introduction of a supermarket was a huge time saver. And supermarkets could buy in bulk and pass along the savings.

Now that food shopping all under one roof is so ingrained that we don’t even think about alternatives. But there are many places where we can get some grocery list items a lot cheaper than the supermarket.

Work-at-home moms with flexible schedules will be better able to integrate stops at these places into their daily routine so they don't necessarily eat up much time. But everyone can do it occasionally if you know where to find the deals.

Big box retailers – Stores like Target and Wal-Mart often have better deals on nonfood items like toiletries and cleaning supplies. And their food items, when on sale, can be cheaper too, but the selection may be limited.

Convenience stores – Most stuff is more expensive here, but many offer bargains on milk, bread or other necessities to bring you in the store. Only buy sale items here.

Drug stores - Like big box retailers, drug stores often offer everyday low prices on OTC medicines and toiletries. But like convenience stores they often try to entice customers with great deals on a few food items like milk or soda. And many of the large chains put out circulars with coupons on all sorts of items.

Outlets – Bread and dairy outlets are some of the more common types of food outlets. Look for them in small shopping plazas.

Farmers markets and produce stands – Make a habit of food shopping at a locals farmers market, and you’ll eat better for less. Bring the kids and make an outing of it.

Wholesale clubs – Sam’s Club and Costco are examples of wholesale clubs that sell food and many other items in large quantities for bargain prices. Be sure you use them frequently enough to make the annual fee worthwhile. And don't buy things you don't need just because it is a good deal.

Wholesalers – Many wholesale sellers of meats, vegetables and breads will also sell retail at a deep discount. But they don't always advertise this, so sometimes it is just a matter of stopping in and asking.

Ethnic grocers – Often mom-and-pop operations, ethnic grocer offer good deals within their specialty.