4 Easy Ways to Waste $547 on Groceries Every Year! Ouch!

Save on Groceries

Mar 21

Image sourced by Rithika Gopal @rithika_gopal

As you may be aware, I wrote the internationally recognized book Save Money on Groceries – 327 Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bills and More. If you haven’t, check it out; you’ll save bank.

Over the years, I have developed a number of powerful grocery shopping and food storage systems which have saved my family and me $1,000s on groceries every year, year in, year out!

But to be candid with you, every now and again, I fail to follow my own systems.

And that leads to wasting money – often more than $547 in a year.

If you want to save on groceries, don’t make these common grocery shopping and food usage mistakes:

1. Failing to take an inventory of your food Before you go to the grocery store or supermarket.

Thankfully, I have a very good memory. But my schedule and pace are hectic, especially during the workweek.

When I’m in a hurry, I might race out the door to go to the supermarket without checking my food inventory – what’s in the pantry, cupboards, refrigerator and freezer.

Whenever I do this, inevitably, I forget to buy groceries that I have run out of and groceries that I need; and worse, I purchase items that I already have on hand at home.

2. Failing to use up the food in your pantry and refrigerator before the food expires or spoils.

While finicky children and picky parents’ eating habits and tastes may change, this doesn’t mean you can’t use up your food.

Many a meal, I ate food that was nearing expiration. Or a meal my children had to have two or three months ago but have since changed their minds and taste buds since.

I saved a ton of money over the years. You can too.

To Save More Money on Groceries Every Day – click here.

3. Failing to use the food in your freezer before it loses its taste or gets freezer burn.

While a dash of Ketchup® may be the universal antidote, food you store in the freezer loses its taste and gets freezer burn over time.

If you’re like me, it’s likely you’ll throw out the food. Ugh!

Periodically check your food in the freezer and defrost it. Cook up some meals.

4. Failing to use your leftovers before they spoil or your family changes its tastes.

Enough said.

Maybe you don’t want to eat the same meal – leftovers – two nights in a row, but eating the leftovers every other day or so, will save you bank.

When I was married, we purchased Chinese Takeout regularly. We were a family of five – my now ex-wife, me and our three children. I could swear she purchased enough food for eight.

Believe me; I ate many a leftover for years. Which was fine with me.

When you avoid these grocery spending pitfalls, organize your food storage and food management systems and grocery shopping and change your eating habits – even a bit – if you’re like me, you’ll save over $500 on your groceries – cut your grocery spending – year in, year out!

Eat hearty for less. Bon Appétit.

Be my guest, save big money on groceries!

I do. You can too.

See you next week.

Arthur V.

P.S. To Save More Money on Groceries Every Day – click here.

Disclaimer: OH and Please Remember, we are Not financial advisors, financial planners, attorneys or accountants and are Not providing any specific financial, tax or legal advice here. Be sure to conduct your own due diligence and consult your own professional advisors to get sound professional advice that’s specific to your financial and personal circumstances, risk tolerance, time horizon and investment goals and objectives among other key factors!