Getting By for Less at the Grocery Store – Part 2

A great way to save money at the grocery store is to plan at least a few meals with your roommates. Although schedules can vary and it can be hard to get a group together regularly, you will save money if you share meal expenses with your roommates at least once in a while. In addition, here are other ways to get by for less at the grocery store:

Buy fruits everyone likes and share the expense. If you and your roommate both enjoy oranges, you can get them cheaper by buying a bag. The same holds true for apples.
Coffee or Tea – By splitting the cost of coffee, everyone can enjoy drinking it at home and save lots of money on expensive lattes.
Buy One Get One Offers – When you see a “buy one get one free” offer, and it’s something you use, it’s usually a good time to stock up. Consider buying two and getting two free!
Use coupons. There is no shame in using coupons. In fact it’s a smart thing to do, but only if you are buying something you normally would buy in a quantity that makes sense for you. Don’t get tricked into buying three times the amount you need just to save a quarter.
Avoid prepared foods. Even though it may be a convenience to pop a frozen meal into the microwave, it’s the most expensive way to “cook.” Collect favorite recipes from your relatives and ask for instruction if you need it. Cooking from scratch almost always saves money and results in much better food.