6 budget grocery shopping tips

Grocery shopping, and the bill that comes with it, is rarely given much thought … until you get home and look closely at what you bought and how much you paid for it. Impulse purchases at the grocery store are even more frequent than those in your favourite clothing stores. (Pint of ice cream, trashy tabloid, package of gum, anyone?) Whether you're saving up to buy your first home or worried about the looming food crisis, you're probably looking for ways to save some money.

Here are 6 budget grocery shopping tips that will help put money back into your wallet:
 
1. Buy in bulk
"I buy herbs and spices in bulk. I recently bought enough bay leaves to fill two grocery-store-size herb bottles – for only 15 cents! Can't find a better bargain than that."
– Kat Tancock

"Buy in bulk whenever you can. Visit box stores like Costco or Sam's Club to buy bigger packages. When you get home, separate things like chicken and fish so you can freeze them in individual serving sizes."
– Christina Grivas

2. Support the little guy
"With less product there is less temptation to spend, and you're in and out in less time."
– Colleen Tully

"Try to stay away from the large chains whenever you can. Buying your produce at a local market will save you tons of cash!"
– Jessica Hotson

3. Don't recycle those pesky flyers yet
"Keep your eyes open for No Frills’ amazing dollar sale. It's a great opportunity to stock up on everything, from dish soap to a bag of avocados."
– Emily Lord

"We use the Dominion's Fresh Deals flyer every week and score some great deals."
– Francheska Galloway-Davis

4. Make your own tomato sauce from scratch
"Make things like tomato sauce from scratch. For a basic recipe you just need to buy a can of crushed tomatoes and dried herbs. This will make more than one jar of expensive sauce – you can be more creative, too!"
– Christina Grivas

"Canned tomatoes! I always find making my own pasta sauce with a can of tomatoes – which are something like 95 cents each – and a few spices much cheaper then buying those premade pasta sauces!"
– Jessica Hotson

5. Have a plan
"Walk to the store. Only buying as much as you can carry really makes you maximize on the things you need, and you put back the non-essentials. Plus it gives you free exercise and saves gas and mileage."
– Colleen Tully

"Make your shopping list at home and stick to it. Also, if you plan meals ahead of time you'll only buy what you need for the week."
– Christina Grivas

6. Stick to the edges of the grocery store
"Only shop the perimeter of the store. If you stick to the fruit, veggies, dairy, meat and bread that line the edges of the store – and skip all the packaged (way overpriced) aisles in the centre – you'll save tons of money. You'll eat healthier too!"
– Jessica Hotson

Read more money-saving tips:
10 things you're wasting your money on
How to live on less money