Unfortunately, the Reef’s food isn’t always that great or edible, and getting take out every night is expensive. That why this week’s edition of Adulting 101 is about grocery shopping. For years we have had parents who were responsible for going grocery shopping, occasionally we would tag along to make sure that our favorite cereal or after-school snack was purchased.
Now that we are adults, it’s up to us to make sure the fridge and pantry is full of food and snacks. Today, I will give you some tricks and tips that will make your next visit to Publix quick and simple.
Create a List.
We have all heard this countless time, but making a grocery list really does help. Something that I do to help me create a grocery list is planning out my meals for the week. By doing this, it allows me to make an accurate list of things I need to pick up from the store.
Check Sales.
As college students we try to spend the least amount of money as possible, so before you go shopping check what is on sale and compare stores for pricing. Something that I do is decide what meals I want to make based on ingredient pricing. For instance, if I notice that it is cheaper to get ground turkey than to buy ground beef, I will opt to make turkey spaghetti instead of beef. I found that this method has helped me spend the least amount of money when shopping.
Couponing.
No you don’t have to go overboard like the people on Extreme Couponing, but this can really help you get the most bang for your buck. You can either download apps such as Groupon and Shopular, or you can kick it old school and clip coupons out of newspapers. Not sure where to get a newspaper from? Well thanks to the lovely people at the Tampa Bay Times, USFSP students are supplied with a daily copy of the newspaper which can be found at various location on campus such as the USC and in front of RHO. Couponing is not only great when it comes to groceries, but it can also help you save a lot of money on hygiene items such as toothpaste and toilet paper.
Shop in the Morning.
It’s been my own personal experience that shopping in the morning is best. While it might require you to get up a little earlier, you get to avoid those never ending lines. Another added bonus is that you get the freshest food. Most stores like Publix throw away expired products and restock the shelves with fresh products during the morning shift.
Don’t go shopping hungry.
Going shopping on a empty stomach is the worst thing you could ever do. When you’re hungry everything looks good, which will cause you to spend more money on groceries than you planned. So to prevent yourself from literally eating through your savings account, I suggest eating a light snack before shopping. That way you can shop with a clear head and a full tummy.
Happy Shopping
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