How to Save Money on Healthy Groceries

In the July 2007 International Journal of Consumer Studies, a statistical study revealed that the intensive time required for coupon searching doesn't always lead to real savings. Jane Kolondin writes that "40% of consumers did not reap savings at least equal to their time cost of coupon clipping".   

What can account for the disparity in savings is finding a coupon for a product that you don't necessarily need. Yes, $1.50 off a bag of dog food is nice, but it won't save you any money if you don't have a dog. My fellow mommy bargain hunters are eager to brandish their loaded coupon books with pride. But many, if not most, of their clipped savings purchase unneeded junk or they are for unhealthy, overly processed food.

If you're thrifty and concerned about your diet here are five ideas to help you cut expenses.

1. Look for seasonal sales
This is a new concept for me. I should be able to eat strawberries in December. But considering the cost of transportation to import out-of-season foods (that don't taste that great anyway) the best bet is to stick with foods that grow in season. Sustainable Table offers suggestions for the best foods to eat during each month in the state where you live.  

2. Plan meals and make a list
Have you ever rationalized eating out? It must be cheaper, if only cooking for two. Maybe your grocery bill is ridiculously high, like mine, because you buy non-necessities. Try meal-planning sites like E-Mealz.com who do the work of list and recipe making for you. I cut nearly $120 from my budget, including the monthly service fee, by using a meal planning service. It streamlines shopping decisions and gives boundaries to my spending.  

3. Shop at farmers' markets
Nearly every town and city in the U.S. offers some kind of fruit and veggie market. Seek them out and make it a point to visit. You'll be surprised how tasty and reasonably priced the produce is. Fuel your body with healthy, unaltered foods while supporting local merchants.  

4. Buy in bulk
Warning about the psychology behind bulk spending: the natural tendency is to purchase beyond your needs and use the products more frivolously. Impulse buying at Walmart will cost an extra $.75 for that mini instant hand sanitizer placed conveniently at checkout lines. But at Costco, you'll end up with an extra $20 tacked on to the bill. 

Dr. Miriam Tatzel, professor of consumer psychology, says it's easy to assume you're getting the best bargain at a member's club. “It’s defined as something that’s going to save you money, so you use less critical judgment," she says. That being said, stellar deals can be had at Sam's Club or Costco. Go the extra mile to compare cost per unit on non-perishables at various locations before buying--don't forget to calculate the membership fee!

5. Limit time spent on coupon poaching
Consider the opportunity cost in cutting coupons. Time is money and if your hour-long hunt yielded five dollars worth of savings, think about how else you could use your time to increase household revenue. There is a reason CEOs don't hand wash their own cars. So give yourself a set number of hours per day or week devoted to coupon clipping and stop after the allotted time.

If you are serious about coupon clipping, invest in a coupon book--the kind grandma always carried around--and update your clippings regularly. Only keep promotions you will use that haven't expired. Immediately toss all coupons for highly processed, sugary foods. Incorporating the money saving tips above will bring big discounts to your grocery bill.