Grocery Shopping is Quick and Easy With an Internet Grocery Shopping List

Want more time for the fun things in life? Use an Internet grocery list to streamline your grocery shopping, saving dollars and hours every week.

Sisyphus was doomed to roll a boulder up a hill endlessly, and we are fated to always have to shop for groceries. But don’t despair, with the web there’s no excuse to not use a great printable grocery shopping list to streamline your daily and weekly grocery shopping.

Here are a few key tips to streamline your grocery shopping. The key is to do fewer trips to the store by using lists to get everything you need. If you’re really good at this, you might be able to do just one trip a week.

Start off with a great grocery list. You can Google on ‘grocery list’, ‘printable grocery list’, ‘grocery lists’, or ‘grocery list template’, or see the end of this article for a link to my favorite free printable grocery list. Find a printable grocery checklist you like and print it out.

Print and post the list. This is the most important step – keep the list handy all week long where you can check mark items (or write them down) as you realize you need them.

Review the list just before shopping. Go through your fridge and pantry and scan the list – what are you low on and need to buy now?

Group your shopping trips together. By doing just one or two trips a week and using a complete list, you’ll minimize the number of times you need to dash out to get just one or two items at the last minute. You’ll also ensure that you can do most of your shopping at your favorite low cost center, even if it’s not close by. You might consider picking a day of the week (Saturday? Monday?) to do the shopping, and doing your meal planning the night before, making sure your list has the items you need for the next 4-7 days of meals.

Improve the list. Stash a few of the used printout grocery lists in a corner. After you have a few weeks of experience, why not make your own customized grocery list? Just grab the last few weeks of lists and go to the website where you got your first grocery checklist and copy the list, then delete the irrelevant items and add your own personal items that the list was missing.

That’s all there is – go find your packing list now, print it out, and enjoy the great outdoors!

Gary Hayduk recommends using Grocery List Blank, Bible Baby Names, and Number Calories in Food

Grocery Shopping Choices Q&A

Q:  Can you provide some ideas to help me to make the right choices in the grocery store?

A: Gladly – after all, the choices you make in the grocery store will be directly related to the way your body looks. The one thing you should never do is head to the grocery store in a state of hunger. If you do, you’re emotions are going to force you into some bad food choices regardless of how strongly determined you are to eat clean. So, have a decent meal before you take your weekly grocery shopping trip. There are a couple of items you’ll want to take along with you. Firstly, have a written shopping list and carry it with you. Secondly, take a calculator to the store. The main purpose here is to work out the fat content of your prospective food purchases.

Having a plan of your local grocery store in mind will help you to zoom in on the areas you need to go to and avoid the high risk zones. Remember the grocery store can be a dangerous place, full of temptations that can torpedo your best intentions. So get in, get what you need and then get out.

Don’t be fooled by the proliferation of ‘low fat’ foods available now days. Low fat may be as high as 30%. ‘Light’ ( or the trendier ‘lite’) may not refer to fat content at all, but rather texture and color. And low fat certainly doesn’t mean low sugar. Be careful, though, of so called low sugar foods, too. They may well be high in saturated fat or even use sugar alcohol. Also fat may be labeled as vegetable shortening, hydrogenated soybean or lard. If these items show up near the top of the ingredient list do not put them in your shopping cart. Keep in mind, too, that the nutritional counts on labels are normally based on serving size. There may well be two or even more servings in a container. So make sure that you’re clear on this distinction when analyzing the nutritional data on the packaging. While we’re on the subject of nutritional labeling, you should know that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require that items be labeled in order of the highest amount of a specific ingredient to the lowest.

As a general guide to help you make smart shopping choices, foods that will sabotage your lean, muscular goals tend to be high in total calories and have high calorie density per unit of volume. They are high in total fat in general, and saturated and trans fatty fats in particular. They are high in refined sugar and flavor enhancers. Fillers and other chemicals tend to feature prominently on the nutritional label. They are also high in artificial colorings and sodium.

On the other side of the ledger you should be on the look out for complex starchy carbohydrates like oatmeal, yams and sweet potatoes. Brown or basmati rice is another smart choice as are 100% whole wheat and whole grain products (avoid white bread).  Green fibrous vegetables like broccoli, green beans and lettuce should feature highly along with fresh fruits. Proteins should come from lean, skinless chicken breast, eggs, fish and lean red meat (top round steak is best).




In summary, then, plan your shopping experience by eating a decent meal beforehand, having a shopping list, taking a calculator and using it to decipher the packaging labels, avoiding the high risk aisles and snack foods at the check-out and realizing that you’re in a place that could wreak havoc with all of your hard work in and out of the gym, unless you use your smarts.


Source: http://www.bodybuildingtoday.com/index.php/nutrition/grocery-shopping-choices-q&a.html

Dane Fletcher is the world’s most prolific bodybuilding and fitness expert and is currently the executive editor for BodybuildingToday.com. If you are looking for more bodybuilding tips or information on weight training, or supplementation, please visit www.BodybuildingToday.com, the bodybuilding and fitness authority site with hundreds of articles available FREE to help you meet your goals.

8 Smart Grocery Shopping Tips

Spending too much on groceries can quickly eat up your monthly food budget.

Below you’ll find eight useful tips that are easy to put into practice and that can help you to keep more of your hard earned money in your pocket.

1. Don’t by frozen dinners.

Instead of buying these overpriced convenience meals, freeze your leftovers or put together your own frozen meals.

Then, when you need something for dinner or would like something to eat, you’ll have several delicious meals to choose from that are not only cheaper but also better for you.

2. Use coupons.

Even if you only save a dollar a week using coupons, you’ll still end up saving over 40 dollars for the year.

Steer clear of using coupons for things you don’t need or don’t usually buy.

Only use coupons for things you are going to purchase anyway and only when you really are getting a good deal.

3. Keep an eye on the scanner.

If you shop at a store long enough you will be overcharged at some point, probably several times.

Make sure this doesn’t happen to you by paying attention to what the store charges you and by bringing mistakes to the attention of the cashier whenever you see them.

4. Purchase off brands and store brands.

Another way to save money on food is to buy the store brand or off brand of things you buy on a regular basis such as ketchup, mustard, cereal, and canned goods.

The money that you save by switching will add up over time, and you may find that you can’t tell much if any difference between some of the off or store brands and the higher priced name brands.

5. Do the work yourself.

Give less of your money to the grocery store by grating your own cheese and carrots and shredding your own lettuce.

Also cut and marinate your own meats and cook up your own hamburger patties instead of buying the packaged ones.

6. Leave the kids at home.

Kids can help you to add unneeded items to your cart.

If you find yourself often caving into them, leave them at home with your spouse and get the grocery shopping done yourself.

7. Don’t shop while you’re hungry.

You could make it a point to shop on Saturday or Sunday after your family breakfast.

You could also keep a non perishable food item in your glove compartment such as pretzels or dried fruit so that you’ll have something to snack on before you begin your grocery shopping if you’re feeling hungry.

8. Meal plan.

Planning out your meals can help you to eliminate or cut down on purchasing groceries you don’t need.

It can also help you to stop making extra trips to the grocery store in search of something to make for dinner.

If you’re busy and find it hard to have regular family dinners, planning your meals can also make your dinner time more enjoyable by getting your loved ones together to talk and have quality time together.

For more of Ken’s articles and also useful articles from other writers visit Ken’s site at Cooking & Food For information about online meal planning services check out Ken’s quick list at meal planning services

Easy Steps to Healthy Grocery Shopping

Aside from the crowds and long lines at the register, going to the grocery store can be quite a challenge. We often buy stuff we will never eat or stuff that we shouldn’t be eating. The grocery stores often have this way of enticing us to buy stuff that is against our diet. That is why the best way to go food shopping is with a plan in mind. What this means is that before you head to the store you sit down and plan your meals for the week. Write down all of the things that you will need to create your meals and healthy snacks. Once you have your list you are ready to go shopping.

The first and most important thing about grocery shopping is to never approach the task while hungry. This will lead you to buy a lot of junk food and other unnecessary items. Once at the store be sure to purchase a lot of fruit and vegetables. Buy what you like and a few fruits and veggies that you have never eaten. This will reduce your risk of becoming tired of your food routine. As far as breads, pastas, and cereals are concerned be sure to choose the least processed whole grain selections. Be sure that your poultry and fish are also lean and skinless. The skin on poultry can be loaded with saturated fats. Fish on the other hand is loaded with essential omega 3 fatty acids and it is recommended to eat at least two servings each week.

As far as dairy foods are concerned, be sure to choose low fat or fat free selections. Try to consume at least three servings per day in order to maintain healthy calcium levels along with weight loss benefits. And if at all possible, try to find as many “real foods” as possible. What this means is finding foods that are 100% real, it may be 100% whole grain or 100% fruit juice. These are just a few tips for the healthy grocery shopper.

Lauren S. Johnson writes health articles about fitness and nutrition.

Some of her favorite passions include studying the medicinal benefits of herbal remedies for antidepressants,
diet pills, and hoodia gordonii.

Family Meal Planning and Grocery Shopping on a Budget ? a Beginner’s Guide

The first thing you need to know about consuming on a budget is that it’s not truly about what you eat. It’s more to do with how you plan. You know, each time you go into a grocery shop you are fascinated by things on the racks that don’t fit into your budget. The grocery store has put in a lot of time and money into learning how to position things in their shop so that they’ll be the most tempting for anybody, but not the fixed budget follower! If you’re grocery purchase on a budget, you must schedule ahead so that you don’t trap into one of these promotion tricks; orelse you are almost guaranteed to spend minimum a few dollars more than you anticipated! The first thing you must do is cut your trips to the grocery shop not more than once a week if possible. Things happen, milk does get spilled, or ferment, but for the most part the less times you go by those grocery store doors, the better. This implies that you need to set aside a couple of hours each week for family meal budgeting and forming a comprehensive grocery shopping list. Begin with a list of meals you need to give for your family over the course of the next week. Make titles for each day of the week on a bit of paper and under each day note down what meals you have to provide. This could be as easy as breakfast, lunch, supper every day, or complex to record that one of your kids has a party, or that you’ve been invited to a make-and-take meal, etc. Once you’re glad that you’ve accounted for every meal required throughout the week, then assume what your menu will be. Keep it precise. Synopsis are where things start to go wrong with the budget – grilled chicken breast on rice with servings of red peppers and zucchini is going to indicate you exactly what you will buy: chicken breasts, rice, red peppers and zucchini. Otherwise chicken and vegetables means that you could purchase any kind of chicken, not be confirm on how you’re going to make it until the day of the meal, and then a selection of vegetables which will probably be more than you need as the fantastic way of keeping your grocery purchasing on a budget is to purchase in bulk where possible. If you prearrange your family meals to use a small choice of fruits and vegetables in meals throughout the week, you’ll be able to gain from buy purchasing more quantity of whatever’s in season or on sale at the grocery store. By purchasing fruits and vegetables in excess and on sale, you’ll be proficient to provide your family with nutritious meals on a budget. Work through your week, meal by meal. This might take you a couple of sessions specially the first few times that you’re doing your grocery shopping on a budget with this way. Once you’re through, make a grocery shopping list. Put a mark next to each article as you note down it from the menu to the list, then you make sure that nothing is elapsed. Once your menu products for the coming week are recorded for, check your cupboards for any basic staples such as seasonings, flour, oil, grains, etc that you need for the items on your menu. Add any products that you’re short for on to the grocery shopping list. Lastly, add any vital basics like drinks – such as milk neede for drinking, individual portion drinks for bagged meals plus household goods like detergents, hygiene items, etc. Now you’re ready to go grocery shopping on a budget! As you become more proficient in this you can even know how to work your menu planning in to take advantage of coupons and weekly saver bargains that your grocery store presents. Family meal planning takes time, specially in the beginning, but it pays big dividends for anybody with a tight budget and a family to feed.

Daniella King loves to share her online family articles and tips with other families. Additional to family budget points, she also specializes in family city guides.

India native bakes gourmet treats in Henrico

India native bakes gourmet treats in Henrico
Keya Desai Wingfield is not shy about her ambitions to take over the baking world. Just ask her and she’ll tell you how she plans to turn her budding business into a thriving empire solidly built on a foundation of baking cake pops. She’s already well on her way. “I …

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55 Frugal Grocery Shopping Ideas

Here are 55 frugal grocery shopping ideas to help reduce your grocery bills. Most of us have to grocery shop, but you don’t need to spend a lot of money to feed yourself.

55 Frugal Grocery Shopping Ideas

1. Buy bulk quantities of non-perishables.

2. Get the big sale items that are advertised in fliers. You might have to do some extra driving, but if you can buy large quantities of the big sale items, it’s worth the trip.

3. If you have a local food co-op available, check out what they have to offer.

4. Use fliers to compare prices before you go shopping

5. Buy more milk and freeze it. It will save trips to the store. Empty a bit out before you freeze it if you buy your milk in jugs.

6. To prevent unneeded grocery purchases, plan your meals before you go shopping and buy only what you need.

7. Get your meat from the “reduced” section and use it right away, or freeze it.

8. Go vegetarian. Or at least consider cutting back on meat. Meat is one of the most expensive grocery items in the store.

9. Check out your local farmer’s market. They often offer great prices for fresh, local produce.

10. Grow your own food. Growing your own vegetable garden is a fun project and can save you quite a bit of money.

11. Buy a month of groceries at a time. You can do this by planning your meals one month at a time. This will save trips to the store.

12. Don’t by separate cuts of chicken meat. Buy whole chickens instead.

13. Make your own fruit water. Just add some fruit to a container full of water and let it sit in the fridge for a while. The fruit will flavor the water.

14. Use regular oatmeal instead of the instant, flavored kind. It’s cheaper and healthier.

15. Cook with rice. If you buy it in large bags it is very cheap. Use brown rice for a healthier option.

16. Cook with potatoes. Potatoes are another low cost, healthy food.

17. Buy frozen vegetables instead of fresh.

18. Make soup out of those leftover meat bones.

19. Make soup out of those leftover vegetables that are wilting in your fridge.

20. A freezer is helpful for stocking up on sale items.

21. Consider reducing or giving up junk food. It costs a lot of money for no nutritional value.

22. Drink water. This is another one of my favorite frugal grocery shopping tips. You can save a lot of money by eliminating pop and juice from your shopping list.

23. Don’t buy frozen prepared meals, Make your own meals instead.

24. Eat out less, and at home more.

25. Take your own coffee when you go on trips instead of buying it.

26. Pack your own meals when you travel instead of eating out.

27. Brown bag your lunch for work instead of buying.

28. Substitute veggies for a portion of the meat in your recipes.

29. Don’t throw out your leftovers. Eat them later, or freeze them for a quick meal on another night.

30. You will eat less if you maintain a healthy weight.

31. Sometimes you can use cheaper substitutes. For example, artificial vanilla tastes very similar to real vanilla extract, and it’s a fraction of the price.

32. Stop buying herbs from the store. You can grow your own in a herb box for your kitchen window.

33. Try making your own tomato sauces and jams instead of buying them.

34. Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season. They’re usually cheaper, fresher, and more nutritious.

35. Buy store brands instead of name brands.

36. Use coupons.

37. Take advantage of mail in rebates.

38. Buy items before you run out. That way you can get them on sale.

39. Double check your pantry before you go shopping. You may already have what you need somewhere in the back.

40. Larger stores often offer lower prices.

41. Shop alone. If you take others with you, they may convince you to buy items that aren’t on your list.

42. Shopping while you’re hungry can lead to impulse buys. Have a snack before you head to the store.

43. Check the top and bottom shelves for better prices. More expensive brands are usually at eye level.

44. If something is on sale, it still may not be the best price available. Get to know your prices.

45. Join points programs for groceries if you can.

46. Check for things you need in the clearance racks before you buy them from the regular aisles.

47. If a sale item is out of stock, ask for a rain check.

48. Staples like cheese, bread and milk are usually at the back of the building. This is done on purpose so that you have to walk through the other aisles on your way to pick up what you need. Focus on what you need, and avoid browsing along the way.

49. Corner and convenience stores are expensive. Avoid them if possible.

50. Make a list and stick to it.

51. Use the per unit pricing listed on the price tags to figure out what the better deal is.

52. If you are buying soda, get it by the bottle instead of individual cans.

53. Avoid being charged for plastic bags. Bring your own shopping bags along.

54. Keep an eye on the scanner when you’re at the checkout counter. Watch for mistakes.

55. You can stop buying plastic wrap and baggies if you use plastic or glass containers to store your foods and pack your lunches.

Colin Vander Meulen has created the website http://www.financial-advice-for-beginners.com to provide free financial advice to help you get started on the road to riches. Visit the website to download his free ebook “How To Get Your Financial Life On Track”.

Young filmmaker has ‘commercial’ success

Young filmmaker has ‘commercial’ success
BERLIN — An ambitious young filmmaker has won first place for his anti-smoking public service announcement

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Grocery Shopping Cost Of Living Shopping Prices

The cost of living has become painful. One trip to the gas station and grocery store will clearly put you in touch with this pain. As painful as the $4.00 per gallon for gas is, it represents less than 3.5 percent of the family budget. Their food purchase is almost 4 times as much in the family expenses coming in just under 13%.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Consumer Price Index for the past year indicates the five grocery items that rank at the top of the inflated price list that you are now paying at your supermarkets. Number One on the list is FLOUR, increased by 37%. Not only does this increase affect the bag of flour you purchase, but every item that is made using flour….breads, bakery goods, etc.

Number Two on the list is EGGS, increased by 34.8%. Again, this goes beyond just the dozen or two of eggs that you buy for your family. The bakery goods and breads are also affected. The third most inflated priced item at an increased rate of 29.2% is SWEET PEPPERS (green, red, yellow). The GOOD NEWS here is that peppers are one of the easiest plants to grow with very little work. I will address home gardening in the next newsletter for all your summer salad needs.

The fourth most increased inflated price goes to MILK. MILK is up by 23.1%. This is one the most essential purchases on the grocery list for a family of any size with growing children. Number 5 on the list, up by 21.6%, is DRIED BEANS. This may be the most insulting of all, because it represents the most basic and last resort for the poor to put something on the table for the family to eat. One of the other world’s basic food staples, RICE, has gone up by 10% in the last month alone. Costco and Wal-mart have recently limited the quantity of RICE that you can buy. Families will need a cost of living calculator to keep up with these flour prices, egg prices, and milk prices to figure out all the changing weekly grocery prices.

If you have visited our website and read the “BeSmart….ShopSmart….Shopping Tips”, you know that we want you to save 40% to 50% off your weekly grocery shopping trips, including meat and high priced items such as coffee or laundry detergent. Of course, this is possible when you use your store loyalty card, store and manufacturer coupons, and take advantage of the BUY 1 GET 1 FREE OFFERS. We are very concerned about your bottom line savings on your groceries with these inflationary increases on some of the most basic food staples.

Being a good “Scout” you need to “Be prepared”. First, study your local grocery circulars. Become price conscious as to what the marketplace is asking for these particular items as well as what your cupboard and refrigerator is lacking. Secondly, read the ad papers thoroughly to OPTIMIZE YOUR SAVINGS. For example, at a chain drug store, reading through their weekly circular….in smaller print that the rest….I discovered that if I bought the brand name skin lotion at the regular price, I would receive the same brand name liquid soap for FREE — $3.99 value.

Another discovered sale at Safeway/Dominic’s was getting FREE Safeway brand pasta (sale priced at a $1.00 per/box) when you purchased a 26 oz. jar of a brand named Spaghetti Sauce. The spaghetti sauce was reduced to a sale price of 3/$6.00….that’s just $2.00 a jar, and less the free pasta….becomes a $1.00 item. This becomes a $1.00 MEAL, and represents an overall savings of $3.25 per each box of pasta and jar of sauce. NOTE: PASTA is one of the most flexible items you can have in your pantry for making simple dishes quickly, or creating a great meal of leftovers. Whole grain pasta is recommended for people with diabetes.

Use the ad circulars to plan your meals when you shop. I have advocated planning your menu around the SALE ITEMS in their circulars. Make sure you mark out what day of the week their shopping advertisement begins and ends. Some start on Wednesday and end on the following Tuesday. Others begin on Thursday and end on the following Wednesday. You could miss out on a sale item of importance by not knowing this.

For example, in their sale circular a brand name roasting chicken was on sale for 69 cents/per lb. at the local grocery store. Unlike the major store chains, this local grocery store week begins on Wednesday, not Thursday. So, if you didn’t pay attention to this fact, and wanted to purchase the roasting chicken on Wednesday before the sale ended, it would have been TOO LATE. The new week began, the sale was over, and the price increased by 80 cents to $1.49 per/lb. The same 5-lb. Roasting Chicken went from $3.45 to $7.45 — a lost savings of $4.00 per a 5lb. Chicken. That’s ONE GALLON of GAS. PAY ATTENTION and SAVE!

Don’t let image fool you that you are going to get the BEST PRICE because a store is known for its LOW PRICES. A recent story of comparative shopping prices revealed the following prices for a gallon of Skim Milk

•$2.69 at Aldi (discount store)
• $2.99 at Costco (saving club/membership needed)
• $3.99 at a local supermarket
• $4.49 at Wal-Mart

Who would have thought that? That’s an image buster for Wal-Mart always low prices advertisements! And don’t forget about looking at your local drug store such as CVS or Walgreens for some of these grocery items. Recently I was able to purchase 2- 64oz. Walgreens Brand Orange Juice for $3.69 compared to other grocery store offers of 2/$5.00, and 2 dozen eggs for $3.00 ($1.50 per dozen) compared to $2.89 per dozen elsewhere.

When your comparative shopping list results in SAVINGS at different stores, the discussion of the cost of gas comes into play. Is it worth it??? I usually suggest you map out a circular trip to include as many of the stores as possible on your list. This way you can max out your SAVINGS by getting as many of the sales items as possible with one shopping trip. With a single stop to save $5.00 on a can of coffee, meat, laundry detergent, or ice cream you will have covered the cost of a gallon of gas for your vehicle.

I believe in buying in BULK when often used family products are on sale. If you have the capabilities, utilize your freezer. When shopping for Milk on Sale, search the back of the shelf for the latest possible expiration date. If you choose to freeze milk, remove 8-to-12 ounces to allow for expansion during the freezing process. You can also freeze eggs in freezer bags; just crack them open into the bag for later use in baking or for scramble eggs. AVOID waisting Money and Food…Rather than throw out eggs or milk that are about to expire make a cake or pudding.

For additional savings, investing in a bread machine would help cut the cost of bread and provide you with Fresh Homemade Healthy Bread daily per your creative ingredients. Put the ingredients in the bread machine and in a period of three-to-three and a half hours, FRESH BREAD for less than a $1.00 a loaf. The bread machine will pay for itself in a short time with current store bought bread prices.

One U.S. Agricultural Department study estimated that 25% of the food bought by consumers and restaurants is wasted or spoiled before it can be served. TV commercials advertise storage bags that will preserve the life of fruits and vegetables. If you are going to spend the high prices for your fruits and vegetables, then it might be wise to spend $10.00 for these reusable bags. They will pay for themselves over a short period of time compared to the price of lost/spoiled produce.

For your meat purchases, avoid paying for bones. At $10.00/lb. every pound of bones will cost you ten dollars for the throw away. Or, you might choose to wait until its on sale. Many dollars are saved by using your store loyalty card when it comes to your meat purchases. Buy Sale Price Meat in larger quantities, cut in portions, and FREEZE. Meat provides flexibility in one’s menu planning. First meal is hot, freshly cooked. Leftover portions can be served as cold as sandwiches, or cubed and added to a fresh salad. Any other cubed leftover meat can be added to soup. THAT’S FOUR MEALS from one piece of meat.

Speaking of soup, homemade or store bought, you don’t have to waste the crumbs from the bottom of the bag of chips, or Doritos (“breakage” in food industry language). Smash the remaining crumbs in the bag, and empty the crumbs on top of the soup when ready to serve for added flavor and fiber…no waste.

To eat healthier and save your time cooking, I recommend purchasing a Ronco “Showtime” Rotisserie. Put the meat on the spit or in the basket, set the timer, and let it cook away, allowing the fat to drip away. Place vegetables in steamer tray on top of the unit. When the timer goes off, take the meat out, and serve. This is a Very Nice MOTHER’S DAY GIFT that will KEEP ON GIVING. But remember: you’ll have to figure out what you want to do with your free time while everything is cooking. It can cook up to a 15 lb. turkey. I have had mine for over six years.

Again, read your grocery ad circular carefully. Try to take advantage of the first opening days’ “Sale Specials”. Some stores run specials within the store that will provide FREEBIES or MONEY BACK for your NEXT SHOPPING VISIT. Last month Safeway/Dominick’s had a $10.00 kick back for your next visit on a purchase of $30.00 or more of certain listed brand name products …that’s a 33% savings right there. Many of these items weren’t ON SALE. This week they have two $5.00 kick back offers, the first is instant at the check out counter, the second is for your next visit.

Lastly, keep your eyes open for offers to add to your Government Stimulus Checks or Tax Refund Checks by Grocery Stores or Department Stores. Jewel (owned by Albertson) is offering a 10% Bonus if you use one of these CHECKS to purchase a Jewel-Osco Gift Card in increments of $300 up to $1200. Limit one offer per household. That’s a FREE $30 to $120 depending on the size of your check. Details are available in the store. Using these Be Smart…Shop Smart…Shopping Tips can add another 40-to-50% to this free money opportunity. Make Your Money Work for YOU!

So BeSmart…..ShopSmart…..Save Money…..Be Happy!
By Robert Walsh

Robert A. Walsh is the owner/webmaster of http://www.robertwalshkidsclothing.com and http://robertwalshshops.com and an Ezine Articles expert author. He writes articles on families & many issues related to his websites. For FREE “Bargain Kidswear Newsletter” visit website, and learn to save up to half off.

Why Online Grocery Shopping With Cityspy Is Preferred By People?

Internet has made our lives easier in more than one ways and has touched our routine life as well. Yes, you can now buy groceries online and without any geographical constraints. If you’re asking of why do people prefer buying grocery online as compared to shopping from a traditional Mom and Pop store? There are many advantages of online grocery shopping discussed below:

1. One can save time in terms of travelling to a grocery shop or supermarket, circling the parking lot looking for parking, standing in queue at the billing counter, loading the groceries in your car, and traveling back home.

2. One can spend less time if they buy grocery online rather than visiting a nearby grocery store because they are less likely to be side tracked and end up buying more than what they planned.

3. If one lives on the top floor of building, he/she needs to carry the grocery bags up and down a flight of stairs or elevators. Door-to-door grocery delivery and online grocery delivery would be better and it will take care of this problem for you.

4. One can do this event in short time. So whether he/she has a busy day due to the regular schedule, job, school, kids, etc. that prohibits from visiting the grocery shop you can also choose to purchase grocery online.

5. You can shop anytime and anything you want, at your own convenience, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Even anyone can easily search any items using properly defined categories for each grocer on site. There are many online grocery shopping sites offers recipes as per cooking ingredients.

6. There are many sites that offer grocery as per geographical categories. Online grocery stores can afford to have a large collection for Wholesale grocery buying where you can buy monthly groceries easily.

7. You can keep away from the stress and hassle of having to drive to grocery store, dragging your screaming and restless kids with you to the store, indirect through the crowded lands while trying to avoid a accident or traffic jam with shopping carts, standing in a long line at the checkout or billing counters, loading your car trunk with the groceries when you leave the store and arrive at home.

8. You can make routine your grocery deliveries, so that frequently purchased grocery items are shipped to you on a regular basis.

To get more info visit us at www.cityspy.in or mail us at cityspy@cityspy.in

Save Money on Grocery Shopping -Tips for a Tight Budget

It is easy to overspend when grocery shopping. It’s probably the place where we do the most impulse shopping. So we tend to buy things we don’t really need and there goes the budget. If you would like to be a more frugal shopper, here are some things that will help guide you when buying groceries.

Make A List

Most People have certain things they eat regularly. So making a basic menu plan should be fairly simple. You know you have to eat dinner 7 times this week. So write down 7 dinners. Think about what you need to make those things. Make a list. Look in your pantry and fridge to see what basics you are out of. It helps to keep an ongoing list inside your cupboard of things as you run out of them. Making a list will help make sure that you get everything in one trip. Statistics show that you spend more the more trips you make to the store. When you go in for one item that you are out of, and you come out with a whole lot of other things. Plan to go grocery shopping two to three times a month. Sometimes it will be necessary to shop in between trips to the grocery store. If you have a problem with impulse buying, then maybe try getting your milk and bread at a convenience store where there is less to tempt you.

Should You Buy Already Prepared Food

It is usually better to cook from scratch when you have a large family. When I cook for my family it is generally cheaper to not use prepared foods. A big pot of stew is very inexpensive to make, but to buy cans of stew can run into money. However, if the choice is between going out to eat or prepared foods, then definitely prepared is better.


When it was just me and my husband, it was probably cheaper to buy prepared foods rather than buy all the different ingredients that we would need for a smaller batch. The food almost always went bad before we could use it, because there just wasn’t enough people to eat it. You can only have spaghetti for so many nights in a row.

Buy Basic Food Products

It is healthier and more cost effective to buy more basic things when shopping for groceries. Buying a bag of rice will save you money compared to a box of flavored rice. The prepared foods usually contain preservatives that are not good for your body. If you prepare the food yourself, then you can control exactly what is in it. Oatmeal is allot less expensive than instant oatmeal and it is better for you. Processing takes allot of nutrients out of food and it is quite a bit more expensive. Although, if you are not willing to take the extra time it takes to cook these foods, then this tip will not be helpful for you.

Check Adds Before You Go

Check your adds regularly. This will help you to know what is a good deal and what is not. Some stores are better to buy certain items at than others. I have a particular store that always has eggs on sale for a good price. That’s the only place I will buy eggs. Grocery stores adds start on the same day every week for the most part. Planning your menus around these specials can help you save as you shop. Generally the front page of the ad has the best deals. They’re designed to get your attention and make you want to come to that store. Just because an item is in the add does not mean it’s a good deal, that is why you need to check them regularly. Buying produce in season will also help you save money. If it is something you can freeze, then do so. Out of season fruits and vegetables are expensive and not good quality.

Store Discount Cards and Coupons

Many grocery stores have cards that give you a discount on certain items, especially items that are advertised in their ads at a sale price. If you don’t have a card, you’ll be charged a higher price, which is listed in the ad in tiny print beside the item’s picture. The cards are useful to shoppers. Many stores have registers that print out coupons for future purchases of items that you have bought that day if you are using the store card. The cards are easy to get; you have to fill out a sheet with some basic information at the register or customer service desk, and then just remember to use the card when you check out.

If you get the Sunday newspapers, it often includes coupons for dollars off on groceries. Most coupons are for processed foods and new products, but you can find them for many different items. You can use a coupon while an item is on sale, so you can double your savings. It does take a little organization though. If you’re on a budget, however, you could save quite a lot of money if you buy several items on sale with coupons.

Take A Calculator

How many times have you been shocked by the price at the register and wondered what did I buy? Well taking a calculator with you to shop could help you if you’re on a budget, especially if you’re an impulse buyer or have small children who distract you while you shop. If you’re good at math, you can try to keep a running total. But if your like me, a calculator would be great. As you add an item to your basket, punch the price in the calculator. Using a calculator will help you to make wiser choices; if you see that your total is rising rapidly, you can put something back and choose a lower priced item. Using the calculator will prevent any shock at the register.

Compare Brands

Many grocery stores have their own brand name products, and these products are usually made by well-known manufacturers. Store brand products are almost always less expensive than name brand products, and if you look at the ingredients, they are probably identical. Buy one of the store brand products, taste it, and if you like it you can save money next time you need that item. You can save by buying store brands on food, over-the-counter medicines, cleaners, and other household products. It is common for stores to put all of their store brand products on sale at one time.

Larger Quantity

If a grocery store puts a nonperishable item on sale at a very low price, buy extras. Basic foods like flour, sugar, beans, rice, canned and frozen goods will last quite a while if you use them regularly. If you buy enough, then you won’t have to buy it when it’s not on sale.

Buy your snack items in bulk instead of putting money in a vending machine regularly. Joining a wholesale club means you must purchase a member’s card, but a few trips to the club can save you lots of money if you buy items you use frequently in quantity. The clubs offer samples of certain items frequently, so you are able to try something before you buy it. This is great, because you don’t want to buy a ton of something you might not like.

On Sale

Just because it is on sale, doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. If it is not something you usually eat, then it may not be a great sale for you. When Kellogg’s goes on sale, it still may not be as cheap as the private label brand that you usually buy. You can save by buying items on sale, but it won’t be a savings if you don’t like the product. Only buy food that you know you or your family will eat or you will have wasted your money. Be careful that you don’t buy large quantities of perishable items. If half of it gets waisted before you eat it, you won’t have saved any money. Always check the date on sale items. It is very common for stores to put product on sale when they are close to going out of date.

Don’t Go To The Store Hungry

Make sure you have already eaten when you go to the store. Everything looks good when your hungry and your grocery bill will show it. It’s easier to resist junk food when your tummy is full.

When you have a plan, you are one step closer to sticking to your budget.

She is the mother of 5 children ranging from 18 yrs. down to 14 months. She is also the author of a variety of articles about family life with children. From babies to teens, she enjoys sharing ideas about what works for her.

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Why Do People Prefer Online Grocery Shopping?

Internet has made our lives easier in more than one ways touched our routine life as well. Yes, you can now buy groceries online and without any geographical constraints. If you’re asking of why do people prefer buying grocery online as compared to shopping from a traditional Mom and Pop store? There are many advantages of online grocery shopping discussed below:

1.    One can save time in terms of travelling to a grocery shop or supermarket, circling the parking lot looking for parking, standing in queue at the billing counter, loading the groceries in your car, and traveling back home.
2.    One can spend less time if they buy grocery online rather than visiting a nearby grocery store because they are less likely to be side tracked and end up buying more than what they planned.
3.    If one lives on the top floor of building, he/she needs to carry the grocery bags up and down a flight of stairs or elevators. Door-to-door grocery delivery and online grocery delivery would be better and it will take care of this problem for you.
4.    One can do this event in short time. So whether he/she has a busy day due to the regular schedule, job, school, kids, etc. that prohibits from visiting the grocery shop you can also choose to purchase grocery online.
5.    You can shop anytime and anything you want, at your own convenience, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Even anyone can easily search any items using properly defined categories for each grocer on site. There are many online grocery shopping sites offers recipes as per cooking ingredients.
6.    There are many sites that offer grocery as per geographical categories. Online grocery stores can afford to have a large collection for Wholesale grocery buying where you can buy monthly groceries easily.
7.    You can keep away from the stress and hassle of having to drive to grocery store, dragging your screaming and restless kids with you to the store, indirect through the crowded lands while trying to avoid a accident or traffic jam with shopping carts, standing in a long line at the checkout or billing counters, loading your car trunk with the groceries when you leave the store and arrive at home.
8.    You can make routine your grocery deliveries, so that frequently purchased grocery items are shipped to you on a regular basis.

Mark Waltzer is writer who enjoys providing online shoppers with valuable information for purchasing and benefits of online grocery shopping in USA. Find great savings on products such as Indian Spices food, online Asian Groceries, organic grocery stores and much more.

Grocery Shopping List Power — Step 1 In Saving Grocery Money

A grocery shopping list can be the front line tool you use in saving money on your grocery budget each month.

There are several more sophisticated ways to save grocery money, but none is easier or faster to implement than the lowly grocery shopping list.

Interestingly, this is a tool that almost everyone knows about, yet very few people actually use it in a systematic and reliable way.

For those folks who are not convinced of a grocery list’s potential power in household management, here’s what happens when you DON’T use one.

– You lose money.

Without a grocery shopping list, a shopper is at the mercy of “what looks good” in a grocery store.

Believe me, if you shop this way, you WILL find something that looks irresistible. And costs more than you might have spent with a list.

Why? Simple. It is the grocery stores’ job to entice you to spend money in their stores. That’s how they stay in business. There’s no problem with that. But it’s YOUR business to get the best value for your money…unless you don’t care how much you spend on your groceries each month.

In which case you probably wouldn’t be reading an article like this one.

– You lose time.

Using a grocery shopping list means you can enter your favorite grocery store, fly up and down the aisles one time, and be ready to check out in the fraction of time of another shopper who uses the ‘browse’ method of grocery shopping.

And if you’re under the mistaken impression that you’ll need to spend lots of upfront time figuring out what to put on your grocery list, well, you don’t.

Hang your grocery list in a prominent place in your kitchen and train your family to use it. Then your list will be ready to go shopping when you are.

– You lose nutrition.

Using a grocery shopping list means you get EXACTLY what you want at the store; and that includes the nutrition you want for your family. You call the shots on how much fat, salt and sugar your family consumes. You can decide to emphasize whole grains and whether raw vegetables, frozen or canned will grace your family’s dinner table.

In short, with a grocery list, you are in control.

– You lose efficiency.

Ever stand in your grocery store and think to yourself, “well, I know I need some frozen veggies (or broth, or canned fruits, or favorite mixes, etc.) to keep on hand for that easy throw-together recipe my family likes. But I can’t remember what I already have at home. I’ll just get a couple of bags of SOMETHING to keep on hand.”

Fast forward to the night you want to actually COOK that wonderful food for your family. You discover you’ve got two bags of frozen broccoli and three bags of frozen stir-fry veggies, but what you NEED is a bag of frozen corn.

A grocery shopping list could have helped you bring home the corn. Without the extra stir-fry. Using a grocery list means you have what you actually need in your pantry when you need it. Plus, you’ll end up with less throw-away food, too, since you’re purchasing what you know your family will eat within a given period of time.

Bottom line, if you’re serious about saving money at the grocery store, the first thing you’ll want to use is a grocery shopping list. It’s easy and you can start using one today. (For a free printable grocery shopping list, see the author’s resource box at the end of this article.)

Whether you’re a college student learning how to grocery shop for the first time, a newly married couple establishing a budget, or a mom whose family has grown and the grocery budget has developed a mind of its own, the place to start to regain control is the lowly grocery shopping list.

Colleen Langenfeld has been parenting for over 26 years and helps other moms enjoy mothering more at http://www.paintedgold.com. Visit her website and get your free printable grocery shopping list today.

Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half (and Other Stories)

Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half (and Other Stories)
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