 |
 |
| SCOTT GULLEDGE / Scroll |
|
Raisin bran, $4; milk, $2.50; bread, $3; eggs, $1.50. Grocery shopping, even for basic food to survive on, can be expensive.
With Idaho’s minimum wage at $5.15 per hour, students are looking for ways to stretch their precious dollars.
From coupon clipping to online purchases, there are possibilities for everyone to save a few bucks.
“We’ve cut our grocery bill almost in half by being smart,” said Shannon Carey, a senior from Roswell, Ga.
Carey takes her husband with her every time she goes shopping. He is the thrifty one in the family.
“He compares the prices on everything, always goes for the cheaper one and hardly ever buys name brands,” Carey said.
Comparing prices is key to saving money. So is being practical, said Dana Blacker, a mother of three from Rexburg.
“The best way to save money grocery shopping is to plan out meals in advance,” Blacker said. “I do it for two weeks, and plan out everything from snacks to lunches and dinners. Then I see what I have or don’t have and make a grocery list only for the items on my menu.”
Blacker believes this is the best way to save money. She never buys unnecessary items or duplicates anything she already has in her pantry.
Most students realize the need to scrimp more after getting married. Paying for school, rent and food can put anybody over budget quickly.
To avoid debt, Brett Turner, a senior from Cary, N.C., and his wife stay away from the frozen food aisle.
“We save money when grocery shopping by avoiding the cookie aisle, the chip aisle and the frozen food aisle. We don’t need stuff like pastries or burritos, so we don’t even get tempted by going down the aisles,” Turner said.
Saving money can be difficult for students on a fixed income. Saving a few dollars every shopping trip can make it easier.
Begin saving now by utilizing coupons, being practical and being smart. A fatter pocketbook will be the result.
