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Grocery Shopping on a budget can be as filled with surprises as it can be fraught with disappointment. It’s hard to make do on a limited budget, and sometimes it really comes in handy to have friends, especially if your friends share your need to be frugal. The key to shopping on a budget and making it work is to know what you’re doing before you start.

Partner Up
Before you ever leave the house, find a friend and partner up. Designate one day a week as your grocery shopping day and take turns driving. Together, you can also buy bulk items you might not be able to accommodate or afford on your own. Share the cost of gas and bulk products. Take advantage of the time children are in school and make a day of it.

Coupon Exchange
Start a new program in your neighborhood and call it coupon exchange day. Take turns hosting the coupon exchange in each other’s homes. This is also a good way to check out different food products. Each week, whoever is hosting the exchange can make something for lunch from a grocery product no one has tried before. This will not only give everyone a chance to taste a new food and determine if they’d like to purchase it for their own family, it will also provide an outing for young mothers who may not otherwise get a chance to visit with their peers.

Coupons
Coupons can save you hundreds of dollars over the course of 12 months. Check out the Sunday paper for coupons as well as store flyers. Some libraries collect coupons for patrons. Check to see if your library offers this service. If they do, you may want to include a stop at the library on your weekly shopping excursion.