The International Student Blog

Saving money is part of everyday life for most international students, after all the more money put away, the more money that can be used for traveling around your host country. Since your grocery bill is a major component of your budget, there are many ways to make your money go farther. International students typically make dishes at home, rather than go out to restaurants to further trim expenses. However, even at the grocery store it is easy to spend over your budget.

Because of this, here are some helpful tips to save even more when grocery shopping:

1. Make a list of what you need before you go to the store. Having a specific list beforehand will keep you directed so that you only buy the items you need and avoid the compulsive buyer syndrome.
2. Look out for bargains. Many supermarkets will have discounts weekly on all types of food from vegetables, fruits, canned food, packaged food, etc. Look out for healthy items and if you find an item that you regularly consume on sale, feel free to stock up so you can save money in the long run (make sure to check the expiration dates!)
3. Coupon hunting. There are many coupons available for all types of items, including clothes, furniture, and food. Some manufacturers or stores have promotions that will save you money in the long run! You can easily find coupons online, in newspapers (especially the Sunday newspaper), in magazines, at the stores and many other places. Keep your eyes open, but make sure not to get tempted at offers you don’t need!
4. Don’t go shopping when you are hungry! If you do, you’ll most likely end up with more food than you need.
5. Buy in bulk. Typically when you buy food wholesale you generally get a better price per item. Be careful not to buy too much otherwise you may end up throwing it away.
6. Finally, don’t be afraid to buy store brands – most of them are as good as the brand name.

If you have more money saving tips for your grocery shopping trip, share it with other international students here!

This entry was posted on Friday, August 5th, 2011 at 9:08 am and is filed under International Student, Study Abroad, Study in the USA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.