Your grocery list tells you what you need. But it can also help you figure out where to buy it for less.
Grocery shopping has changed. Prices can vary significantly from one retailer to another, weekly specials change constantly, and the store you assume is cheapest may not always have the lowest total for the groceries you actually need.
A little planning before you shop can make a difference and it starts with your list.
1. Look Beyond the Weekly Flyer
Flyers are useful for spotting deals, but they only show part of the picture.
Your grocery cart probably includes a mix of sale items and everyday essentials: milk, produce, meat, pantry staples, cleaning products, pet food and everything in between.
Finding chicken on sale is great. But what happens when the rest of your list costs more at that store?
Instead of focusing on the price of one product, it can be more useful to consider the total cost of your grocery list.
2. Compare Before You Shop
Once you know what you need for the week, take a few minutes to compare prices before heading to the store.
That’s where gofer.run can help.
Build your grocery list in Gofer and run a comparison across nearby stores. Gofer checks prices for the items on your list and shows you different shopping options so you can decide what makes the most sense for you.
You may decide that shopping at one store is worth the convenience. Or you might discover that splitting your list between two nearby stores could deliver greater savings.
Either way, you’re making that decision before you’re standing in the grocery aisle.
3. Plan Meals Around What You Actually Need
Meal planning is another simple way to make grocery shopping more intentional.
Before adding ingredients to your list, check what’s already in your fridge, freezer and pantry. There’s no reason to buy another bottle of olive oil because a recipe calls for it when you already have one at home.
Gofer’s recipe tools can also help bring this planning together. You can import a recipe from a website or social media, upload one from a photo, or add your own. Choose the ingredients you actually need and add them to your grocery planning.
It’s an easier way to move from “What should we make this week?” to a grocery list you can actually price.
4. Don’t Ignore the Small Purchases
Not every grocery trip involves a full cart.
Sometimes you just need coffee, laundry detergent, cat food or one ingredient for dinner.
Those purchases are worth comparing too.
For one or two items, a quick Gofer Search can show you prices across nearby stores. A few dollars might not seem significant on one purchase, but consistently checking prices on the products you buy can add up over time.
5. Make Comparing Prices Part of Your Routine
Saving on groceries doesn’t necessarily mean spending your Sunday driving to five different stores or searching through every flyer.
It can simply mean knowing your options before you shop.
Make your list. Check what you already have. Plan a few meals. Compare nearby prices. Then decide where shopping makes the most sense for you.
The goal isn’t to make grocery shopping more complicated.
It’s to make the information you need easier to use.
6. Run Your List Before Your Next Grocery Shop
You already know what you need.
Before you head to the store, find out where your groceries could cost less.
Build your list. Run it through Gofer. Compare your options. See where you can save.
Try Gofer for FREE today.
Gofer.run compares grocery prices across nearby stores before you shop. Gofer does not sell or deliver groceries. Pricing, availability and savings may vary by retailer and location.