My Two Dollar Rule

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Whenever I go grocery shopping, it can be easy to fall into a routine of picking up the same items week after week, especially with screaming kids rushing me through the store. But falling into this routine can often lead to overpaying on many items, as well as making your menu stale. To combat this I use the Two Dollar Rule.

Before picking up any item on the shelf, even items that are on my shopping list, I make sure to pay attention to the price. For most products, this is the total cost of the item, but some products like meat and produce, I look at the per pound cost. If the sticker says the item costs more than two dollars total or two dollars a pound, I take a moment to think.

Is this product really worth two dollars? If I wait, will it ever drop below two dollars? Is there a generic brand or a substitute that would be less than two dollars?

After weighing all of my options, I then decide if I will purchase that product or look for an alternative. Some items do not take long to decide, like milk, butter, and olive oil. These are items that are fairly necessary in my house and I feel they are well worth breaking my two dollar limit.

But other items can send me into research mode, looking for cheaper foods that offer the same health benefits. In my area, salmon is usually cheaper than most other fish and offers more omega fatty acids and is low in contaminants. Clearly it becomes difficult to justify purchasing a more expensive fish. Greek yogurt may taste divine, but the benefits can be obtained much cheaper from a tub of cottage cheese and some regular yogurt. Quinoa is all the rave lately, but in my personal research I can reap the same benefits for less than half the cost from some brown rice, spinach, and lentils.

Obviously everyone's situation is different so weighing the pros and cons of each item varies greatly for each person. Your stop-and-think price may be higher or lower than my two dollars. Other factors include allergies, special dietary needs, or personal taste.

The key here is to get you thinking about what you are purchasing each time you enter the grocery store. Prices change often and while something may seem worth $1.50 one week, it may lose its appeal at $2.00. So set your price rule, check each label, and consider all the alternatives. Just because it is the popular health food item of the times does not mean you have to buy it to be healthy.

For more tips on stretching your grocery dollar, check out these frugal living tips:

Stretch a 5 lb Chicken to 7 Meals!
Beans: The Frugal Alternative to Meat
Three Products, One Clean Home
Once-A-Month Cooking
The Secret to Wealth
You Can Save More!