Shopping on a budget is reality for most people. But it is those sneaky budget busters that can really have an impact on our grocery bill. Watching out for items that appear to be a great deal, but in actuality are not is something we all have to do. Here are a few of the budget busters I try and stay away from.

5 Grocery Budget Busters to Avoid

Bottled Water:
I drink a lot of water, but for me buying bottles is a huge waste of money. It is so much cheaper to use your filtered water from the fridge, if you have one. Or buy a filter for your faucet. Another way to ditch the bottles is to get a 5 gal or 2.5 gal dispenser and refill the bottles yourself from water kiosks. My grocery store has one and the drug store around the corner has one too. Very cheap!

Soda Pop:
My hubby and my son love soda but I do not buy it very often anymore. It is a big waste of money let alone empty calories. So if they need a soda, they have to go get one. It is a deterrent that helps their waist line and my checkbook!

Bottled Dressings:
Price per ounce, this kitchen staple is expensive. There are hundreds (or more) recipes on the net that you can use to make your own dressings for a fraction of the cost. Plus you are ditching the additives too!

Pre-Packaged Veggies:
Price per pound, these items can steal a lot of money from your budget. Always price the ounces to the fresh veggies. While it can be convenient to use pre-packed goods, you do pay for the cost of that convenience. Cleaning and cutting your own veggies is worth the savings. – Plus you can freeze the excess or use in smoothies

Anything on The End Caps:
Sometimes the products on the end caps of the grocery store is featuring a big sale, but for the most part these are easy to grab, last minute items that may not be a good deal. Always compare prices and cost per unit to get the best savings.

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