How to Save Money on Groceries
Have you ever had that feeling of dismay as you watched the clerk at your local supermarket tally up your grocery total – a figure that was way beyond your usual budget? If so, you are not alone!
Grocery shopping is an art. Without some form of grocery shopping list, number, or other form of guidance, you may often be tempted to splurge on any food you feel like eating beyond the essentials on your list.
While throwing just about anything you want in your shopping cart is a great way to satisfy your mind and your sugar cravings, it’s also an incredibly easy way to cut your wallet considerably, possibly far more than you weekly budget.
Groceries tend to make up a large portion of your monthly budget, with the average US household spending between $300-$500 a month on groceries alone.
Depending on where you shop, what you buy, and the size of your household, that number can go up significantly.
But what if we told you that there are a few easy ways to cut your supermarket bill in half effortlessly?
Here are some of our top tips for saving money on groceries.
Make a shopping list and only buy what you need
Impulse buying is the enemy of any in-store shopper. Granted, you might snag some deals on items you can’t miss on your way to the checkout area. But in the grand scheme of things, you could be wasting tons of money on purchases you don’t need!
Simple solution? Make a shopping list and stick to it.
While this is easier said than done, it will do wonders for curbing impulsive spending habits! Not only will this keep you and your wallet happy, but it will reduce food waste by ensuring your fridge, freezer and pantry only stock the food and produce you need.
Feel free to choose a good old fashioned pen and paper shopping list. Or, if you’re feeling a little lazy, just use the notes app on your phone to do the work for you. This will also help you compare your food shopping basics.
You might even want to try the cash-only envelope system, which allows you to track and control the money in each budget category for the current month.
By specifying a grocery envelope and a strict shopping list, you’ll be able to save some money.
buy frozen vegetables and fruit instead of fresh
Throwing away food is never a good feeling. But because we live so busy lives, it can sometimes be hard to find time to eat or cook fresh produce before they start to go bad. This is when this trick really comes in handy.
If you’re looking to save some money on the fresh produce section of your shopping list, buying frozen fruits and veggies is probably the way to go!
Buying frozen vegetables and fruits is an affordable alternative to buying fresh fruit. It stores in the refrigerator, which means it will last longer in your home.
It’s also more convenient, saving you from having to re-buy the same type of fruit or vegetable over and over again.
By doing this, you can guarantee that your health products will not go bad. Plus, they have the same nutritional value as their fresh counterparts, so you won’t miss a thing!
If you love the taste of fresh vegetables but always find yourself running out of time to eat them before they start getting interesting, you can even chop them up and freeze them. Make sure to use a good quality freezer container for this.
Cut down on cleaning products
Grocery shopping lists aren’t just about groceries! These non-food items can add up quickly and can seriously impact your weekly shopping total.
Fortunately, there is an easy way to reduce these costs: stop buying! Well, anyway, at least stop buying them too much.
Unlike food, cleaning products don’t need to be changed often.
Of course you need to make sure you have sanitizers, cloths, dish soap, and other cleaning supplies to keep your surfaces sparkling, but that’s not something you need to think about every time you write a shopping list.
You can even make sustainable financial changes to reduce costs. For example, the cost of paper towels or kitchen paper can quickly start to add up. One way to solve this problem is to completely replace the product with a rag or hand towel.
You might even consider making your own cleaner using everyday kitchen ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.
Not only will it be cheaper in the long run, but rags are often more absorbent than paper towels. This will help you do a better job of cleaning.
Buying Deals, Bogofs and Selling Cleverly
Perhaps this is the most obvious way to save money, but shopping around for deals and promotions should be your top priority!From small discounts to seasonal half-price sales, you have plenty of opportunities
Some stores offer buy one get one free deals on your favorite food and non-food items, such as dishwashing tablets or laundry detergent, so it’s best to keep an eye out for these deals.
You also need to be flexible about the brands you buy. While there’s nothing wrong with sticking with name brands, you may find cheaper alternatives that are just as good in terms of product quality!
That means you’ll still get what you want, but pay less for the privilege.
All kinds of not loving?
One word of warning about discounted offers: You have to make sure you’re not tempted by discounts or deals on items you wouldn’t normally buy.
We do all like to haggle. But you probably won’t get around to eating or using any of these things properly, so it’s best to just save money!
Build Meal Planning Around Your Shopping List
Meal planning is a great way to save time, control portion sizes, and enjoy a wider variety of delicious, healthy foods.
But that’s not all! Meal planning around the core ingredients on your grocery list is an effective way to save money on groceries!
The first thing you have to do is sit down and make a weekly list of your favorite foods or foods you enjoy cooking. Once you have a clear list, you can decipher all the ingredients you need to add to your shopping list.
For example, your monthly meals might revolve around the following ingredients:
- delicious tomato sauce
- cheese
- puff pastry
- spaghetti
- frozen vegetables
- Mashed potatoes
The great thing about many of these ingredients is that they last a long time in the pantry, or can be prepared in batches and then frozen to add to quick and easy meals later.
Make sure that all the ingredients you choose will be used in any of your recipes and won’t spoil easily.
Never shop when you’re hungry
Thinking about skipping lunch and going grocery shopping? Think again!
Shopping on an empty stomach is a terrible idea if you’re worried about spending too much money. During this time, you’re more likely to buy a lot of your favorite treats, which could cause you to spend a lot more than you originally planned!
The key is to try to focus on the items on your shopping list instead of listening to any cravings you have.
If your blood sugar levels are low, you’ll crave more sugar than usual and may find yourself making poorer nutritional choices based on temporary cravings.
Making sure your blood sugar levels are good and balanced is a key way to save much-needed money.
But we know that if you’re in a bit of a hurry or just stopped to go into the store after a long shift, it can be tough to keep your blood sugar levels up.
You don’t need a full meal to fend off hunger when you’re shopping. You can fill your hunger with snacks like nuts, fruit chips or even granola bars!
set a budget for yourself
There are many ways to stretch your finances and easily pay for your favorite foods. One of the easiest ways to do this is to set and stick to a budget for each grocery store you run.
This will keep you in control and will also help you keep track of everything you spend.
Taking the time to itemize what you need will help focus your attention. It can also help you do some clever price comparisons so you know your store is getting the best deal.
You can track your income on a monthly basis and subsequently track your grocery bills on a monthly basis as well. However, if you choose to track it on a weekly basis, that’s perfectly fine so your budget can be more realistic and flexible.
The key to setting a budget for yourself is to consider your monthly income, but plan your weekly food expenses well.
Taking note of the types of food and their prices for breakfast, lunch and dinner will help you shop accordingly and create a realistic budget to stick to.
Sign up for a loyalty program
Many grocery stores offer loyalty programs for shoppers that are completely free to join. All you need to do is sign up with some of your personal information, and you’ll be able to access many member-only offers and discounts at checkout.
With loyalty programs, shoppers typically earn points every time they spend in person or online. These points can then be used to shop at that supermarket and significantly reduce the overall bill.
Some of the offers included in the loyalty program may be personalized to you, which means you get the best possible deal.
However, the total amount you can save through a specific grocery store’s loyalty program depends on your shopping habits. The more loyal you are to a particular business, the more rewards you get.
While that’s true, it’s advisable to still do your research on the items on your shopping list before you leave home so you can make the best value decisions on discounted items.
clip coupon
Can Clipping Coupons Save You Money? Do we hear you ask? Short answer: yes!
There are even more ways you can maximize your savings when you sign up for the loyalty program at your favorite grocery store! One of the most important things you can do is clip extra coupons at checkout.
If you’re looking to squeeze as much out of your monthly grocery budget as possible, clipping coupons is really worth your time. However, you must know how to use it to your advantage in order to see financial benefits.
Keep an eye on your mail and sift through the pages of announcements for deals that are most important to you. Make sure to clip any relevant coupons and save them for the next time you…
