There is no doubt that grocery shopping can be expensive. If you are busy and want to spend less money at the grocery store, this blog post is for you! I will share nine tips that have helped me save money on groceries and cut my grocery bill in half.
Tip 1 – Meal Plan to Save Money on Your Grocery Bill
The most effective way to save money on groceries is meal planning. You will avoid food waste and overstocking your pantry with unnecessary items. Planning your breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the week takes time, but it can save you hundreds of dollars at the grocery store.
Check the ingredients you have in the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer before going to the grocery store, and plan meals using those items. The last thing you want is to purchase duplicate items and not use everything before it goes bad.
One way to make sure your grocery bill doesn’t skyrocket is to plan meals using ingredients you already have and only buy what you need for the week.
To save even more money, you can sign up with $5 meal plan, an online service that provides you with a weekly meal plan where every meal costs about $2.00 per person or less. With $5 meal plan, you can save time and money.
Tip 2 – Make a Grocery List to Avoid Impulse Purchases
Now that you have your meals planned, you can make a shopping list. Making a list is the best way to avoid impulse buys at the grocery store and save money. Try to include only the items you need for that week on your list. If a new item is calling out to you, quickly scan over it and ask yourself if you need it for your meal plan. Chances are you don’t, and you can put the item back on the shelf.
Tip 3 – Compare Prices at Your Local Grocery Stores
Don’t head to the local grocery store without confirming you’re getting the best deals possible on your groceries. With your list prepared, you can start comparing prices at your local grocery stores and local farmers market.
To find the lowest prices, pick two or three stores in your local area and go online to compare food prices. To track the information, make a spreadsheet with three columns labeled “Item,” “Price,” and “Store.” Go through your grocery list and write down the name of the item and the price at each store.
Creating a spreadsheet may seem like a lot of work at first, but you will have a shopping list you can refer to every week when finished. Shopping at multiple stores is no longer inconvenient with the availability of delivery services like Instacart. You can shop at different stores and take advantage of all the deals and savings available.
Once you know which stores have the better prices, it is time to go shopping!
Tip 4 – Avoid Paying Full Price by Shopping Sales and Using Coupons
In addition to price matching, you can save money by comparing the sales at your local grocery stores. You can find deals by going online and checking out the store’s weekly ads. Add a “Sales” column to your shopping spreadsheet to keep track. If the grocery store doesn’t have a weekly ad, look for a section on “deals.” By shopping sales and planning meals based on discounted ingredients, you can find the lowest possible price and cut back on your grocery bill.
Tip 5 – Shop at a Warehouse Club and Buy Items in Bulk
Another great way to save is to buy grocery items in bulk. You can shop at warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club that sell grocery items by the case. When choosing your items, compare the sales price per unit or per ounce to verify you are saving money. The goal is to buy more for less!
I like to buy frozen foods and household items like paper towels and toilet paper in bulk. Canned food and water are also great items to stock up in bulk.
Unless you have a big family, buying groceries with a shorter shelf life might not be the best idea because the food will go bad before you consume it. So I recommend buying fresh produce like fruits and vegetables at your local stores.
Warehouse clubs charge an annual fee to shop, but I have found the amount I save on my grocery budget is substantially more than the fee. Some clubs like Costco even offer cashback at the end of the year.
Tip 6 – Buy Store Brands over Name Brand Items
Another tip your grocery budget will love is to switch to buying the store brands. The quality of a store brand is usually the same as the name brand, but the store brand items are sold for less and will save you money.
Most grocery stores have their own store brands designed to be as good as their competitors, so there’s no reason not to give the store brand a try! Switching to the store brand is a quick and easy way to save money.
Tip 7 – Shop Online for Groceries
Another easy way to save money on groceries is to shop online. Most grocery stores now offer curbside pick-up or delivery services like Instacart, which will deliver your groceries straight to your door! With online shopping services, you can avoid going to the store altogether.
There is a delivery fee when you use a service like Instacart, but when you buy online, you stick to your shopping list and avoid impulse buying. Let’s also not forget all the hours of driving and grocery shopping time you can save by shopping online.
With the ability to buy almost anything online these days, it is no wonder more people are choosing this option for their local shopping needs.
Tip 8 – Stick to Your Grocery Shopping Budget
With your meals planned and your grocery list ready, you can set a weekly budget and buy only what you need. Before I had a food budget in place, I remember going to the grocery store and spending $200 on average per week. This is a crazy amount of money to spend for a family of four. I quickly started saving money by planning my meals, making a list, and sticking to my budget.
I love to use the budgeting tool; You Need A Budget (YNAB) because it is easy to use, and the software lets me know how much money I have in my weekly budget for groceries. I no longer overspend and only buy exactly what I need for the week.
If you stick to your grocery budget, the savings will add up over time. You might even be surprised by how much food you stop wasting.
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Tip 9 – Use Cash Back Apps
Did you know there are cashback apps that actually pay you to shop? These grocery savings apps will give you a percentage of your purchase back in cash or gift cards. These apps are great for saving money on groceries because they encourage you to shop at local stores that might not be convenient and provide additional savings throughout the year. You can also get cashback for buying groceries online.
Ibotta is an example of one such app that pays its users to shop. They have many local grocery stores and restaurants that you can choose from, depending on where you live. When I buy groceries at my local Sprouts, Trader Joe’s, or Target, they offer me cash back! It’s a win, win.
Get Ready to Save Money at the Grocery Store
So, there you have it, nine tips to save money on groceries and spend less. Hopefully, these tips will help you shrink your grocery bill, reduce your food costs, and increase how much money you save, including on household items you purchase.
In this post, I’ve also included links to my favorite cashback app and budgeting tool that can save you money at many stores and grocery chains.
Now get out there and start saving money on groceries. Your family and food budget will love you for it!
P.S.
I almost forgot to mention – never shop on an empty stomach and bring reusable bags! These two tips will save you tons of money. Okay, I think that covers it! Happy saving.