12 Tips to Save Money on Groceries
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Are you looking to save money on groceries? If so, you’re in the right place. Let’s face it, grocery shopping is a part of everyone’s life whether they like it or not.
It used to be fun saving money on groceries when I was purchasing foods that had coupons available all the time. But, that’s not the case anymore.
Over the last few years, we’ve changed our eating habits. We don’t eat as much processed food. Because of this, I’ve had to find other ways to save money on groceries.
Saving money on groceries is one of my biggest budget struggles. I budget a certain amount of money every month for groceries and sometimes I really struggle with meeting my budget goal.
It’s even more frustrating when I see other bloggers posting that they spend $70 a week on their groceries. Maybe they do and maybe they don’t. My goal is to give you a realistic view of saving money on groceries.
I currently have our grocery budget set to $150 a week. We are a family of five and we are not overeaters. My daughters are 13 years old (they’re twins) and my son is 10 years old.
We also challenge ourselves to eat at home 7 days a week. So my grocery budget covers food for an entire week.
I don’t have time to run to the grocery store multiple times a week. I homeschool my kids so most of my time is tied up. I create a meal plan each week which helps me stick to my grocery budget. This allows me to take one trip to the grocery store each week.
I’m excited to share with you how I save money on groceries. It’s something I’ve been working on for a long time. It has really benefited our family. Saving money on groceries has allowed us to use the money we save to do other things.
How to Save Money on Groceries
1. Make a grocery list
Making a grocery list is so important. If I went into the grocery store without a list, I wouldn’t know what I really needed. I have a pretty good idea of what I have in my pantry but I would probably forget something or buy something I didn’t really need.
2. Eat with the seasons
Sometimes during the winter, I get a strawberry craving. Strawberries are out of season in the winter and if they are in the store they will be top dollar.
Produce that’s in season is usually cheaper. We usually eat lots of nectarines in the summer because they are much cheaper. Satisfy your craving while produce is in season.
3. Plan your meals around the “sale ad”
The grocery store usually puts out a “sale ad” once a week. I try really hard to plan my meals around the food on sale. There’s nothing more annoying than planning a meal and then going to the grocery store and the items are full price.
4. Make a meal plan
I love making meal plans. It takes me about a half an hour a week to make it but it makes my week easier. I don’t have to “think up” something to make for dinner every day.
I’m at a very busy stage of life and I’m exhausted by the time dinner rolls around. It also helps me to buy only what I need for dinners.
5. Use coupons
Learning how to use coupon has saved us so much money. I use a handful of coupons and I use my grocery store shopping app.
My grocery store shopping app has a lot of great offers. Make sure to check with your store to see if they have a shopping app. Most stores do nowadays. If they do, make sure to use it.
6. Stop buying name brands
Most of the time name brands are more expensive. With a name brand, you are usually getting the same product as a generic brand. Make sure to check the ingredients and if they are the same, go with the generic brand.
It may be hard to find generic gluten-free items at this time. I was cooking dinner for a friend and I had to buy gluten free bouillon brands because there wasn’t a generic option. It may be hard to find generic in special circumstances like that.
7. Stop buying toiletry items
Toiletry items are usually overpriced at the grocery store. You should have a good idea of what you are willing to pay for toiletries. Drugs stores usually run pretty good sales on toiletry items.
8. Start using “rain checks”
Did you know that you can request a “rain check” if an item is advertised “on sale” and is out of stock? This is a great way to get that item the next time you are at the store for the “sale” price.
9. Don’t go to the store hungry
Have you ever gone grocery shopping when you were hungry? I did and it was a huge mistake. I learned my lesson pretty quickly. I ended up buying things that I wouldn’t normally eat.
10. Try to leave your children at home
It’s very rare that I take my kids to the grocery store. Thankfully, they are old enough to stay home alone now. When they were little I’d wait for my husband to come home from work and then I’d head to the store. It’s easier for me to concentrate when my kids are not at the store with me.
11. Shred your own cheese and cut your own vegetables
I used to buy packaged cheese and bagged lettuce. I never realized that I was getting less for my money. Now I buy a block of cheese and shred it myself.
It tastes so much better than bagged cheese. The same goes for lettuce and vegetables. I actually enjoy cutting them now and they don’t go bad as quickly as the bagged vegetables.
12. Know your “bottom line”
You’ve probably been grocery shopping long enough to know your “bottom line”. That basically means you know the least you will pay for something.
If you haven’t figured this out yet, grab a notebook and write down the items you buy. Keep track of the lowest price you’ve purchased the item for. Eventually, you will know the “bottom line” for the items you purchase.
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Those are my tips for saving money on groceries. I use every one of these tips myself. Hopefully, some of these tips can help you with your grocery budget.
Do you have any tips to share about saving money on groceries? I’d love to hear them.
Thanks for the tips! We spend so much money on groceries every week that any savings would be nice!
These are great tips! It’s amazing how quickly grocery bills can climb, and I think leaving the kids home is one of the best ideas!
I agree. I can’t focus with the kids and sometimes I even forget to use my coupons when I have them with me.
Thanks for the great ideas! I’ve been looking for ways of cutting down on costs.
Thanks for stopping by! Hopefully, some of these tips can help you!
My husband would love this article.. I personally don’t meal plan or budget for groceries well so thanks for the tips!
These are good tips and the not being hungry tip is so important. When I am hungry, I tend to buy way too much produce.
I know. I’m really bad at buying junk food when I’m hungry.
OMG #9 and #10 for sure! I always did my grocery shopping online in the city and stayed with a strict budget but now that we moved and don’t have that luxury I need these tips to save us some dough!
Yep! Both of those have helped me save a ton.
All great tips, especially about rainchecks. Cashiers always tell me that hardly anyone uses it. I always get rainchecks when it’s an item that I buy frequently.
I love rain checks! Glad to hear you use them.
Great ideas. I do most of these already but I need to be better about lists!
I would be so lost without my lists. I even make a list for dinners because I forget what I shopped for.
These are great tips. I always meal plan around weekly sales. I also make sure I am part of any rewards programs that my favorite stores offer. These days you can just add the coupons to your card so I don’t have to worry about forgetting them at home.
These are some really great tips, especially “Don’t take your kids” . Ugh. They always talk me into putting things in the cart!
Coupons are like free money! It’s so worth it to take a few mins to plan your trip & clip coupons.
I am terrible with coupons, but did start using Ibotta which is quite easy. At least that is saving me a little pocket change each trip to the store.
I love using Ibotta too. I don’t normally buy name brands so it usually only saves me a $1 or $2 a week. Any little bit helps.
These are fantastic tips!! We also eat around the sale ad. Whatever meat is on sale, that is what we are eating that week. It has saved us so much money.