Every dollar counts when you are trying to cut back on your spending. And groceries are no exception. A few runs to the grocery store can add up quickly and tend to be a good chunk of a household’s spending.
If you feel like grocery prices have spiked, you’re not wrong! Since the pandemic, the price of groceries has jumped up 2.4%! Not to worry. We have picked some of the best money-saving hacks for you to save on your next grocery store trip. These are simple things you can incorporate into your shopping that won’t completely change your lifestyle.
1. First off- don’t shop on an empty stomach!
We’ve all probably heard this advice before, but it is so true. People do nasty things when they are “hangry” but don’t take it out on your wallet. Plan your grocery shopping for after lunch, you’ll thank yourself later. Grocery shopping after a large meal will keep you away from buying unnecessary snacks and keeping those extra dollars in your pockets!
2. Set a monthly or weekly budget
This may seem obvious but sometimes we only set monthly overall budgets. Having a specific budget for groceries for each week or month could keep you in your lane.
3. Pay in cash
The best way to ensure you end up with a lower bill at checkout is to only bring how much you want to spend! You could even separate weekly budgets in envelopes, so you’re not tempted to spend more.
4. Bring your calculator
Adding items to your cart can be fun and even therapeutic. Retail therapy we love you… but we’re trying to save money here! A great way to hold yourself accountable while you’re having the time of your life adding things to your cart is to add them up. Add up every time you add something new to the cart and when you see the magic number (that’s the budget we were just talking about) stop. There’s no excuse to get carried away at the supermarket when your phone comes with a calculator built-in.
5. Make a list
If we are taking this whole money-saving thing seriously, we need a game plan. Making a list only takes a few minutes and could save you a lot of money on items you didn’t need. Check your pantry, fridge, and freezer before you go out on your grocery run. This will keep you from buying duplicates and save you money for maybe a snack or two.
6. Everything is better when it is in season
As a rule of thumb, always buy produce that is in season. In-season items are not only cheaper but so much more delicious. Buying strawberries out of season will cost you way more than average – and won’t even taste as good! Instead, plan your meals seasonally and keep that out-of-season produce for the frozen aisle. Your wallet will thank you later.
7. Avoid eye contact with the eye-level items
Here’s a secret: grocery stores are sneakier than you think. They hire professional psychologists to study our grocery shopping behaviors and purposefully place the impulse items right where you can see them, at eye level. That’s right! Shelves at eye level are prime real estate for these companies.
It’s okay, you’re in on the secret now. Don’t fall for those marketing tricks and look up and down the aisle as you shop. It’s like a scavenger hunt for the best price. That $0.99 peanut butter might be right under the $8 jar.
8. Avoid pre-cut produce
It might be tempting to buy ready-to-eat watermelon, cut into cubes, but you could be saving more of your cash by cutting the fresh fruit yourself. Pre-cut items are overpriced for a reason, CONVENIENCE. You don’t even get nearly as much and it will only stay fresh for a few days. Skip these if you’re serious about saving on unnecessary expenses.
9. Choose a basket instead of a cart
It’s no coincidence that between 1975 and 2000, the average shopping cart tripled in size. The grocery store carts are so large, it can be tempting to want to fill them with delicious snacks. But I don’t think your budget would appreciate that. Ditch the cart and pick up a basket. It will force you to buy what you need and cut back on those impulse purchases you’ll regret later. And if you’re only grabbing a few items for tonight’s dinner, don’t get a basket at all! Just grab what you need by the armful and look away from the ice cream aisle. Think of it as being minimalistic.
10. Go generic
Let’s face it – is there really a difference between the generic store brands between name brands? If we’re talking budget-friendly practices, listen to this: Consumer Reports found that store brand items cost 20-25% less than name brands for the same product! So, lose the brand loyalty and save that money for something worth spending on.
11. Meatless Mondays… and Tuesdays?
Carnivores won’t be happy to hear this one. But going meatless a few times a week could seriously lower your grocery bill! Listen, let’s face it; meat is expensive. It’s usually the most expensive item on everyone’s grocery list. Instead, try a delicious pesto pasta or maybe some veggie wraps. Hey, we’re not saying you have to become a vegetarian, but cutting down on all the meat spending will seriously pay off at the end of the month.
12. Buy meat in bulk and freeze it
Be on the lookout for meat on sale. If you find a great deal, go for it! That’s what freezers are for. If you can find chicken breast for $1/pound instead of $6, buy in bulk and freeze the rest. You’ll be surprised how much you could save buying in bulk, plus, you’ll always have something ready to cook at home.
13. If you buy it – use it!
Don’t let those delicious berries mold in the fridge for weeks. Buy what you’re going to use and use what you already bought. It’s that simple. Try to plan ahead of time and have a few recipes you could whip up during the week with the product you bought. That’s the best way to get your money’s worth.
14. Eat leftovers for lunch
Meet your new best friend: leftovers. Why spend money out in a restaurant during the week when you already spent your money on groceries? Stretch your money out by making those groceries last. Cook a bigger meal the day before, divide it into portions, or even freeze it! You’ll have a ready-to-eat lunch any time of the week that won’t break the bank.
15. Monitor your over-spenders
Though sometimes you may not be able to leave the kids at home, try to plan your supermarket runs during school hours. Kids tend to be the #1 reason for overspending on items not on the list. Their innocent eyes staring at the bright yellow box of cookies can be tempting, so don’t put yourself in this situation in the first place and try to do your grocery shopping alone!
16. Compare stores
A word of advice – there is always a cheaper price if you do the research. Grocery stores now have apps that make it incredibly easy to browse around for deals. Price compare budget-conscious stores near you like Walmart or Food 4 Less and ensure you are getting the best price every time.
It can be easy to become fond of one store; we get it. But brand loyalty isn’t paying the bills here. Let’s save some coins!
17. Pick up groceries
Avoid the temptation of walking around the aisles in the first place! Save yourself the trouble and just order curbside pick-up! More grocery stores than ever have this service now, so take advantage of it. You can save money and time by browsing through the app just for what you needed to buy. Plus, the cart automatically adds your total so you can easily remove items that don’t fit your budget. This may be one of the best tips on this list!
18. Avoid buying altogether, check the pantry
Before spending your hard-earned cash at the store, take a look through your pantry! You may be surprised just how much you can find hidden in there. Some pasta noodles, a can of tomatoes, maybe some olives, and we already have enough ingredients for a delicious meal. Sometimes when you rethink the things you already have, you could be surprised just how much you can save.
Pantries are filled with staple items for any great recipe. If you don’t have all the ingredients, just shop for what you’re missing.
Check your freezer too. Stuff in the freezer can last for weeks or even months. There may be a great frozen pizza in there that you could serve with a simple salad or chicken thighs you could eat with that pasta we just made. There may be hidden gems tucked away that could serve a whole meal! No more overspending.
19. Organize the pantry by the expiration date
Don’t let your pantry become a graveyard. You’ve probably had to throw away food several times because it had been stashed away in the back for months. Don’t let your money go to waste.
When shopping your pantry, it can be hard to find those items that haven’t expired yet. So take the time to throw out old cans and boxes and organize the good ones by expiration date. You’ll be able to see the items that need to be eaten first in the front so you can add them to your meal plan!
20. Create a meal prep plan that works for you
You’ve probably heard this a hundred times but planning your meals will save you time and money! You decide on a few recipes you’re going to make and create a grocery list with only those items. Then, during your free time in the evenings, prepare the grains like rice or quinoa, roast some quick veggies in the oven, and store them in some tupperware. You’ll have several meals for the week ready to eat! You can even freeze them and have extra meals for weeks to come. That way, you won’t be falling on take-out and forgetting about that precious budget we’ve been talking about.
21. Store food properly
Let’s say you cut open an avocado but only ate half of it. Don’t let the other half go bad in the fridge by improperly storing it! With avocados, when you cut them and have leftovers, you can put a little olive oil on them to preserve and store them in an airtight container. Try it out!
Research what’s the best way to store and preserve your produce so you aren’t throwing away your well-earned income in the trash because the bananas went bad! Caring for the produce will help your money’s worth last longer.
22. Get dried beans instead of canned
Why buy overpriced canned beans that are almost half liquid half beans when you could be buying dried beans for a lot less? Sure, they will take a little extra time to soak but if you have the magical time-saving machine, the Slow Cooker! This trick won’t only make your money go further; your food will taste even better!
23. Minimize your dinner plans
If when you think about dinner you imagine lamb chops with herbed mashed potatoes, and a molten lava cake – chill out! Rethink those in-depth thoughts.
Unless you like to chef it up, you can still cook amazing meals on a budget. Try to choose simple meals for the weekdays that will make your wallet happy and save you some time (maybe to make extra cash). Pick cuts of meat that are cheaper or can be found at a good price in bulk. Vegetables can also be pretty cheap, fill you up, and are easy to cook. Grains like rice, oats, and quinoa are also quick to cook and can fill up a whole family. There are plenty of sets and forget-it recipes out there that will save you time and money during your busy week!
24. Test out your green thumb and grow a garden!
We know this one may not be for everyone, but if you have been thinking about ramping up your backyard with a garden, this would give you a bigger budget for other things you wanted. Like maybe that nice cut of meat you saw at your local grocery store.
And if you don’t have a yard, don’t fret! There are so many gardening kits out there you could try out. You can also YouTube videos on how to build a hydroponics system! Imagine being able to cut your tomatoes from your garden at home and use them right away in a recipe.
Now you know slashing your grocery bill doesn’t have to require clipping hundreds of coupons for the best deals or buying 100 boxes of tissues at once. These tips should help you visit the grocery store less frequently and be more strategic when you do go. Remember to plan ahead, set a goal, and stick to it! Paying top dollar during your supermarket run doesn’t have to be a given.