Are you tired of going to the grocery store only to come out with less food and yet you bill was higher than the previous trip? It seems like the prices just continue to crawl higher and higher if not leap. Below are some grocery budget saving ideas and tips that I have used to help keep my grocery bill as low as possible without having to completely sacrifice. I have included the basic tried-and-true tips here for those of you that are just getting started with trying to save on groceries or need a reminder on ways to save. I have another post for those of you that have mastered these ideas and are looking for other ways to save on your food budget each month.
General
- Make sure you have a set budget and stick to it. I like to set a monthly budget for food and then divide it by five. This gives you a weekly budget plus a stockpile budget each month. That way you can stock up on those great deals that come up now and then and not have to worry about blowing your budget for the week.
- Limit your number of trips to the store. The more you go, the more you are likely to spend. Even if you only buy one or two extras during each trip those add up throughout the month.
- Also, limit the amount of time you are in the store as you are more likely to find tempting items as you slowly stroll through the aisles.
- Do the cleaning/chopping/prepping/baking/cooking yourself to save tons of money. It may be tempting to pick up that box of brownies in the bakery, the cut-up fruits and veggies in the produce department, or the fully cooked meals in the deli but you are paying so much more for these than if you did a little work yourself. I know sometimes you are in a pinch, and it is easier to just grab the convenience items (they are called convenience for a reason) but some planning ahead on your part really can save on the amount you spend overall.
- Learn to cook if you do not do your own cooking already. By cooking food yourself, you will save money by not eating out or buying ready to eat meals that cost an exorbitant amount compared to homecooked meals. As you gain more cooking skills, you can get more creative and elaborate with the meals you make at home.
- Do not go to the store while you are hungry/stressed/emotional! You will buy way more than you need. Most of the time you don’t buy the healthiest of foods while in the state and you will end up blowing your budget. This goes for stores other than grocery stores as well!
- If you are the type of person that is easily tempted by strategically placed items on an endcap or just items you see while walking through the aisles, try online shopping and picking up your order. This is not only extremely convenient and usually free, but it makes it much easier to avoid those impulse buys. They have started popping things up at the checkout process during online shopping, but there are far fewer temptations on the app than in store.
Before You Go to the Store
- Check out grocery store apps to find coupons and discounts. Download the apps for the grocery stores that you frequent and check out what they have to offer. Some stores require you to preselect the discounts/coupons ahead of time so make sure you check before going to the checkout.
- Meal plan before going to the grocery store. This not only saves you money at the store but also time and worrying each day about answering the age-old question of What’s for dinner? After you’ve done it a few times, it gets easier and faster.
- When creating your meal plan, be sure to shop your pantry/fridge/freezer and plan your meals around what you already have on hand.
- Shop the weekly ads and meal plan around the loss leader items. Each week grocery stores put out ads and you should focus on the front page of the ad. This is typically where they feature the loss leader items. Those items that they are either not making a profit on or even losing money by selling at the advertised price. They sell these items cheap to get you inside the store in hopes that you will buy other items that are more profitable for them.
While You’re at the Store
- Get the store loyalty card for extra discounts if they offer one. I know some people are reluctant to share their information and shopping habits with the store but if you are not, you really can save a lot using a loyalty/rewards card. You can even earn some money off at the gas tank from some stores.
- Change your meal plan only if it makes sense based upon in-store unadvertised specials/surprise sales.
- Don’t be afraid to use coupons! They can save a lot and now days you often don’t even have to clip them with the availability of digital coupons.
- Stick to your grocery list! Grocery stores have ways of getting you to buy items that are not on your list, so it is important to have a list and only focus on finding those items. Ignore displays throughout the store as well as at the checkout.
- Shop high and low, stores tend to place the pricier items at eye level where most people tend to look. The off-brand items and cheaper priced products tend to be on the top and bottom shelves.
- Always have a calculator with you, which is easy now days with almost everyone carrying a phone with them at all times. You can use this to find the unit price of items you want to compare and determine the best deal. Just be sure the units are the same for each item (pound to pound or ounces to ounces). Stores often post unit price stickers, but there is no requirement for the units to match between products. When the units don’t match it can be difficult to compare the products. Usually the larger the package, the lower the unit price, but this is not always the case, so it is important to check for yourself. You can also use the calculator to ensure that you are sticking to your budget.
- Buy food in its natural state and prepare it yourself. Not only is it way healthier but it with cost much less. The more work that has been done to a food before purchase, the more you will pay. Manufacturers also tend to add a lot of salt and preservatives so by preparing your food yourself, you know exactly what has gone into it.
With a little bit of planning ahead of time and discipline once you get to the store, you can get the food you need to make high quality meals at home without breaking the budget. I know it can be tough at first, but the more you practice the above tips, the more confident you will become navigating the grocery aisles. You’ve got this!