Who wouldn't love to save money on groceries! Find out how to cut your bill way down with just a few simple tips!
20 Tips for Saving on Groceries
Always shop the ads
Most stores have the best deals on the front page of their ads (I normally don't even bother looking past what is on the front). Take advantage of the deals your family will use!
Shop at different stores
If you have multiple grocery stores in your area, shop at different stores! Luckily, I live in close proximity to four different grocery stores. The ones I shop at are Vons, Aldi's, .99 Only, and Stater Brothers.
The .99 Only store has amazing deals on produce! Just yesterday, I bought a 40 oz bag of spinach for .99! I had never seen a bag of spinach that big in my life!
Aldi's is my go-to on most of my staples. They always beat their competitors on non-ad items. Vons and Stater Brothers are my, "Shop the Ad" stores. Just be careful not to buy items that aren't on sale while your there... That's what those stores hope you will do!
Limit your shopping Trips
If possible, try shopping once a month. If that's not possible try for every other week. The less your in the store, the more you will save!
Create a Budget
Come up with a monthly budget and stick to it! As you're shopping keep track of what your spending on a calculator as you put the item in your basket.
Take your time while shopping, but not too much time...
Don't go to the store when you are on a time constraint. Allow yourself enough time to be able to make good choices and to avoid grabbing what you need in a hurry. On the other hand, don't go to the store to kill time... this will result in cruising down the isles and looking at things you don't need.
Go to the store with intention
Create a list and stick to it! Hopefully, you have already made your meal plan and know exactly what you need!
One of my husbands and my major grocery fails was cruising up and down every aisle at Costco. This lead us to having a basket full of impulses! That was a pretty hefty grocery bill!
Don't Over Shop
If running into a store for just a couple of items, don't grab a basket. Instead, carry your re-usable bags and fill them with what you need. This will keep you from over-shopping!
Stock up!
When meats go on sale stock up on them! I always make sure to have ground beef, chicken, a couple of roasts and fish in the freezer...just don't forget to rotate and write the date on the package so you know when you froze it.
Items like pasta, sauces, canned goods, and cereals are excellent items to stock up on when they are cheap. These items have long codes and are great for emergency/ quick dinners.
Eat First!
"Don't ever go to the grocery store hungry". This is normally when those impulse purchases squeeze their way through those metal rods on the shopping basket. Ever notice when your hungry, there's nothing that doesn't sound good!
Shop Generic
Most of the time, generic and name brand products taste the same...in fact sometimes the same manufacture makes both the generic brand and the name brand item! In some instances, I have found that generic can be even better (i.e. I love generic bagels! I find they are not as dry as Sara Lee.)
Just double-check that generic is the best price. Sometimes the store may be offering a deal for the name brand
Compare Sizes VS Prices
Get out your calculator and do some price figuring! Sometimes you may be able to purchase a larger item for only a few pennies more. If it is an item you use often, go for it!
One time I was shopping for ketchup and even found that the 24oz bottle and the 32oz bottle were the same price! Of course, I confirmed this when I went up to the register and was happy that I took the time to compare my options.
Learn What is a Good Deal
Prices change all the time, but try to keep up on what is a good deal on specific items. Don't settle for what the stores tell you are "Low Prices", study this for yourself. The more you shop and pay attention to prices, the quicker you will learn what a good deal is!
Take Inventory
Before heading out for the store, skan your pantry, freezer, and fridge to double-check what you have and what you need. This is also a great time to go through codes in your fridge and toss what is no longer any good. Find items that are on the brink of going bad and find a way to fit them into your meals in the upcoming week. Remember... The trash is no fit place for savings 😉
Create a meal plan
This will allow you to shop for the meals that you will be making in the upcoming week without having to make numerous trips to the grocery store. Remember... Extra trips mean spending, extra gas and possibly picking up extra unneeded items (I.e. You may have been able to say no to the Snickers the first time, but what about the second time around !?)
Go solo...
Going to the grocery store alone minimizes the chances for extra purchases. I find that when I take the kids shopping with me, I always end up with a few extra items we really didn't need.
Avoid Prepared Foods
Generally, prepared foods are going to cost more! Avoid buying items from the deli, frozen dinners, or already chopped produce. As a rule of thumb, convenience is always going to cost more!
Coupons
While the days of carrying around a coupon book and strategically filing coupons away into their category are becoming non-existent, there are occasional coupons in the Sunday paper.
Use shopping apps, like Ibotta, that allow you to use coupons electronically. They even offer savings on generic items!
Also, check your grocery store's website. Some grocery chains have begun offering electronic coupons. (Don't forget read the fine print)
Bulk
Know which items to buy in bulk and which ones not too! When we first started shopping at Costco, we started buying in everything bulk. Not only was this a huge money waster, but it also just wasn't necessary for our small family. We found that either we were throwing away food before we could eat it or over-eating because the food was there and we had so much of it!
We have also noticed that sometimes, the prices are better if you were to buy these items in a regular grocery store rather than from a bulk merchant.
Avoid Buying Unnecessary Items
Just because you are trying to save money on your grocery bill, doesn't mean you can't enjoy an occasional impulse, but become more conscious of buying items that aren't healthy and essential to a balanced diet. Avoid buying sodas, sweets, and chips... These are not only expensive but also bad for you!! It's a win-win 😄
Check Your Receipt
Always check your receipt before leaving the store. Make sure that the deals that you were trying to get actually worked! It is easy, when shopping for the "Buy 4 and Save..." deals, to grab a wrong item which ends up throwing the discount out the window. This is often a great way for the stores to make extra money and for the consumer to completely waste it!
Don't wait until you get home to check it, because you may never go back to get the price adjusted. If your able, try watching the screen as your items are being scanned just to ensure the sale prices are being processed.
Saving money on your grocery bill is a great way to save on your monthly spending! There are so many ways to cut back on those months that money is just bit tighter!
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