Saving money when shopping for groceries can feel like an uphill battle. Grocery prices continue to rise while wages stay stagnant.
Almost everyone has their tricks and methods when grocery shopping. While some prefer to visit a supermarket and pick up a couple of staples, others seek deals and discounts by joining loyalty programs. Some even do an entire virtual grocery shop and use apps to keep track of their spending and savings.
Saving money when shopping for groceries can be challenging, especially if you’re on a budget. The right grocery shopping strategies can help you stay within your budget and save hundreds of dollars every month. If you want to cut your costs while still getting the most out of your weekly grocery shopping, here are some of the best methods.
List and Shop for Groceries You Need
When you’re in the mood for fresh fruit or vegetables, the last thing you want to do is run to the store, pick up a box of apples, and then be stuck trying to figure out what to do with them.
Instead, make a list of what you like to eat, and then head to the store during their sale on the items you know you’ll need. This will save you a lot of time and money and ensure that you don’t waste money on items that you never plan on using.
Stock Up on Staples
While you can’t cut costs by buying everything on sale, you can purchase some staples that will get you through the whole week with minimal effort. For example, buying a dozen eggs per week will only cost you $1.50, while being able to make a healthy omelet for dinner for the whole week will only set you back $10.
On the same note, if you always make rice or pasta, buy the biggest box and use it for several days. This will cut down significantly on your food costs.
Dump the Junk and Only Buy What You Need
It’s a lot more expensive to stock up on junk food than buy the items you need. If you’re a junk food fan, cut down on the amount you buy. If you always go to the grocery store to buy extra snacks, you’re wasting money on items that you don’t need. You can significantly cut down on your grocery bill by dumping the junk from your pantry and only buying what you need.
Organize your Pantry before Hunting for a Deal
Grocery stores have deals, but usually only when people are perusing the store for some deals. To ensure you don’t miss out on these deals, organize your pantry by putting any items you regularly use in containers. This will save you a lot of time when you go to the grocery store and help you avoid walking around aimlessly, trying to figure out what you need.
Some people even keep a shopping list on their phone to refer to while they’re in the store, which will make it much easier to avoid impulse buys.
Use a Meal Planner
If you’re serious about saving money on your grocery bill, you should try using a meal planner. These planners help you cut down on your shopping trips by providing weekly meal plans and shopping lists for the week. They also provide you with shopping lists for the week that you can print out and take to the store. You can also find meal planners that help you track your spending to make sure you’re not overspending on specific categories like food.
Find Discounts
While coupons, sales, and freebies can be found online, in printable apps, and through grocery stores, the best deals are often in-store. If you make it a habit to always check for coupons and discounts at your local grocery store, you’ll be able to get more for your money. You will be able to get the best price, but you’ll also be able to get some items you wouldn’t be able to purchase without coupons.
You can also check weekly ads of grocery stores for discounts and deals. And while it might seem like an extra step, it can save you a significant amount of money every time you go to the grocery store.
Look for the Sales on Grocery Items
When you’re at the store looking for the best deal, make sure you’re looking at all of the products, not just the ones in front of the store. This will help you get the best deals since some of these sales might be at the back of the store. Some stores even have a dedicated section for sales on groceries, so make sure you check that out.
Buy in Bulk
For food items, the best buys are often in bulk. So, instead of purchasing one can of black beans or one jar of salsa, pack up five cans or jars instead. Not only will you end up saving money, but you’ll also have the freedom to create new meals that are packed with vegetables. And while you cannot store all foods in bulk, you can preserve them in reusable containers.
Combine Your Store Visits
We’ve all been there. You plan to visit the supermarket but then get distracted by work, a social engagement, or even a lazy afternoon. You don’t realize that you could have had more than your usual amount if you had just gone shopping.
Many grocery stores offer discounts and deals on staple items combined with a bulk store. This is because supermarkets want to sell you more than one thing at a time. By combining visits, you can easily get discounts on items such as toilet paper, paper towels, canned goods, dry goods, and more.
Use a Virtual Grocery Shop
You’ve probably heard of using an app to cut your grocery costs, but have you tried using it to buy food? Yes, you can use a grocery shopping app to track your purchases. Apps like these let you create a shopping list, record where you are when you purchase, and get points for each item you buy. This can help you keep track of what you’re buying and help you save money. And since many apps let you scan barcodes, you can keep track of exactly what you’re buying.
Limit Your Intake of Processed Foods
Yes, you read that right. The one thing that people spend the most on is processed foods. Why is this? Because there are so many ways to make foods like bread, milk, and even fruits healthy yet incredibly cheap.
By limiting your intake of processed foods, you can easily save money. This can be done in a few ways. One way is to simply go without the processed foods you’re used to having. Another is to substitute your everyday items with cheaper items. You can use cheaper bread or oatmeal to replace your morning toast or cereal. Lastly, you can do without having that daily latte or fruit juice.
Don’t Buy More Alcohol Than You Can Consume within a Week
This might sound like a strange tip, but it can help you save money on your weekly grocery bill. Think about it. If you’re eating out for lunch, dinner, and snacks every day, and if each meal contains some form of alcohol, you’re spending a lot of money.
Alcohol can be expensive no matter how you look at it. What can you do instead? Eat at home, order in, or go to a nearby bar that serves food. These are cheaper than going out to a restaurant and ordering food.
Use Your Smartphone to Keep Track of Your Spending
One of the best ways to save money on your grocery bill is to make sure you track your spending. This can be done by creating a shopping list, taking pictures of your receipts, and tracking your spending on a spreadsheet or app. This will help you cut down on your spending since you’ll make sure you don’t buy things you don’t need. It will also help you spot any errors on your list, correct them, and avoid overspending.
Bottom Line
Whether you prefer to personally do grocery shopping or have someone else do it for you, there are many ways to cut costs and reduce your weekly grocery bill. If you know where to look, there are ways to save money on your next grocery run. Follow the 10 methods in this article and proficiently cut costs on your groceries.
Happy grocery shopping!
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