14 Tips on How to Save Money on Groceries

With so much happening in the world today, it’s no wonder that the cost of literally everything has risen.

So, what can you do to save a few bucks each time you shop? Look no further…

How to Save Money on Groceries that you can Implement Right Now.

Meal Plan

Meal planning is a great way to save money on groceries. Use a printable meal planning template that has a grocery list and plan your meals for the week. You can even plan ahead and make some meals to add to your freezer for a later week. 

Write out the meals you want to make for the week and the ingredients you’ll need to save time and money.

There are so many affordable meals you can plan ahead and make for the week.

Make a List

I make my list, check it twice, and ensure it is in hand the second I step into the store. 

Keeping to your list will help you stay on track and within budget. 

If it is not on my list, it is not essential. Therefore, it stays where it is, on the shelf.

Shop with a Calculator. Shopping with a calculator is the perfect accessory to your shopping list. 

Tallying up the prices helps to keep you within budget, and it allows you to choose whether you have room in your budget for a little extra that day.

Don’t Shop While Hungry

I put this at the top of the list because this is where you can get into a lot of trouble at the grocery store. You are more likely to make impulse purchases if you are hungry at the store.

When hungry, you start adding items to your shopping cart like chips and cookies and then stray from your list and budget. 

Make sure you are satiated before grocery shopping. 

Bring water with you to sip on while you peruse the aisles because that will also keep you full and less likely to buy that frozen lasagna smothered in cheese and sauce.

Price Match

Supermarkets like Walmart offer a price matching program where they will match any sales going on at other grocery stores. This is a great way to save some money while you shop for the week.

Find the best store quality-wise that offers price matching and do your weekly shop there. Even if you only get what you’re price matching then go to another store for the rest. 

Shop the Sales

Looking at online flyers or checking out what is on sale in the store will save you money, and don’t hesitate to swap items. For example, you may have apples on your list, but the pears are 50 cents cheaper.

Pears are just as good as apples, so why not consider the swap to save money? 

When something is on sale, buy it in bulk and freeze it if you can. This also works with personal hygiene items and items like hair spray. 

I am fond of a particular brand of hairspray. The average cost of it is about $7.99 a bottle, but when it goes on sale, I can get it for $2.99 a bottle. This is when I stock up on it and buy 3 to 4 bottles on sale.

Use coupons if you see them in the mail. If you don’t get coupons download a local coupon app to stay on top of the sales each week. 

Shop in Season

Fruits and veggies in season are cheaper than if they are out of season. So, look for the seasonal items you enjoy and, in the winter, buy those items frozen instead of fresh.

Fresh isn’t Always the Best

That was the perfect Segway into the following way to save dinero when shopping. 

Look for those fruits and vegetables that are out of season in the frozen section. 

Remember that your frozen items are generally flash frozen, locking in all the nutrients, so they will be just as nutritious frozen. 

Of course, how you cook and use them in recipes might change, but as the seasons change, so do your dinners. 

I also find that sometimes you get more bang for your buck when buying frozen fruits and veggies.

Farmers Markets

You automatically save money at farmers’ markets without having to pay to have your fruits and veggies travel. 

The best part? You know the items are at their freshest because they come to you straight from the local farms. 

And you are supporting your local farmers. You save money, and you pay it back. 

Double the incentive to buy from farmer’s markets.

No Name Does not Mean Low Quality

I love shopping no name. For the most part, the quality is the exact same as your name branch item with the fancy packaging. 

And the cost is significantly less. So, stop turning your nose up at the no-name brands and give those little guys a chance.

You’re really only paying for the store brand, most times there is no difference in no-name. 

Buy in Bulk

If you have the room for it, shop in bulk and freeze it. We have a butcher shop that services restaurants etc. but is also open to the public. 

I buy all my meats especially chicken from them. I order online, and the meats come vacuum sealed and ready to be frozen. 

I know the meat is fresh and not filled with hormones or antibiotics because it comes straight from the source, as they process it at the onsite facility.

The prices are much lower than the grocery store pricing of the same items. So we buy enough for the month and freeze what we won’t use immediately. Shopping in large quantities helps you save money and meal plan for a longer duration.

Another great option is shopping at Costco, with their membership you get access to great discounts since you’re buying in bulk. 

Cash Back Apps

Using apps like Ibotta and Swagbucks is a great way to earn some cash back on your grocery bill. For most of these apps, you just upload your receipts and earn cash back on what you’ve purchased. 

There are lots of great rebate apps you can use to save some money.

The other great option is to use a credit card and earn cash back on it. You will have to do some research to see what card is best for you. 

Also, check to see if your grocery store has a loyalty program. This is another great way to make money back while you shop just by scanning a card once you’re done shopping. 

Buy the Reduced Items

We once walked away with a rack of lamb, which was reduced by 50% because we asked the store clerk to check the back to see if they had any left in the back. 

When he came out, he asked us if we were cooking it that day, and we said yes. So, he slapped on a 50% off sticker, and away we went with a significantly reduced price on an incredible rack of lamb.

Reduced items generally mean their shelf life is ending, so if you know you can do something with the product that same day or even the next day, grab and pat yourself on the back to save some of your hard-earned cash!

Saving Money While Shopping

These are just a few tricks you can use to save money at the grocery store, and these tactics are not hard to implement when shopping. 

Reduce impulse buys, have a grocery budget, evaluate your pantry  and refrigerator before you shop, buy generic brands,  

We work hard for our money, so any way that we can save a little is always a good thing.