12 Saving Money Grocery Shopping Tips

Groceries take a big chunk of most household budgets, but there are smart ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality. Especially now that “shrinkflation” has taken over the packaged products in the store, it’s more important than ever to wise up to shopping habits. If you’ve been wondering how to take control of the ever-increasing grocery bill, these tips will help you shop smarter, reduce waste, and stretch your money. Let’s dive in.

1 Plan Your Meals Ahead

Meal planning saves big every time. Especially if you have a family with children, it’s literally impossible to stay on top of food and groceries without a plan. Ideally, plan weekly meals. This method is key when learning how to save money on groceries, as it helps you buy only what you need, reducing both costs and food waste. There are programs you can do where all your meals are planned in advance, and you receive the shopping lists and recipes, so you can just shop and cook without thinking too much about it.

2 Stick To A Shopping List

Now that you have a shopping list and know what you are cooking, stick to the list. Avoid just adding things to the cart because you think you might need them. Even if you skip an important item, you’ll learn and put it on the list next time.  Focus on essentials and skip overpriced extras that can derail your savings plan.

3 Don’t Shop When Hungry

Now that you are in the store with a list and committed to sticking to it, make sure you’re not going in hungry. Shopping hungry leads to impulse purchases of snacks and extras you don’t need. Simply, eat before you go into the store. A full stomach helps keep your mind focused and helps you avoid getting distracted.

4 Buy In Bulk

Buying in bulk CAN be cost-effective, IF you buy what you actually use anyway. Especially for non-perishable items like rice and beans, or for items that can be preserved in other ways.

5 Compare Prices Before Shopping

Usually, when a store has discounted items, you’re led to naturally trust that the prices of the other products would be good as well. However, that’s often not the case; in fact, it’s a strategy that stores use to get you to spend more in them and buy everything you need from the same store. It’s a good idea to shop around and get the items you need from a couple of stores to get the best prices. Of course, use your common sense and consider other costs, such as time and gas.

6 Use Coupons And Loyalty Programs

Coupons and store loyalty cards can significantly slash grocery bills. Many stores offer discounts through apps or printable coupons. If you’re looking into how to save money on groceries, look into stacking coupons with loyalty deals. It’s a great idea to get those coupons organised, as you probably don’t want to be the person flipping through paper coupons at the checkout, holding everyone up.

7 Avoid Pre-Packaged Foods

Pre-cut veggies and shredded cheese are convenient, but often cost way more. Preparing food from scratch saves a lot of money. Sure, it’ll cost you some time, but it’s worth it once you get efficient at processing your own food.

8 Shop Seasonal Produce

Seasonal produce is often cheaper and tastes better, and you can often buy it in bulk. Use your common sense, of course, as some stores can inflate prices regardless.

9 Buy Store Brands

Store or generic brands are often the same quality as that of name brands, but at a much lower price. If you’re learning how to save money on groceries, try switching to generic brands. Over time, this simple habit adds up, leaving more money for savings or other essentials.

10 Cook From Scratch

Choose to cook grains rather than buy them canned. Not only is it better for your health as it avoids the unnecessary sodium found in canned grains, but it’s also better for the environment, and of course, for your wallet. You want to make beans-and-rice curry for dinner? Too late, the beans need to soak in first overnight and boil for a while before changing the water 4 times. Plan ahead if you are cooking grains.

11 Cook In Batches

Cook in bulk to save time and money and to reduce energy costs. Leftovers can be frozen for later use, reducing food waste. There are many ways to do it, from using a slow cooker, a pressure cooker, cooking in cast iron, or even in a kazan. More about cooking in a kazan in a later post…

12 Eliminate Food Waste

Don’t throw away food. If you aren’t going to be using the leftovers the following day, freeze them for later. Did you know you can dehydrate sauces, too? Freeze-drying food is the best way to preserve leftovers. What’s great about it is that you can store the freeze-dried food without the need for a freezer. We loved using the Harvest Right Freeze Dryer to preserve food. It is such an incredible piece of technology; it really is quite remarkable. It is available for purchase even in the stores. However, since most of us don’t own a freeze-drier, a freezer will do just fine.