If you’re looking to cut back on spending, your grocery budget is a good place to start. Here are 15 easy ways that I like to save money on groceries.
If you know me well, you know that I like to save money! Growing up, my mom was very frugal (and still is) and I think I got the thrifty part of me from her.
Earlier this summer I shared about my $50 weekly grocery budget– apparently you guys like being thrifty too because that post has become my most viewed post for the year by far.
So, today I thought I’d return to the grocery topic with some ideas for you guys on how to save money on groceries.
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1. Make a list
Making a list is KEY if you want to save money on groceries. My grocery list printable makes it nice and easy to have an organized list.
2. USE your list
Making a list won’t help you save much money unless you actually stick to it! Make it your goal to buy only what is on your list.
3. Don’t shop hungry
When I shop hungry I’m always tempted to buy cookies that we don’t need, haha!
4. Buy off brand
All though there are certain products that I like to buy name-brand, for most things the store brand is comparable and cheaper! I’ve found that Aldi especially does a great job with their store-brand items; we are almost always very pleased.
5. Choose simple recipes
When planning your meals for the week, don’t choose a bunch of recipes with exotic ingredients. Keep things simple and it’ll be much easier to save money on groceries.
6. Shop your pantry/freezer first
You don’t need to start from scratch for every grocery trip. Check ahead of time to see what you already have on hand and go from there.
7. Use money-saver apps
Apps like Ibotta, Shopkick, Walmart Savings Catcher, and more are all great to use! While these apps won’t make you rich, they can definitely save you a few bucks here and there which can add up to a decent amount over the course of a year. I use and like Ibotta – if you want to try it you can use this link to get a $10 welcome bonus (and I’ll get a small bonus too.)
8. Shop at lower-cost stores like Aldi
I seriously love Aldi. They have quality products for GREAT prices. I think they probably also save me money just because they’re a small store so there aren’t as many things to tempt me like at a bigger store haha.
9. Add up your grocery total as you shop
This can seem tedious, but if you are trying to stick to a strict budget I’d encourage you to do it. It only takes a second to enter the price of each item on your phone calculator and it keeps you right on track. After doing this for a few weeks you’ll basically memorize all the prices and may not need to do it anymore.
10. Have a no-spend week every so often
No-spend weeks will force you to be creative with what you have – and you’ll probably realize that you have more things on hand than you realized.
11. Learn to stretch the meat in your meals
Unless you’re a vegetarian, meat is probably one of the pricier items on your grocery list each week. Learn to stretch it by having a meatless meal once a week, serving smaller portions of meat (while upping your healthy sides), mixing beans in with your taco meat, etc.
12. Buy bulk
Buying bulk can definitely help you save money on groceries, especially if you have a large family. Just be sure that the bulk items you’re purchasing are things you actually need and that you aren’t just buying them because “they’re such a good deal!” 😉
13. Stock up when there are sales
If you have a little wiggle room in your weekly grocery budget it’s a great idea to stock up when you see a good sale. It can definitely help you to save money on groceries down the road!
14. Buy in-season
If you’re buying berries in the winter you’re going to pay twice or three times as much as in the summer. Check out this website for helpful lists of the fruits and vegetables to look for during each season.
15. Have some go-to dirt-cheap meals
Two of my go-to meals when we need to have something extra cheap are beans and rice (quite delicious by the way!) and spaghetti.
The best groceries to buy (and meals to make) when you’re broke
Thanks for stopping by the blog today!
What are some of your favorite ways to save money on groceries? I’d love to hear them in the comments below!
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