There are so many strategies for saving money on groceries. Couponing and cooking ahead may sound too complicated or time-intensive for you at this season of life. Try one (or more) of these five suggestions and see how it improves your grocery budget and your peace of mind.
Save Money on Groceries with No Coupons
How to Save Money on Groceries without Coupons
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1. Make a List
When you plan ahead and only buy what's on your list (instead of grabbing things impulsively), you'll save money. Try keeping a magnetized notepad on your fridge.
When you're getting low on something or you run out, add it to the list. If you're the main shopper in your household, train others to add to the list as well.
This will help you avoid running to the store multiple times a week because you're out of mayo, then milk, then bread. Each extra trip you takes puts you at risk of buying impulsively and spending more than you intended.
2. Plan Your Meals
I've said this one before, but meal planning is a huge strategy for saving money, and it also saves you time and sanity. How many times have you been in the grocery store, brainstorming meals and picking up expensive convenience foods?
Instead, think through your meals for the week–which nights will you be home late or have kid sports/activities? Plan your easiest meals for those nights, and work out the rest.
Start with the usual family fare: spaghetti, pizza, burgers, etc. and just assign a meal to each night. Then check your cupboards and fridge for those ingredients; if you don't have them, add them to your list from number 1 above.
Supermarket produce department - saving money on groceries
3. Shop the Loss Leaders
When you get the grocery store ads each week, the front page always has a few great deals, the “loss leaders.” These are prices at which the store actually loses money. They're trying to get you in the door so that you'll buy those items and spend another $100-300 on everything else they're selling.
By planning your meals around the loss leaders (say, chicken at .99/lb or a 5lb. bag of potatoes for .99), you're significantly reducing your per-meal cost. If you can shop several stores, you can pick up the loss leaders at each store for major savings. If you only shop at one store a week, your goal is to ONLY buy the loss leaders and the items on your list from #1 above.
4. Buy a Few
Most of us cook the same foods a few times a month. When you see an especially-low price for your frequently used products, buy 2-4 of them. You'll save money versus purchasing them at the regular price when they come up on your menu again.
Of course, this only saves money if you're buying products you will eat. For example, I can often buy $2.49 pasta for .50-1.00 a box. By keeping a few in my pantry, I save several dollars a month.
5. Keep a Quick “Pantry Meal” on Hand
We all have tired nights where we don't want to cook, and it would just be easier to pick up the phone and call for takeout or ask our spouse to pick up fast food on the way home. By keeping an easy meal on hand all the time, you can pull dinner together in 15-20 minutes (it would have taken longer to wait for delivery!).
You'll be both eating healthier and saving money. I keep cans of artichoke hearts, olives, and tomatoes in my pantry. I can boil pasta and saute the veggies together in just minutes. Alternately, we'll have scrambled eggs, toast, and fruit for dinner.
This tip also applies at work: my husband keeps a frozen meal in the fridge at work for days when he's forgotten his lunch at home. This saves us $10 since it's very expensive to eat out near his office.
Whether you're a family of six, a couple without kids, or even single, any one of these suggestions will help you with saving money on groceries. Combining the strategies really makes a dent in your family budget. Try some of these, and I think you'll see big savings.
Saving money on groceries
How to stick to your budget when you don't want to
FAQs
For some, coupons are a nice way to spend less on something they were going to purchase anyway. For others, their shopping process revolves around getting the best deals. Using coupons in this more intentional way is called “couponing” and it can dramatically bring down the cost of groceries and other items.
Do you really save money with coupons? ›
For some, coupons are a nice way to spend less on something they were going to purchase anyway. For others, their shopping process revolves around getting the best deals. Using coupons in this more intentional way is called “couponing” and it can dramatically bring down the cost of groceries and other items.
How do grocery stores benefit from coupons? ›
Other customers will spend beyond the coupon limit, so the store might profit from the promotion right away. Also, the promotion notified customers that Albertsons is a place where they can buy gift cards, which means that the store might gain business the next time that customer wants to purchase a gift card.
What is a good strategy to spend less on groceries? ›
Make a meal plan.
Make a meal plan and a grocery list before you ever leave the house. Look to see what you already have in the fridge, pantry and freezer while you plan. Use the sales ad and any coupons you have when you make your plan—so you know you're getting the best deals all around.
Why having a grocery shopping list can help you save money? ›
Meal planning requires a little work on the front end, but can help save you major money in the long run — minimizing waste, cutting down on impulse buys and reducing the amount of more expensive, pre-packaged food in your cart.
What is a disadvantage of couponing? ›
The biggest con of using coupons is that they cost businesses money and may lead to lower profit for that sale. Another drawback is when existing customers wait for coupons, cannibalizing existing revenue before the coupon program.
Are grocery coupons worth it? ›
Yes, using coupons in the grocery store can be worth it for many people. Coupons can help save money on groceries and reduce the overall cost of living. By using coupons, shoppers can purchase the same items they regularly buy at a lower price, or they may be able to try new products at a discounted rate.
Why do grocery stores want you to use digital coupons? ›
It has to be downloaded or used in the app. "I don't know how to use it like that," she said. Grocery stores love when customers click on digital coupons because it helps them learn more about you. From your preferences to your profile information -- in the world of big data that information is valuable.
What days are grocery stores cheapest? ›
“Wednesdays are the best day to shop for food, as this is when most supermarkets release new circulars, ensuring you have the first pick of the top deals,” said Woroch. She added that stores typically also honor last week's deals, so you'll likely have bonus sale items to choose from as well.
How much does an average family save on groceries using coupons? ›
Using coupons is an easy way to save money on groceries. A recent study by CouponFollow found the typical U.S. household could save $1,465 a year using coupons, with the biggest savings (about $316 annually) coming from the grocery store.
Aldi. If you want to save money on your groceries, there's perhaps no better store to shop at than Aldi. You'll find Aldi locations across the country and overseas, all of which guarantee competitive prices compared to the other grocery stores in your area.
How can I cut my grocery bill by 90 percent? ›
What's Ahead:
- Shop at discount grocery stores like Aldi or Trader Joes.
- Compare prices between stores — even if it means driving to a few different ones at first.
- Plan your meals for the week based on what's on sale.
- Clip coupons and look for discount codes.
- Always, always, always eat your leftovers.
According to a recent GOBankingRates article, average grocery costs range from $250 to $550 per person, per month.
What are the three most important things you want from a grocery store? ›
We all need staples such as cereal, bread, milk and eggs. Getting such items online is difficult. For example, it is hard to browse cereal labels online. Bread is unlikely to be delivered fresh if ordered online, milk needs to be refrigerated continuously and eggs are fragile.
How often should you grocery shop to save money? ›
“Picking up some incidentals here and there on a daily or near-daily basis is fine, but for the majority, your shopping should be done on a weekly basis or more to prevent overspending,” she said. She said daily shopping encourages people to spend more, because they're only focusing on one day at a time.
How much should one person spend on groceries? ›
Feeding Yourself According To The USDA
| Thrifty | $241.40 – $309.90 |
|---|
| Low-Cost | $249.60 – $296.60 |
| Moderate Cost | $306.90 – $371.70 |
| Liberal | $400.80 – $451.80 |
Nov 27, 2023
Three out of four millionaires (75%) stated that regular, consistent investing over a long period of time was the reason for their success. Perhaps even more surprising, 93% of millionaires regularly use coupons when shopping.
How do extreme couponers save so much money? ›
Combining deals to score items for free or for pennies on the dollar. The key to extreme couponing is not to take advantage of just one deal but to take advantage of multiple deals at the same time. By stacking the deals available to you, you can get great prices on items.
How much can you save on groceries with coupons? ›
A recent study of consumer spending showed the typical U.S. household could save $1,465 a year using coupons to purchase food, household items, entertainment, clothing, and more, lowering their household costs by 6.4%. The biggest savings, around $316 annually, coming from the grocery store.
What are the disadvantage of online coupons? ›
Cons Of Online Coupons
- You May Not Be Eligible To Use Them. A customer uses an online coupon to purchase a product from a particular brand at a reduced price, but they must follow some terms and conditions in order to claim the voucher. ...
- You Might Spend Unnecessarily. ...
- You Can Fall Victim To Online Scams.
