Grocery shopping can take a big bite out of your budget. With food prices on the rise, many families are looking for ways to cut costs at the supermarket. The good news is that with some planning and smart shopping strategies, you can save significantly on your grocery bill without sacrificing nutrition or variety.
In this comprehensive guide, we will provide 25+ practical tips to help you spend less on groceries.
You’ll learn clever ways to save on everything from produce and meat to canned goods and household items. With a mix of big-picture strategies and specific shopping advice, you’ll discover many simple tricks to become a savvier grocery shopper.
Let’s get started!
Big-Picture Tips for Grocery Savings
The first set of tips will help you fundamentally transform how you buy groceries. Though they require more upfront effort, they allow you to realize huge savings week after week.
Tip 1: Meal Plan, Meal Plan, Meal Plan
Planning your weekly meals is hands down the most powerful way to curb impulsive buying and overspending at the supermarket. When you shop with a list based on planned meals and recipes, you buy only what you need.
Sit down each week and decide on the meals and snacks you will eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner and any in-between times. Scour sites like Pinterest for recipe inspiration to keep things fun and affordable.
Make your grocery list directly from the meal plan. Resist the urge to veer off-list when shopping – those impulse purchases add up!
Tip 2: Stock Up Strategically
Sales and coupons represent prime opportunities to stock up on shelf-stable items you regularly consume. The key is buying extra quantities of items only when the price is rock bottom. This allows you to get by for long stretches without needing to purchase these products at full price.
Make space to store bulk purchases. Items like extra virgin olive oil, whole grain pasta, quinoa, canned tuna, and toilet paper are smart stocks if you have room to store them. Shop sales cycles and combine with coupons for the lowest prices.
Tip 3: Slash Wasted Food
A staggering 30-40% of the food produced in the U.S. goes uneaten, adding up to a big drain on your wallet. Cutting food waste should be a priority.
- Plan diligently – Only buy perishables you are sure to eat within their shelf life.
- Store properly – Follow storage method best practices to make food last.
- Eat leftovers – Get creative with leftovers instead of tossing them out. Soups, fried rice dishes and smoothies are great options.
- Compost – Send food scraps to a compost bin rather than the trash when possible.
Tip 4: Grow Your Food
When space allows, growing your fruits, veggies and herbs can yield big savings at the grocery store. Tomatoes, leafy greens, peppers, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, and herbs are all easy-to-grow staples.
You don’t need an expansive garden either. Plants grown in containers on a porch or balcony can produce good yields.
Bonus: you get the freshest possible produce when grown steps from your kitchen.
Shopping Strategies for Savings
Now let’s get into nitty-gritty ways to save each time you shop. Employ these tips on every grocery run to continuously chip away at spending.
Tip 5: Embrace Store Brands
Opt for the store brand version of staple grocery items. Store brands are typically 20-40% cheaper than name brands with similar quality. Items like milk, butter, eggs, cheese, pasta, rice, nuts, canned vegetables, bread, spices, dried beans and cereal lend themselves well to buying generic.
Pay close attention to prices, as store brands are not always cheaper across all items. But when they are, go generic for easy savings.
Tip 6: Know the Best Values in Each Section
Learn the spots in each section of the grocery store that represent the top values to increase your savings exponentially. Here are some of the best deals by section:
Produce: Buy what is in season. Prioritize greens like spinach and kale over more expensive veggies.
Meat: Look for mark-downs on meat nearing its sell-by date. Check for ground turkey and chicken, pork roasts and stew meat.
Dairy: Yogurt, eggs and block cheese tend to be cheapest options.
Dry Goods: Look up and down shelves for best deals on cans, mixes, jars, condiments.
Frozen: Opt for store brand frozen veggies. Buy larger bagged options.
Tip 7: Load Up on Loss Leaders
Loss leaders are items priced extraordinarily low to pull customers into the store. Stock up on these deals when you see them! Typical loss leaders:
- Chicken and ground beef
- Bacon
- Butter
- Citrus
- Bagged salads
- Avocados
- Oils
- Soda
- Frozen pizzas
Check the weekly ad for your grocery store’s best loss leaders. These change constantly.
Tip 8: Shop Perimeter First
The outer aisles of the store house the staples like produce, meat and dairy while the inner aisles hold the more processed fare. Shop the nutrient-dense staples first when energy is highest, then sweep the center if needed. You’ll likely end up with a healthier and cheaper haul.
Tip 9: Wait for Deep Discounts on Meat
Meat is typically one of the pricier parts of any grocery trip. Keep costs down by only buying meat that has been marked down significantly. Check markdown areas for meat nearing its expiration date.
Buying large quantities of meat when the price drops, then freezing in portions, is another smart approach. This allows you to score great deals without worrying about spoilage before use.
Tip 10: Buy Produce In-Season
The cost difference between in-season and out-of-season produce can be startling. For example, a pint of strawberries is $2-3 in winter but $.99 cents in early summer when in abundance.
Plan produce purchases around what’s in peak season. You can find charts listing the best months to buy all major fruits and veggies.
Frozen and canned vegetables bridge gaps when little is in season. Just try to avoid expensive hot-house produce flown in from afar.
Tip 11: Cook Once, Eat Twice
Transform one recipe into two meals to cut down on ingredients needed. For example, roast an extra chicken breast to use in tacos or sandwiches later in the week. Cook extra rice to make fried rice. Double a soup recipe and freeze half for later.
Get in the habit of shopping to yield planned-overs. You’ll buy fewer items over the week.
Tip 12: Don’t Shop Hungry
Heading to the store with rumbling hunger pangs rarely ends well. You’re far more prone to impulse buys and cravings when shopping hungry. Always eat before hitting the supermarket. Bring a protein bar or healthy snack to keep hangry impulses in check.
Tip 13: Stick to Your List
Shopping with a list is helpful, but peeking into your cart often keeps things in check. Give your list a quick glance each time before placing a new item in the cart. This prompts you to think “do I really need this?” each time.
Tip 14: Know Unit Pricing
Check shelf tags for unit pricing, usually listed as price per ounce or pound. This allows you to compare apples to apples when brands offer different package sizes and weights.
Often the largest size is not the best deal once unit pricing comes into play. Use the price per unit info to your advantage.
Tip 15: Buy In Bulk
For households with plenty of storage space, buying staple items in bulk from retailers like Costco or Sam’s Club can yield major savings. Stick to non-perishable foods with lengthy shelf lives.
Divide up bulk purchases into meal-sized portions and freeze right away before use. This prevents food waste down the line.
Tip 16: Freeze Leftover Produce for Smoothies
Over-purchase at the farmers market or leftover celery, spinach, and berries from recipes can all be frozen for future smoothies instead of spoiling. Wash produce, dry well, spread out on a sheet pan and freeze. Once frozen, store portions in bags. Frozen produce blends just as well as fresh.
Tip 17: Request Discounts
If you spot a damaged package or find an item is nearing its expiration date, you can ask for a discount. Most stores offer 10% off or more, no questions asked, if you simply inquire. This simple act can rack up significant savings over time.
Tip 18: Use Apps to Find Deals
Download apps like Flipp to browse what sales and coupons are being offered at various grocery stores in your area. This makes it easy to cherry pick the loss leaders that represent the very best deals.
Creative Meal Planning for Savings
Getting creative with meal planning can help you whip up frugal and delicious meals from simple ingredients. These tips will stretch your budget in the kitchen.
Tip 19: Embrace Eggs
Eggs are one of the most affordable and versatile proteins. Build meals around egg-based dishes like omelets, frittatas, breakfast burritos and egg salad. Hard boil a batch to use in egg salads all week.
Tip 20: Go Whole Grain
Whole grains like oats, brown rice, barley, farro and quinoa offer more nutrition and keep you fuller longer vs refined grains. Build hearty meals around whole grains.
Tip 21: Eat More Veggie-Based Meals
Plan a few meatless meals each week centered around veggies, beans, eggs, cheese or fish. Meatless meals are naturally frugal while also providing health perks.
Tip 22: Cook with Beans and Lentils
Dried beans and lentils offer an ultra-affordable protein source. Cook a big batch of beans to use in burritos, soups, salads, etc. throughout the week. Canned beans work too for convenience.
Tip 23: Use Meat as a Flavor Booster
Sauté a little meat like Italian sausage or bacon to add tons of flavor, then use it as a topping for veggie-based dishes. A little goes a long way.
Tip 24: Make Your Own Convenience Foods
Store-bought convenience foods tend to be pricier. Make your own instead and control the quality of ingredients. Cook a double batch of rice for homemade frozen dinners. Make a big pot of chili to heat and serve all week. Cook and freeze burritos for quick lunches.
Tip 25: Eat Less Meat
Eating smaller portions of meat stretches your dollars. Use it more like a flavoring vs. main dish. Try Meatless Mondays to cut weekly costs.
Tip 26: Embrace Slow Cookers and Pressure Cookers
Let time do the work with set-it-and-forget it cooking methods. Inexpensive tougher cuts of meat become melt-in-your-mouth tender. Dried beans cook with no pre-soaking. Food cooks without electricity needed.
Final Thoughts
Grocery shopping on a budget takes more planning and diligence but yields big rewards for your bottom line. Don’t let choppy food prices blow your budget. With some strategic shifts in shopping and cooking habits, you can save significant cash each month.
The most impactful change is becoming an intentional shopper with meals planned out and a grocery list to match each week. Commit to that habit and watch your grocery bills shrink without skimping on food quality. Employ the clever tricks and practical tips outlined above to realize even more savings at the supermarket. Here’s to keeping more money in your wallet while still enjoying delicious and nutritious food at home!
