20 ways to save money on groceries

One of the questions I see all the time is how to save money on food and groceries. And for good reason. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for February 2019 a moderate spending family of 4 spends between $200 and $250 (depending on the age of the kids) per week on groceries. That’s anywhere from $850 to over $1000 per month, on just food.

We often recognize that eating out less often is beneficial, and making coffee at home will save the dollars but maybe at the cost of an extra snooze button. Less known are ways to save money at the grocery store. Below I’ve listed 20 ways to reduce your total cost at the grocery store:

• Work around the sales

Take a look at your stores weekly flyers and pay attention to the sales going on. Strawberries are often on sale during Valentines day, despite being out of season. Turkey is a great buy right after Thanksgiving, and ham is cheap right after Easter. Pay attention to sales and you can find some great deals.

• Shop multiple grocery stores

Look at the various grocery stores around you and see if some items are cheaper at certain stores. Maybe meat is cheaper at one store, but produce usually runs cheaper at another. Compare sales, as a store that is typically more expensive may be having a great sale, that actually makes it cheaper. Also, check non-traditional places like Target and Wal-mart. Aldi, if you have one near you, is also a great cost-friendly option. Price compare stores like Costco, Amazon, Target and more for pantry staples.

• Compare different brands

Compare the unit prices for different brands of the same food. There are well over a dozen different brands offering potato chips, and all of them are a different price, and in a different size bag. Store brand is almost always cheaper than other brands, and often times contain no extra ingredients. I’ve saved quite a bit off my grocery bill just by paying attention to the price tags associated with different brands.

• Meal plan and stick to a list

Create a plan before you hit the store. Take a look at your week and note what days you won’t be home, and what days will be crazy and you’ll likely want something quick, and maybe a day you might want to try a new recipe. Create a list of meals for the week. Don’t forget about breakfast and lunch. Use this to make a grocery list, and then stick to it when you actually get to the store.

• Eat less meat

It’s no secret; meat isn’t cheap. By including more plant based meals in your diet, you can lower your grocery bill. Also pay attention to fish. Fish can be cheaper than steak, or it can be more. But either one will cost you more than a meal without them. Eggs and beans are a great low-cost protein substitute to meat.

• Buy less expensive cuts of meat

Similarly, pay attention to specific cut of meat. Chicken thighs and wings tend to be cheaper than breasts, and a whole chicken even cheaper than that. Bone-in is cheaper than boneless. Chuck roast is fatter, and therefore cheaper than rib meat. Pay attention to the price per pound, rather than the total price, to get the good deals.

• Eat less packaged foods

“Shop the perimeter” isn’t a hoax. It really is a great way to eat healthier, and spend less too. Avoid processed foods in the stores and try to see if you can be creative. Is there something you absolutely love that you can make instead at home? I know I love chocolate chip cookies, but being gluten free, they are crazy expensive. Making my own saves me so much money! Pizza (including the dough!), breads, trail mix, granola, baked goods, and sometimes dairy products like yogurt or ice cream are some other examples of foods you can make at home.

• Buy in bulk

An item is almost always cheaper per unit price when you are buying more of it. Always pay attention to the unit price when shopping. If you have a membership, when buying in bulk it is also often cheaper at places like Costco, BJs, or Sams Club, if you have those near you, but make sure you shop there often enough that the membership price is worth it.

• Create meals in bulk

Double or triple your recipes to create meals in bulk. You’ll often spend less, because you can buy in bulk which lowers your unit price, you are using the same ingredients, and you’ll create more meals for multiple days which makes your prep at home easier. If you don’t want the same thing several days in a row? Try freezing it for the next week or two to have easy dinners on hand.

• Repurpose leftovers

Try to find ways to repurpose leftovers so they are more interesting. Throw leftover chicken in a salad, or make a chicken vegetable soup, for example. Finding a new way to use leftovers is a great way give those who struggle eating leftovers the ability to cook in bulk.

• Shop from your pantry

Take a good hard look at what is already in your fridge and cabinets and make sure you’re using anything that might go bad. Alternatively, maybe you can repurpose a recipe to use sauces and spices you have in hand, rather than buying something just for that one dish. Creating meals around foods already in your house can be a great way to keep your grocery bill low.

• Smaller plates and glasses

Be more mindful when you eat, and use smaller dishes. Not only will you consume less, which will save you money, but you’re also more likely to be more satisfied, reaching for snacks less often after the meal is over, which will also save you money.

• Portion out foods at home

Stores offer pre-portioned everything. For example, there are a lot of options for 100 calorie nuts or popcorn. Being able to buy the non-portioned options will lead to a cheaper unit price, and with a little prep, it is fairly easy to portion foods yourself at home. As an aside, avoid the microwave popcorn and make your own over the stove with fresh melted butter – its cheaper and it tastes better.

• Buy whole instead of pre-cut produce

Similar to pre-portioned foods, you can get pre-cut produce too. It often comes in spiraled, chopped, cut, or almost any other form you want. Pre-cut produce can be a great alternative to eating out, especially for those who are just starting out on your cooking at home journey, or need the time saver. Ultimately, though, purchasing the produce in it’s whole form is the cheaper way to buy produce.

• Shop in season produce

In season produce is a huge cost saver. When berries are pricey in the winter, there are cost effective options like oranges, grapefruits, pears and winter squash. Likewise, you’ll pay more for an orange in the summer, but berries are cheap. Apples and squash are a great option in the fall.

• Grow a garden

Even if it is just a couple herbs in your kitchen, growing your own food is a great eco-friendly way to save money. Fresh herbs and produce, at almost no cost to you. Plus, you are helping the environment. Win-win!

• Cut out paper goods

Do you use a lot of paper towels, paper plates, napkins, silverware, or disposable baking dishes or other paper goods? Switching to cloth towels and dishes is a great way to save on your grocery bill, while again, helping out the environment by reducing waste.

• Use coupons

Couponing may seem like it’s a thing of the past, but it is still a very viable way to save on groceries. In addition to manufacturers coupons, look for store specific coupons. Sometimes you need to shop at that store regularly to get them, and other places, like Target, regularly has a large selection of grocery, personal hygiene and cleaning product coupons for everyone to access online. Most coupons can be found online.

• Join a rewards program

Similar to coupons, joining a rewards program often saves money in the long run, even if not immediately. Every rewards program is different, some count points per $ for a discount at a later date and others give extra sales on items in store on a weekly basis. Some even do both. Check out if your local stores have rewards programs and sign up immediately.

• Don’t go shopping while hungry

If your in a grocery store while hungry, your willpower is non-existent. You’ll have no hope of sticking to a plan or a list, and everything will be calling your name. Don’t go shopping while hungry. Grab a snack, or always have some trail mix in your glove box, or schedule grocery pickup. The fee you’ll pay is less than the garbage that will end in your cart as a result of the decisions from a growling belly.

• Check for marked down items

All grocery stores have a small hidden section with mark-down items. This is often in a back corner of the store, on a small, barely noticeable out of the way set of shelves. These items are perfectly edible food items, but considered un-sellable by the store. The containers may be bent or damaged, for example. In addition, bruised or extra ripe produce is often stocked away somewhere marked down in the produce section (great bananas for banana bread!), and if you look carefully you can sometimes find meat marked down because it’s too close to the sell by date. If you’re worried you won’t be able to eat the meat in time, just portion it up when you get home and toss it in the freezer.

So there you have it. I’ve listed out my top suggestions, but there are many different ways to save money on groceries. Food is often a large part of a family’s budget, but with careful planning, it is an expense that is completely controllable. Try to incorporate just a couple of these tips into your next shopping trip, and let me know how it goes! I’d love to hear from you!