How to Save Money on Groceries

Financial tips for saving where it counts

It is important to budget in all aspects when planning your finances. Why waste money when you can be saving it instead?

When looking at a breakdown of your monthly spendings, it becomes pretty evident that food and grocery expenses can add up pretty quickly. It can be challenging to figure out how to cut down your grocery bill since eating is an obvious essential. However, saving money on groceries is possible if you know what to look for when shopping.

Here are a few tips and tricks on how you can cut down on your grocery bill and avoid wasting your money and food.

Plan your meals

The meal prep trend is in full swing, and for a good reason! While many health gurus swear by their healthy meal prep diets, planning out your meals can be healthy for your body and your wallet.

First, you can plan meals by starting with the ingredients that you already have on hand. There’s no need to let those canned goods sit in the pantry for years. Put them to good use, and find new recipes to incorporate those ingredients.

Need help sparking your recipe creativity? There are websites, like SuperCook, that suggest recipes based on the ingredients you have on hand.

Now, for how to plan meals ahead of your shopping trip. Scheduling your meals

at the beginning of the week helps guide your way through the grocery store.

Knowing exactly how much of each ingredient you need will help you from overbuying and wasting the extra that will go bad. Plus, planning out your meals keeps you from mindlessly wandering the produce aisle and picking up excess food that looks good in the moment.

Plan your recipes ahead of time, keep a tight grocery list, and embrace cheaper, healthier food habits!

Buy groceries online

Another way to keep your grocery budget from getting out of hand is to buy your groceries online or through a grocery store app. In this last year especially, buying online has become easier and more accessible than ever.

Many times, delivery services and pick-up options will offer different specials and coupons that will help cut back on your overall cost. This is especially true for first-time orders, which can sometimes have discounts up to 15% off your entire basket!

Plus, it is easier to limit those impulse junk food buys that you don’t necessarily need when purchasing online.

Another reason that buying online is ideal for those looking to budget is that you can compare different grocery stores prices. Depending on the sales, coupons, and price inflations each week, you might find that you could save a significant amount of money for the same food at a different store.

Between the options of stores all from your home, extra coupons, and the lack of temptations, choosing to buy online is not only convenient but economical.

Shop bottom shelves

If you do prefer to shop in person, you can do so economically. Buying store brands is a well-known way to cut back. But have you ever paid attention to where the more pricey items are in the aisle?

The marketers that design grocery store layouts know that shoppers are more likely to grab products they see first at eye level. They want to place products that will make them the most money in the upper-middle shelves where you are more likely to see them.

Bottom shelves often carry the cheaper products that are often comparable or equivalents. Keep your eyes to the ground, and compare your prices to see where you can save.

Buy in-season produce

Produce that is in-season is always cheaper than when it is out of season. The more bountiful a product is, the less expensive it will be!

Read up on what produce is in season. Not only will you save money, but you can also have fun designing seasonal recipe menus for your planned dinner.

Buy in bulk when you can

As long as you know that you will use bulk food before it hits its expiration date, then it is worth the bulk price!

Frozen food is an excellent option for an in-bulk buy since you will have time to cook up before it expires. Other products that never really expire — such as rice and beans — are also a great option for bulk buying.

Find coupons — before you go in-store

With plenty of online coupons and specific store apps that offer special deals, finding coupons before going to the store can help you pick up new ingredients on sale. Ideally, you can also save on your favorite essentials.

If you find good deals ahead of time, you can work those ingredients in your planned meals. Plus, you don’t want to be stumbling to find coupons when in the checkout line.

Use cash-back apps

Spending money to save money … sounds counterproductive, right? But, for groceries that you are buying anyway, you might as well earn cash back while you shop.

Various cash-back apps help you save and gain every time you spend. Here are a few cash-back app options.

RetailMeNot doubles as a coupon finder and a cashback app. You can upload receipts for cashback rewards. Plus, you can also scan barcodes to find coupons instantly, helping you save in multiple ways.

Another option is the Drop app, which allows you to attach your credit and debit cards to the app, and it monitors where you spend your money. For every dollar you spend at one of the stories they partner with, such as Target or Ulta, you automatically get points that are transferred for gift cards.

There are just a few tips that can guide you on your way to saving money while grocery shopping. Every dollar counts, and if you incorporate all of these tips, then those dollars will add up quickly.

For more personal finance tips and tricks, check out my YouTube Channel or give my other articles a read!