With inflation and the rising cost of eggs, it may seem like saving money on groceries is impossible. However, it just takes a little more work to get the best prices. Here we’ll teach you how to save money on groceries.
1. Plan Out Every Meal
If you don’t go into a grocery store with a plan, you will definitely go over your budget. Stores are designed to make you spend more. So, before you go shopping do an inventory of your fridge and pantry and plan out all your meals for the week. Many people find that one shopping trip per week saves them more money than making multiple trips throughout the week. Once you have your list, don’t deviate from it in the store. Better yet, place an order for curbside pickup so you know exactly what you’re spending.
2. Shop Around
Use apps like Flipp to help you find the best local prices for items you buy. Check store flyers and sites often to get the best prices. You’d be surprised at how different prices can be at various stores. You may also find that shopping at stores like Aldi, Walmart, or Mejer is the best option for savings in your area.
3. Learn How to Coupon
There’s an art to couponing, but it’s not difficult to get started. First, follow the experts on social media to get alerted to the best grocery deals of the week. Every store has different rules about coupons, but for the most part, you can stack deals, including store and manufacturer coupons at most stores.
4. Get Rewarded for Shopping
In addition to coupons, you can get rewarded with cash-back apps. If you aren’t taking advantage of cash-back offers, you’re missing out on hundreds of dollars of savings. Rakuten, Ibotta, and Shopkick offer rewards for your purchases. You should use these apps as you plan your shopping list to maximize savings. Additionally, you can submit your receipts to apps like Fetch to earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards.
5. Don’t Be Brand Loyal
Sometimes the best deal is the store brand. If you have flexibility with the brands you buy, you’ll save money in the long run. However, sometimes sales on name brand foods make the price less than the store brand alternative.
6. Subscription Churn
Have you noticed all the great deals on meal delivery services? You can take advantage of introductory offers for big savings and then cancel your subscription once the promotional period ends. Some companies will even send you discounts to incentivize you to re-subscribe. You can check out meal boxes like Blue Apron and Home Chef, or delivery services like Walmart+ or Instacart.
7. Get Creative
There are so many tools to help you save money on groceries. You just have to be open to getting a little creative! For example, if you’re open to purchasing near-expiring food apps like Too Good To Go and Flashfood can save you 50% or more on food. You can also hunt for grocery deals on discount sites like Woot and Jungle Deals, which help you find the best Amazon overstock items and discounts. Learning to buy items when they are on sale and then adding them to your pantry or freezer can help you save the most money.
8. Be Aware of Cost per Unit
Buying in bulk is often cheaper than buying in smaller quantities. But this is not always the case. Even if an item is on sale, you should compare unit prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal. You might be surprised by which brands, sales, and quantities will save you the most money.
9. Avoid Costly Items
There are some items in the grocery store that are unnecessarily expensive like premade meals, prepackaged snacks, and precut vegetables and fruits. While these items may be convenient, you’ll pay significantly more for these items. Finding alternatives is important if you want to save money. For example, a whole pineapple averages $3, while cut pineapple costs around $7.99 for the same quantity. Even buying zip-lock bags and portioning out your own snacks can save you money.
How do you save money on groceries? Let us know any tips that have been helpful for you.
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Teri Monroe started her career in communications working for local government and nonprofits. Today, she is a freelance finance and lifestyle writer and small business owner. In her spare time, she loves golfing with her husband, taking her dog Milo on long walks, and playing pickleball with friends.
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