Another shopping trip, another outrageous grocery bill.
Want to split your grocery bill in half?
Adopt some of these coupon-free tricks and start saving today!
I divided these tips into three categories to make it easier for you to follow along.
- Things to do before you go.
- Tips to remember while shopping.
- How to make the food you do buy last as long as you can.
So let’s get started on simple tricks to help you save money on your groceries.
BEFORE YOU GO
1. Budget
Calculate and set aside some money each week/ month for your shopping trips. I am currently following Jordan Page’s $100 per person (If it’s you and another person starting at $300) Andrew and I try to even aim for $250 dollars a month, so just over $60 a week.
It is handy to have the money in an envelope and once you spend that grocery money, it is gone. This forces you to not overspend, and be mindful of your purchases.
2. Bring a List
Make a list before you go, and stick to it!
3. Check Ads
While making your list, check the flyers for your area, see what items are on sale, and use that as inspiration for what to cook, and what to put on your list. We usually check which stores have the best deals for the week, and head there.
4. Shop Once a Week
Or less often. The pandemic has made us want to spend less time in a crowded grocery store, so we try to shop bi-weekly. Less time shopping equals less of a chance to overspend.
5. BYOB
Bring your own bag, yes you’ve heard about the impact of plastic bags on the planet, but it can also impact your wallet. Every cent counts, and paying for bags is just a waste of money. Plus can they make them any thinner?
Bringing your own bags also can help you to not over buy. For example if you only bring two or three bags into the store, you will only be able to buy what you can fit in them.
6. Shop at Discount Grocery Stores
You won’t be paying for the fancy wall decor, fruit displayed in pretty baskets, or that eager bagger at checkout.
I also find that the less choices there are the easier it is to shop, get my basics and get out.
7. Eat Before You Go
Do NOT grocery shop on an empty stomach! Even a quick bite to eat in the car will help you from making impulsive choices.
8. Eat Leftovers
Take leftovers for lunch the next day (skip a day in between if you get sick of having the same meal two days back to back). Spruce up the leftovers or create a new dish. An example of this is taco night leftovers, which can be turned into salads, nachos, quesadillas, a taco soup, or even a casserole.
9. Use Up What You Have
Before buying more, use up what is in your fridge, and pantry. Occasionally when you buy new food, the old half-used ones get shoved to the back of the shelf and forgotten. Use what you have and save some money.
10. Buy In Season
With an abundance of in-season fruits and vegetables, the cost are lower than they are in off-season. This will save you a ton. If you enjoy certain fruits or veggies year round, opt for frozen or canned.
11. Know Your Prices
By knowing the usual cost of an item, it can help you budget, as well as know when you are getting a good deal (and to stock up!). Knowing the cost of items, will come with experience. Until then keep a list in your phone or a notebook of what you spent on items. For example there are certain items I refuse to buy because I know it will go lower. For example tomato sauce I have gotten as low as $0.88 a jar, but usually stock up when it is around $0.99 cents, compared to its usual $1.50 price tag.
12. Price Match
Check those flyers, and mark on your list the cost and store location. This will save you time and gas, going store to store.
Make sure to know your store’s price matching policy before you go (located on their website).
Be organized. We usually do all the price matched items at the start of the transaction and keep them all together to make it easier and faster at checkout.
13. Compare Price Per Ounce/Unit Price
Most store price tags now carry the cost per unit on them. If not, whip out your calculator and divide the cost of the item by the ounces/grams. Don’t forget when checking unit prices to compare different brands and different sizes of the same brand (Occasionally buying a bigger size does not always mean it is a better price).
14. Meal Plan
Look at your food storage and try to use those up in your meal plans. Plan for leftovers as well, that way you have to cook less. Another way to make meal planning easy, have the same or similar lunches everyday.
15. Meal Prep
Meal prepping is the act of preparing food ahead of time, for convenience as well as saving on cost. By having your dinner ready, it makes your life easier at the end of a busy day. Having your lunches prepped for the week, will help prevent you from hitting the drive-thru.
By cutting your own fruit and veggies you can save you up to 40%. Have you noticed that a little container of chopped fruit costs about $4 for your convenience where as if you buy the whole fruit itself it costs you less and you get double or triple the amount of what’s in that little container.
You are paying for the convenience of someone else taking a minute or two to chop your fruit.
Grocery stores do this to save money on wasted produce. For example if a watermelon is going a little funny they can chop off the squishy part and resell the salvageable part as a convenient pre-packaged option to you. Salads-to-go is just chopped up lettuce with a few other ingredients that they threw in for fun. For the outrageous prices, you can buy the ingredients separately and make salad for the week.
16. Substitute Ingredients
Oh no you noticed you are all out of an ingredient, before grabbing your keys and running to the nearest store, look up an alternative instead.
Many people substitute ingredients to make a meal more healthy, or a vegetarian option. The internet is a wonderful place. Did you know you can substitute an egg in a cookie recipe with just 1 Tbsp chia seeds + 2.5 Tbsp water (Amazing!).
AT THE STORE
17. Get In and Get Out
The more time you spend in the store, the more likely you are to pick up an item that you do not need.
18. Don’t Browse
Do your best to avoid browsing or roaming the aisles. By sticking to the perimeter of the store, and only going into the aisles you need, you avoid temptation and impulse buys.
19. Buy In Bulk
Buying in bulk, usually is a better deal (make sure you check the price per unit). When buying in bulk, make sure you will use up the item before it goes to waste. To reduce the cost and chance of waste, split the bulk item with a friend or family member.
20. Limit Prepackaged
All those easy snacks in individual packages make it so easy and convenient for lunches and road trips. But you are paying for all that “convenience”, buy in bulk and divide in your own containers at home. For example all these smoothie kits I see at the store, you can easily throw some fruit, spinach, in a bag and freeze for later use.
21. Check Clearance
Check the clearance racks, yesterday’s baked goods, fruit that is on it’s way out, or meat that is marked down for quick sale. These deep discounted items will need to be used within a day or two, or thrown in the freezer.
22. Stock Up On Sale Items
Be mindful of the stores’ marketing tactics. They are masters of this, they have the store layout arranged in a certain way, displays and placement is all done purposefully.
Displays or end of aisle set-ups are used to grab your attention and usually have higher cost items, or low cost impulse items.
Lower and higher shelves have the better deals, the high priced items are conveniently and stratgeticlly located at eye level.
2-for-1 Sales are usually to get rid of extra stock, not always the best deal for you (Remember that unit price).
23. Store Brand
You’re paying for the name, packaging and the advertising of a branded item. The majority of items that are store brand are made in the same facilities as your favorite brands. Don’t believe me? Compare the labels you’ll see the same addresses of the manufacturers and identical ingredient lists.
24. Store Rewards
Most stores now have a loyalty, or rewards program. Where you can rack up points in exchange for cashback, coupons, or free food. Who doesn’t love free stuff?
STRETCH WHAT YOU DO BUY
25. Extend The Shelf Life
Know where to store your fruits and veggies, freeze bread and meats. Make sure to reseal bags and boxes, or put items in airtight containers to keep them fresh longer.
26. Grow Your Own
Food or herbs. You can even regrow certain veggies by just adding them to water (I see you celery, lettuce and green onions).
Nothing is better than fresh herbs, and they are easy to grow.
27. Save Eau Du Juice
From roasts, and use in other recipes as a gravy or soup base.
28. Soup Season Is Every Season
Soup is a great way to stretch your money, as it is mostly made up of water and a few ingredients. My mom used to make
“Garbage soup” (awful name, I know) made up of frozen leftovers of meals.
29. Stock From Bones/ Vegetables
Make a chicken or beef broth from leftover bones. Use vegetables to make a vegetable broth, then freeze for later use. You get a pot full and its much better for you than the salty store brought ones.
30. Frozen Veggies and Fruit
You won’t have to worry about them rotting on your counter, or the back of your fridge. I usually stock up when they are on sale, they make meals quick and easy. But remember you are paying for the convenience, and it is usually cheaper to cut and freeze your own.
31. Divide Your Ingredients Into Multiple Meals
That pack of hamburger, divide it in two for two separate meals. That large tomato you only needed a slice or two from for your sandwich, you can chop up the other half up and through into your pasta sauce.
32. Buy Frozen Seafood
Save big on buying frozen seafood, it may not taste as great as fresh, but will save you money.
33. Reusable Bags/ Containers
Remember garbageless lunches in schools? Bring it back not always throwing out ziplock or paper lunch bags, or snack pacs.
34. Washing Your Plastic Zip Bags
Or opt for reusable containers or reusable silicone bags.
35. Eat Less Meat
You can still get sufficient protein and hearty meals without the meat. If you’re not going to a full-time vegetarian lifestyle just doing it once or twice a week will help your wallet. Add other proteins to help thicken up the meal, like beans.
36. Eat More Rice
Rice is a great way to fill your belly, for a low cost. A huge bag you can get for under $10
37. Reusable K-cups
You can buy your favorite coffee in bulk, or one of a lower cost, and are helping the environment too!
38. Make Your Own
Dressings, bread, bread crumbs, croutons and save.
39. Skip Dessert
Not saying always, but they can be really overpriced. Try to avoid those sweet pieces, or save them for special meals like a Sunday dinner, or when you have guests.
OTHER
40. Shop Online
With the pandemic basically forcing us to shop online, and the convenience of free pick up (I see you Walmart). You can regulate and avoid impulse items by purchasing online. You see a running total, which can help to keep you on track. You can use apps like instacart, Viola and so on, most stores now have a delivery service, or online shopping experience now of their own .
Final Thoughts
By preparing ahead and stretching your groceries you can set yourself up for a successful budget-conscious grocery trip!
Let me know what tips you do, and ones I may have missed in the comments below!
Stay frugal,
