Normally on Mondays I like to share what meals we ate the prior week and what grocery purchases we made. But since I prepped 90% of the meals we ate last week and already shared them with you, instead I’m going to share a list of money-saving strategies on how to save money on groceries.
You know, just in case you feel yourself getting a little sidetracked in the grocery budget department and need a little reminder. Summer is an easy time to veer off track. Don’t let that happen!
How to Save Money on Groceries
Make a List:
Do you think you can just stroll into that grocery store without a plan? Umm no. Take some time to plan your meals for the week and create a shopping list based on those meals and stick to it. Get in, get out, and get on with your life.
Buy in Season, Freeze for Later:
When seasonal produce is abundant and inexpensive, stock up and freeze extras. You’ll have access to budget-friendly, fresh fruits, and veggies year-round.
Grow Your Own:
Channel your inner pilgrim and start a home garden. Grow herbs, vegetables, or even fruit trees, depending on your space. Not only is this an eco-friendly endeavor, but it also yields savings and the freshest produce.
Buy in Bulk:
For frequently used items like rice, pasta, and canned goods, buying in bulk can save you a significant amount in the long run. Just be sure to compare unit prices. While bigger package sizes may seem cheaper, it’s essential to compare the unit prices to get a true cost comparison. Sometimes, smaller packages are a better deal.
DIY Kitchen Staples:
Dabble in homemade kitchen staples like bread, sauces, and stocks. They taste better, cost less, and allow you to control the ingredients. Plus, the pride of serving your own creations is priceless. 🙂
Check the Labels:
Don’t be fooled by fancy packaging and flashy claims. Flip it over and read the ingredients. If you can’t pronounce half the words on the box, put it back on the shelf.
Shop the Perimeter:
That’s where the real food is. Grocery store layouts are designed to entice you with tempting, high-margin products. Fresh produce, meats, dairy – that’s the good stuff. Avoid the middle aisles like they’re the plague.
Freeze and Preserve:
When you stumble upon fantastic deals, buy in bulk and freeze or preserve excess food. This way, you can extend its lifespan and minimize waste while stretching your grocery budget.
Practice Proper Storage Techniques:
Extend the life of your groceries by storing them properly. Learn about the best storage conditions for different items to reduce waste and save money.
Be Mindful of Portion Sizes:
Watch your portion sizes to avoid waste. Prepare just enough for your needs, and if you have leftovers, save them for another meal.
Shop with a Full Stomach:
Do you know what happens when you’re hungry? You make bad choices. Suddenly, that box of donuts looks like a gourmet meal. Eat something before you hit the store, so you can make rational decisions and not end up with a cart full of regret.
Cook in Bulk:
Prepare larger batches of meals and portion them for future consumption. This helps save time and money while reducing food waste. A win-win for your wallet and busy schedule!
Preserve and Can:
If you stumble upon a fantastic deal on fresh produce, consider preserving or canning it for later use. This way, you can enjoy seasonal produce year-round at lower prices.
Say “No” to Single-Serve:
Opt for larger packages or bulk items instead of single-serve portions. Not only will this save you money, but it will also reduce packaging waste. Just portion them into reusable containers at home.
Embrace Meatless Meals:
Meat can be one of the most expensive items in your shopping cart. Incorporate more plant-based meals into your rotation to save money without sacrificing flavor or nutrition.
Shop with Cash: {My favorite tip!}
Leave your credit cards at home and opt for cash when grocery shopping. This way, you’ll have a tangible reminder of your spending limit, making it easier to resist impulse purchases.
Use Coupons Strategically:
Clip coupons for items you regularly buy and combine them with store sales for maximum savings. Don’t go overboard though; only use coupons for things you genuinely need. You work hard for your money, so make it stretch.
Remember, saving money on groceries doesn’t mean compromising on quality or flavor. It’s about being resourceful, planning ahead, and making conscious choices.
So there you have it. How to save money on groceries. Did I miss something? How are YOU saving on your grocery bill these days? Let us know in the comments below.
Happy shopping and happy saving!
~Mavis
Rosemary says
All these ideas are spot on! Recently, I have been re-evaluating the way that I store things. Usually, when I opened a box of pancake mix, etc., I would put the whole box into a plastic bag (to keep it fresh and keep out insects). But I was buying lots of Ziploc bags ($$$). Meanwhile, I have a lot of mason jars that are sitting around waiting to be used . . . light bulb goes off! Pour the opened pancake mix, waffle mix, pasta, etc. into those mason jars! I cut the label with the directions off the box and tape it on the jar. I believe the jars will keep these things fresher and it will definitely keep out the insects. (I live in a rural area and every few years we get an ant infestation. We haven’t had one in a while, but it pays to do whatever is necessary to prevent reoccurrences.) I ended up buying a dozen more quart jars – the cost of that about equals 2 boxes of plastic bags – definitely a money saver. The jars can be washed and reused over and over. Plastic bags can be reused but eventually need to be thrown out.
In other news, my topless greenhouse is still doing good. I posted an update to my blog yesterday. I will not have enough veggies from this garden to do any canning but at least we will have fresh veggies that we didn’t have to buy at the store. I hope my “topless greenhouse” idea will encourage others to think outside the box and just use what they have to make a garden. Acres of land is not necessary – you can grow herbs on a windowsill in your kitchen, tomatoes in a planter by your back door, etc. Experiment! The worse that can happen is that you learn what not to do the next time (that is what I am learning!). Here’s the link to my update: https://mypracticalhome.blogspot.com/
Lana says
If you have salvage grocery stores in your area go check them out. We have eight within 45 minutes of home and five of those are nearby. We save a ton of money there. A few weeks ago they had Fresh Express salads kits 5/$4 and 13 days to go on the date. Last week we stocked up on decaf tea bags for .99 a box. You never know what deals are at those stores.
Elise says
Love this post! Saving on groceries is a fun game for me. I’d so much rather spend on other things.
My favorite trick with the lists is going to multiple stores (like you do) to get the best deals. It takes a little more time and planning but is really worth it! Makes no sense to me to save on butter and spend all the savings on overpriced milk…
Christina says
These are awesome reminders, Mavis. I think the idea of having a list is the most important one for me. If I just wander into a grocery store without one, I’m in trouble! Haha All sorts of things end up in the basket or cart…but with a list I have a real plan.
Cindy Brick says
I agree about the salvage stores — wish I had one close by! I do regularly check Amazon’s Warehouse Deals. Also:
*Check the markdown/clearance items. Every single time, even produce. Our local King Soopers offers damaged/ripe fruit and veggies in a mesh bag for 99 cents. (Sometimes it’s 6 tomatoes or avocadoes for a buck. Wow.)
*Plan your meals so leftover proteins help stretch and flavor the next meal (or two).
*Bouillon cubes come in handy! They give a meatier flavor to entrees with less. (A beef cube in chili, with just a handful of burger meat, makes a real difference.)
*Even a leaf or two of greens chopped fine, or a sprig of herbs, adds flavor and color.
*SOUP. Add extra leftovers to canned soup to ‘homey’ it up. But consider making your own. It helps a LOT, especially when served with biscuits or Mavis’ Dutch oven bread.
KC says
Walmart is notable for charging higher price-per-ounce for larger packages, more often than any store I’ve dealt with previously.
I’d also add that if you have snacks, particularly expensive snacks, *portion them* because you will almost always eat more than a “serving” if you don’t hit the bottom of a bowl.
And if you’ve found something really-cheap but you won’t actually eat it or get around to cooking it… find the cheapest thing you *will* eat or get around to cooking. Dried beans are cheaper than canned beans, yes, but canned beans are cheaper than meat and a whole lot faster. It’s great to keep working at moving towards less-expensive, more healthy food, but if the weekday reality is “if I do not have something I can cook and eat within a half hour, I will buy burgers” then make sure you’ve got things that fill that gap, even if they’re not the cheapest possible foods. (I suggest eggs – omelettes are magic dinners! or doctored canned beans with rice, personally, but results vary.)
Also, gardening is often more expensive than buying cheap in-season fresh produce. Our first year gardening here, we grew 66 pounds of produce, mostly tomatoes and zucchini and beans, and not counting the water for watering it (which was non-negligible – our water use increased by at least 20% over the summer) the assorted things we didn’t already have (hose, soaker hose, grow light and seeds and potting soil, bamboo stakes which were *way* cheaper than tomato cages) cost over $75 – which isn’t too bad per pound, but honestly we would not have bought that many pounds of tomatoes or zucchinis or beans. We got one more year out of that soaker hose – the heat here kills them rapidly, apparently – but the regular hose and grow lights have kept being serviceable. But we buy tomato cages now for greater ease, and those cages eliminate most of the “value” side of gardening; and we bought pvc pipe to make a trellis for the beans the second year. Nothing you can buy beats a sun-warmed tomato fresh from the vine, but as a cost-saving measure: not our garden, even though we run it on fairly-economical lines in terms of growing things from seed instead of buying starts, etc. The birds and the bugs and the possums get a percentage of our produce; the produce ripens at the “wrong” times; and sometimes something comes through and slaughters a bunch of carefully-raised plants and that just is what it is? So a lot depends on whether the weather will water things for you, what gear you already have, what pests you have in your area, and whether you would in fact have bought 40 pounds of tomatoes over the summer or… not. Seattle was more economical as a climate for growing things than Oklahoma has been. New Jersey was somewhere in between because we had to put up serious fortification against the groundhogs or lose everything. So: don’t bank on gardening being cheaper than in-season fresh produce, *aside from herbs*, unless your area is kind to gardens and you don’t need much gear (or soil amendments).
And when in those dread middle aisles of the grocery store, look up and look down – the maximum profit items go at eye level, so look somewhere else. 🙂
Christy Rose says
I agree with you on everything except the use cash for groceries, I am mindful of how much I spend and use the Citi Custom Cash card which give me 5% back on my grocery store purchases. That adds up fast, and of course I pay my bill in full when it comes.
Linda Sand says
Only buy foods you will actually eat. Cheap Brussels sprouts are expensive in my family since they just get thrown away.
Bettina says
Hi Mavis!
I know I’ve seen the frozen soup veggies on your blog before, but I can’t find the link to the directions. Could you please share the link? Thank you!
Bettina says
Found it! https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/gardening-in-maine-free-vegetables-landscape-fabric-that-really-works-and-vegetable-pucks/
Torry says
I will add that sometimes a store that isn’t thought of as economical can , for certain items, be the best buy. We buy eggplant at Trader Joe’s. They are priced per eggplant, not by the pound. We have found that the quality is better than most stores, and I look for the bigger, heavier eggplant to get the best ones. And they will go into the back and bring out a new box, if they have more.
Michelle says
I shop for groceries online and pick up. It stops me from impulse purchases in the store. I use a list and the retailer also gives me reminders of what I purchased previously and how often. I price compare online as well to find the best price.
Emily says
In addition to freezing your own fruit and veggies, remember to check the freezer section for affordable already frozen fruits and vegetables. They have he added bonus of already being chopped and washed. I like to pick frozen vegetables for things like stews and curries where the texture difference is less apparent.
Jen says
One way to reduce costs is to watch your portion sizes. For example, a serving of meat is the size of your palm, not a third of your dinner plate. A can of beans contains 3.5 servings. One serving of rice is 1/2 cup of dry rice. A serving of veggies is typically one cup. Serving sizes are for adults; enough to fill you up and save money too.