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These days many people look for every way they can find to cut back on their expenses. One area that is generally the first to be cut is their food budget.
The main reason may be due to speed and convenience winning out over a rumbling stomach. Let’s face it, most of us go out to eat or take home fast food more often than we should. That habit quickly eats into our grocery budgets and increases our overall household expenses.
But if you really want to make changes to your finances, and particularly your food budget, it can be done. Here are 20 ways to save on your grocery budget.
1. Take an Inventory
The first thing you should do is see what you already have in the cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer. If there are canned or packed foods that you haven’t yet made, what are you waiting for? Use them.
This will eliminate waste and save on your grocery budget. Do be mindful of expiration dates. However, keep in mind not all “use by” or “sell by” dates that have passed mean the item must be thrown out. Simply use a healthy dose of both caution and common sense to guide you.
2. Make a List
Before heading to the store I usually make a list of everything I am going to buy. This prevents me from buying packaged foods I shouldn’t as well as things I don’t need. I try to stick to it as much as possible to save money.
Order Your List
But there is another trick I use to help save time and money. I try to write down my list in order of where the items are located in the store.
Doing this saves me time and helps when I’m in a hurry. I don’t have to go back to the isles I’ve already visited and waste valuable time. In my business, time is money so I make shopping quicker whenever I can.
Use Your Smart Phone
I keep my grocery list on my smartphone. This is another way you can save on your grocery budget.
My phone is with me at all times which means I can add to it at any time from anywhere. This eliminates extra trips to the store for forgotten items which takes more time and gas money.
3. Have Groceries Delivered
When you first consider a grocery delivery service they can appear to be pricy. But you must think about all that goes into them before you make that judgment.
As an example, if you make a good income at your job, your time is worth a lot. Grocery store trips can chew up an hour or more of your time each trip. Therefore, it may cost you more to shop on your own than to have someone else do it for you.
Sign up for a meal delivery service, such as Blue Apron, and they will do the shopping so you don’t have to. You won’t have to spend your time shopping, loading, and unloading groceries several times just to make a few meals.
4. Buy Store Brand
I pick up store brand items from Dillons that can be used in recipes when I grocery shop. These items include canned soups and vegetables, pasta, and frozen foods.
My family usually can’t tell when I’ve used them in a dish or when I haven’t. That means I can buy them, save money, and not worry about losing out on flavor.
5. Use Coupons, Sales Ads, and Loyalty Programs
When your budget is super tight, check out the sales flyers from grocery stores you frequent. Pair those up with recipes and coupons to save more on your grocery budget.
Your favorite store may also have a loyalty program that can help you save cash as well. Check to see if they do and sign up to save more.
6. Download an App
Did you know you can save money on your grocery budget by downloading apps? There are several different choices that will help your budget.
For instance, you can print coupons from Coupons.com or other coupon websites. Or, try getting cash back as you shop with Ebates. There are tons of apps that can lower your food costs if you take the time to download them.
7. Check Food Expirations
As I mentioned above, watching expiration dates at home is important to save on your grocery budget. But it is also important to look closely at them while shopping.
The last thing you want is to start preparing a recipe only to discover a key ingredient is already spoiled. To prevent that situation from happening, pay close attention to expiration dates as you shop. Then you won’t be throwing your money in the garbage along with the food you just bought.
8. Pass up End Caps
If you want to save on your grocery budget pass up the end caps as you shop. Most stores put items there that they are trying to move quickly.
They also use end caps to entice you to buy products that may have a higher price instead of being cheaper. Don’t fall for these ploys. Instead, roll right past them to pick up the items on your list.
9. Eat Before You Shop
You may have heard that you shouldn’t shop when you are hungry. It’s true that shopping when you’re hungry can tempt you to buy products you may not normally purchase. This will add to your food costs.
Instead, when it’s possible, eat a meal before you go. Or, eat a small snack first, at the very least, to curb your hunger pains.
10. Leave Extras on the Shelf
An additional way to save on your grocery budget is to leave extras on the shelf. Cut back or stop buying sodas, desserts, and junk foods altogether. Not only do these foods not provide proper nutrition they add to your food costs.
You should also avoid buying alcohol, prepackaged foods, kitchenware, office supplies, or other non-grocery items. These purchases inflate your grocery bill as well.
11. Purchase in Bulk
Buying groceries in bulk can also save you money. Your regular grocery store may offer bulk products from time to time. Or, you could sign up for a warehouse club membership if you go there often enough.
Although most warehouse clubs do charge a fee to sign up, if you save a lot it might be worth the cost. However, be cautious not to overbuy or you will waste food and throw away money instead of saving.
12. Split Food with Friend
When it comes to buying in bulk if you shop with a friend or family member you can save more. If you want to buy the same things you can sometimes split large quantities of items as well as their costs.
13. Compare Prices
Going to more than one store can save on your grocery budget too. Compare prices of stores near where you live or work to save the most money. Don’t forget loyalty programs, sales flyers, and coupons play into food costs also.
14. Buy in Season
Fruits and vegetables that are in season are usually cheaper than they are the rest of the time. Buying at that time will save you money in your budget.
Don’t forget that you can use freezing or canning to help you buy at lower prices and use the foods all year long. This helps you continue to cash in on savings even after the peak growing season is over.
15. Shop at Farmer’s Market
Some communities have farmer’s markets where you can shop for fresh food items. Many are even fresher than what you’d find in a grocery store.
Try going to a few and taking cash with you. Arriving a bit later in the morning might let you score better deals and save money.
16. Track the Food You Use
If you begin tracking the foods you use you can save more on your food costs. Although tracking will take a little time in the beginning, setting up a spreadsheet isn’t difficult.
Capture what you purchase and when as well as the price and if it was on sale. Focus on higher-dollar items first.
As you track you will begin to see patterns of what goes on sale and when as well as how often you use items. This will allow you to buy enough to get you from one sale to another. You may be able to keep your grocery bills down by never paying full price again on your purchases.
17. Request Rain Checks
Rain checks are another way to save on your grocery budget. When items at the store are on sale but the shelves are empty, ask the clerk for a rain check.
If you ask for one, some grocery stores will provide them. Once the items are in stock again, you can use the rain check to buy them at sale prices. Rain checks generally expire after a certain period of time so watch for those when shopping.
18. Stretch Your Food
Another way to save on your food is to get into the practice of stretching it. Try adding a small amount of meat to other dishes that are heavy on rice and vegetables.
Soups, casseroles, or skillet meals are good food stretcher meals. Explore your options with recipes you already have and look for new ones that cost less to make.
19. Turn on the Crock Pot
Crock pots are known to help when money is tight and you need to save on grocery costs. As an example, cook and drain some hamburger, then add beans, chili spices, and crushed tomatoes for an inexpensive homemade chili.
Other meal ideas include chicken and noodles, corn chowder, and soups, as well as many more. Check out Pinterest or Facebook to find tons more economical ideas.
20. Prepare Freezer Meals
Freezer meals are a great time saver as well as a money saver. With planning, you can make a grocery list, buy what you need, and prepare meals on a weekend.
Make-ahead meals help your budget by allowing you to use what you already have on hand. But the big way they save you is by eliminating the need to eat out as often. Just pull out a freezer meal as needed, prepare it, and eat a healthy meal instead.
When you’re trying to cut your budget, lowering your food costs as much as possible will help. As you can see, there are at least 20 ways to save on your grocery budget that will help. Try some of them today to ease the strain on your wallet.
What tips and ideas have you used to save on your grocery budget?
