With food costs continually on the rise, we asked a group of moms that do the household grocery shopping for their favorite tips to save money on groceries.
Please keep in mind that everyone’s budget is different and what make work for some doesn’t work for all. These are just intended to be some helpful suggestions and sharing of tips.
Plan Your Meals
This is probably always the least liked tip in the bunch but it is effective in helping save money at the store. Not only does it take into count what you already have on hand, but planning meals can help you save money on impulsively buying excess items you may not need.
My Tips for Meal Planning
- take stock of what you have in the fridge, freezer and pantry to see what you can utilize and to help in duplicate purchasing
- loosely plan what you will have each night of the week. it doesn’t have to be set in stone or even super specific but planning it out can help prevent buying excess groceries that get wasted
- if you have to purchase an ingredient that you’ll only need a portion of, plan another meal later in the week to use up the rest of that item. for example – if you need 1 cup of spinach but buy a whole bag, find a way to use up the remainder of that spinach later in the week
- use placeholders in your meal plan and then check what’s on sale once you get to the store. for example you could plan to have “protein source” on Monday for dinner and then find something at the store that’s a good price. you don’t have to lock yourself into a specific item only to find out it’s not on sale or pretty pricey once you get to the store
Check out our Meal Planning Guide for more tips. We love this Dry Erase Weekly Meal Plan calendar for your fridge.
Make a List
This somewhat goes hand in hand with the meal planning tip but making a list is a simple way to save money on groceries.
Putting in a little bit of time by making a list before heading to the store can help with the following –
- you remember to get the items you need
- cuts back on the impulse buys at the store
As an added bonus, making a list can also help prevent you from having to backtrack while at the store. I like to create my list in order the grocery store’s departments/aisles. Helps save time and sanity.
Some households also find it helpful to have a running list on their fridge or in the kitchen to write down items needed as they go throughout the week. For example, having a note pad on the fridge to write down when you use the last of the milk or to remind you to buy more salt, etc.
Loyalty Cards / Coupons / Discount Days
We typically all have a favorite grocery store that we tend to shop at and knowing how to save money at that specific store is always a plus. Some common tips that may apply to certain store chains include the following.
Shopping on Discount Days
This was a common suggestions from the moms that I asked for tips. Some grocery stores have a designated day each week where they have specials and extra deals. For example, Nob Hill has $5 Mondays where certain items are on sale that day only for $5. Safeway has $5 Fridays, etc.
Store Loyalty Cards & Coupons
Gone are the days when you have to bring in your clipped coupons to get sale prices at most grocery stores. These days, almost all major chain stores have an app or online portal for clipping coupons for extra savings on groceries.
Spending a few minutes before hitting the grocery store to add clipped deals to your loyalty card or associated phone number can help save when you check out. It sometimes seems like a pain to spend extra time in the app but there are often deals that can save you serious dollars. For example, in addition to just getting $0.50 off a yogurt, the app often has deals where if you spend $25 on certain products then you can receive $3 off your total, etc. These can slowly add up and many times earn you rewards that can be used to take further discounts on your end total.
Shop Generic or Store Brands
Often times not reaching for the name brand item can save you money on groceries. Most stores have their own brand which is often cheaper than the name brand equivalent and usually qualifies for the additional discounts mentioned in the store loyalty tip above.
Sometimes the price difference can add up, especially if you factor in how often you are buying that item. For example, if a store’s brand of dry penne is $1.00 cheaper than the name brand that might not seem like a big deal. However, if you buy two bags of that pasta every week then that saves you $104 a year. And that’s just one example.
Now of course there will be certain items that you find the taste or quality of the name brand is much better than the generic or store brand. For those items, I always recommend sticking with what you like best, if it fits your budget. No need to force yourself to switch to a brand you don’t like just to save a few bucks at the store.
Buy in Bulk
Wholesale stores like Costco, Sam’s Club and Smart & Final offer many items in bulk, making their price per serving much cheaper. The only downside is you have to buy in bigger quantities.
Buying meat, chicken and fish in bulk at these stores often help you save a lot of money on groceries. Many of the moms I spoke with say they’ll buy all their protein sources in bulk and freeze the extra to have on hand for a later date.
These warehouse stores are often great for saving money on non-food related items as well, like laundry detergent, toilet paper, ziplock bags, etc.
One great suggestion was to shop once a month at these bulk stores with a friend and then split the items that you don’t necessarily need such large quantities of. For example, a common complaint is that you can’t use bulk items such a bread, milk, or fruit fast enough in such large quantities before they spoil. Considering splitting these times with a friend and then you each pay half for the items you split. Many items can also be frozen for later….like bread, muffins, bagels, etc.
Utilize Discount Stores
Discount stores like Grocery Outlet can offer even more savings on items you regularly purchase. There is a stigma sometimes around discount stores but it’s often a great way to save money on groceries.
I personally find that discount stores are perfect for buying flavored sparkling water, snacks for school lunches or even snacks for sports. They have the same name brands as the big chain retailers but often at a much cheaper price.
They are especially helpful if you have one near you or near the store you regularly shop at. Many moms suggested popping in before hitting their regular store to see if they could get any of the items on their list at a lower price.
Price Compare Convenience Items
I am all for items that save me time when it comes to pulling together a meal. For that I am eternally grateful, especially on days when I barely have time to make dinner before someone needs to be at practice, etc.
However, you will often pay a bit more convenience and if you are trying to save money on groceries, this might be one area to cut back.
One example is pre-cut vegetables. You can pay up to double just for buying vegetables that have been pre-chopped for you. Sometimes this is a huge timesaver…like in the case of butternut squash or if buying spiraled veggies. However, other times it doesn’t save you that much time – like in the case of broccoli florets. You can buy a head of broccoli for less than $1 but buying a little bag of florets that are already cut can often be up to $2!
The same is true when it comes to pre-packaged snacks. Don’t get me wrong, having items to throw in lunch boxes that are already sealed and packed is very convenient. However, sometimes it’s only saving you a few minutes but costing you more at the store. I especially find this true when it comes to packaged chips, goldfish crackers and snack cookies. It’s often much cheaper to buy the item in it’s original package and then just use bento style boxes or other lunch packing containers to portion out.
Watch Out for Extra Fees with Online Shopping
Online grocery shopping and home delivery has become standard for many families. It is extremely convenient to not have to find time to go to the store. However, there can be additional fees associated with home grocery delivery. On top of extra store fees there can also be price increases on actual items, delivery fee and service charges.
If you are looking to cut back on grocery expenses, stopping home delivery might be one way to save money.
Cook More Things from Scratch
While it takes more time and effort, cooking more items at home from scratch can save money on groceries. Making items like salad dressing or dips yourself can be less expensive than purchasing already made versions.
Check out 56 Homemade Dips, Dressings and Sauces
Some other examples of items that may be cheaper to cook from scratch inlcude –
- buying the ingredients to make salad vs buying the bagged salad kits (individual components are cheaper per serving)
- homemade pancakes and waffles vs buying the frozen version or ready made mix
- homemade mashed potatoes rather than premade
- salad dressings
- dips and spreads
Utilizing Pantry Staples in Meals
For many of us, we were told a long time ago to “shop the perimeter” of the store to create healthy meals. Meaning fresh fruits & veggies, meat/fish/chicken and bakery items.
However, following this advice has been debunked, especially when it comes to saving money at the store.
The inner aisles of the store is where you can find pantry staples to create filling, healthy meals with ingredients that are budget friendly. These ingredients include –
- dry / canned beans and lentils
- grains (rice, bulgur, farro, couscous, barley)
- dry pasta
- oats
- dried fruit
- nuts & seeds
Adding these to meals not only can save money but also important nutrients like fiber, protein, whole grains, etc. Balancing them with fresh fruits, veggies, and meat/fish/chicken/etc can help create healthy meals that can save money at the store.
Check out 80 Recipes Using Canned Beans for great meal ideas.
Incorporating Frozen Fruits & Veggies
We are huge believers in trying to use seasonal fruits and vegetables when possible not only to get the ripest variety but to save money as well.
However, there are some times when using frozen fruits and vegetables are easier and save money at the store. Frozen produce is typically just as nutritious as their fresh counterpart and can be a lot cheaper.
We typically buy a lot of frozen fruits to use in smoothies, add to yogurt bowls, chia puddings and make into compotes for pancakes.
Frozen vegetables work great in dishes that incorporate cooked vegetables. These would include dishes like soups, stews, sautés, stir fries, etc. I personally don’t like the texture of frozen vegetables in dishes where they aren’t cooked (like salads, wraps, etc).
Using frozen fruits and vegetables also allows you to use favorites outside of their normal peak season.
Check out 22 Recipes Using Frozen Vegetables
Making more Meatless Meals
We love following a Mediterranean inspire diet because it’s a predominately plant based diet but still allows for meat/fish/chicken/etc.
A few years ago we were trying to cut our grocery budget a little bit and tried to cut back on meat as a protein source because it was so expensive. To do this, we implemented for meatless meals into our weekly menu. I was worried that the family would complain or that we would all be super hungry but surprisingly, no one really even noticed the change.
Check out 59 Meatless Meals and Recipes
To successfully add more meatless meals into your diet, we’ve discovered the following tips –
- add more beans and lentils to meals to add calories, protein and fiber
- flavoring with spices, herbs and citrus makes a difference
- ensure you still have texture in dishes (with crispy veggies, nuts, seeds, roasted mushrooms, crispy quinoa)
- start small and be creative with recipe testing. for example when we first started I made a meatless lunch recipe. The following week I made chili for dinner that didn’t contain any meat, etc.
- try dishes from other cultures to find variety. I have found middle eastern, Indian, and Persian food to have many great vegetarian dishes that are so flavorful and filling.
- mushrooms can have a texture similar to meat when cooked in certain ways. For example, we use minced mushrooms sometimes in tacos instead of ground beef and everyone is always surprised that it isn’t meat
This Ridiculously Easy Vegetarian Chili Recipe is a family favorite.
Embracing Leftovers
I know that leftovers can be a polarizing topic but it really is a great way to save money at the store. One thing I’ve found is that if you repurpose leftovers into a slightly different dish that sometimes that helps people get on board.
For example, lets say you have grilled chicken on Monday for dinner. There is some leftover so you use it in a wrap the next day for lunch. Or you could add it to a salad. Or shred it and use it make to chicken salad. The term “leftovers” doesn’t mean that you have to eat the same exact dish.
