10 Easy Ways to Save Money Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping can be a daunting task, especially when you’re trying to save money. Here are 12 smart grocery shopping tips to help you save on food:

1. Use Coupons

Coupons — both paper and digital — are a great way to save money on your grocery bill. Here are some tips for using coupons effectively:

Look for coupons in your local newspaper, online, or through your grocery store’s app.
Use coupons for items you already buy regularly.
Combine coupons with store sales for even greater savings.
Don’t buy something just because you have a coupon for it.
Check the expiration date on your coupons and use them before they expire.

By using coupons, you can save money on your grocery bill and still buy the items you need.

2. Plan Meals Based On Your Pantry

Planning your meals based on what you already have in your pantry can help you avoid buying duplicates and wasting food. Here are some tips for planning meals based on your pantry:

Take inventory of what you already have in your pantry.
Look for recipes that use the ingredients you already have. There are several sites and apps that can suggest meals based on what you have. Here are some examples:

MealBoard – This is a meal planner and recipe manager app that lets you plan your meals for the week and automatically generate your grocery list. You can manage your recipes, ingredients, food categories, meal types, stores, store aisles, grocery items and many more with its clean, uncluttered interface.
SuperCook – This is an app that helps you build recipes by selecting a group of ingredients. It allows you to select ingredients from several categories and has a robust search function that updates its recipe suggestions as you continue to type in available ingredients.
Recipe Finder Tool – This is a tool that allows you to find recipes by ingredients. You just enter ingredients into the recipe search engine and it will instantly return a list of tasty recipes for you to enjoy.
SuperCook Recipe By Ingredient – This app instantly analyzes 11 million recipes and finds the ones that match your unique ingredients. It consolidates over 11 million recipes from 18,000 recipe websites, in 20 languages to create the largest recipe collection ever.
EmptyMyFridge – This app uses ingredients you already have on hand to find the perfect recipe to make. You can easily see which ingredients you’re missing for a recipe and add them to a shopping list in the app.

Make a list of the ingredients you need to complete your meals.
Stick to your list when you go grocery shopping.

By planning your meals based on your pantry, you can save money on your grocery bill and reduce food waste.

3. Become a Meal Planner

By creating a meal plan, you can save money on your grocery bill by avoiding impulse buys and ensuring that you only buy what you need. Here are some tips for meal planning:

Plan your meals for the week in advance.
Make a list of the ingredients you need for each meal based on what you have (see #2 above).
Stick to your list when you go grocery shopping.
Consider batch cooking to save time and money.
Learn about Once a Month Cooking

By using a meal planner, you can save money on your grocery bill and reduce food waste.

4. Eat Before You Shop

Shopping when you’re hungry can lead to impulse buys and overspending. Here are some tips for eating before you shop:

Eat a snack before you head to the grocery store.
Bring a water bottle with you to stay hydrated.
Avoid shopping when you’re hungry or tired.
Use a shopping service like Instacart to avoid eating when hungry.

By eating before you shop, you can avoid impulse buys and overspending.

5. Shop Local

Shopping at local farmers’ markets, co-ops, or CSAs can be a great way to save money on fresh produce and support local businesses. Here are some tips for shopping local:

Look for farmers’ markets or co-ops in your area.
Buy in-season produce to save money.
Consider joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to save money on fresh produce.

By shopping local, you can save money on your grocery bill and support local businesses.

6. Track Your Spending

Keeping track of your grocery spending can help you identify areas where you can cut back. Here are some tips for tracking your spending:

Use a budgeting app or spreadsheet to track your spending.
Set a grocery budget and stick to it.
Review your spending regularly to identify areas where you can cut back.

By tracking your spending, you can save money on your grocery bill and stay on top of your finances.

7. Create A Grocery Budget

Creating a grocery budget can help you avoid overspending and stay on top of your finances. Here are some tips for creating a grocery budget:

Review your income and expenses to determine how much you can afford to spend on groceries.
Set a realistic grocery budget based on your income and expenses.
Make a list of the items you need before you go grocery shopping.
Stick to your list when you’re at the store.

By creating a grocery budget, you can save money on your grocery bill and stay on top of your finances.

8. Stick To Your Budget

Setting a grocery budget and sticking to it can help you avoid overspending. Here are some tips for sticking to your budget:

Set a realistic grocery budget based on your income and expenses.
Make a list of the items you need before you go grocery shopping.
Stick to your list when you’re at the store.
Consider using cash instead of credit cards to avoid overspending.

By sticking to your budget, you can save money on your grocery bill and stay on top of your finances.

9. Seek Out Manager Markdowns

When shopping for grocies, especially meat, always be on the lookout for manager markdowns. Here are some tips for seeking out manager markdowns:

Look for items that are close to their expiration date.
Check the meat department for items that are marked down.
Ask a store employee if there are any manager markdowns available.

By seeking out manager markdowns, you can save money on your grocery bill and still buy the items you need.

10. Buy Store Brands

Store brands are often just as good as name brands but cost less. Here are some tips for buying store brands:

Look for store brands that have the same ingredients as name brands.
Compare the unit price of store brands and name brands to make sure you’re getting a good deal.
Try store brands for items you buy regularly to see if you like them.
Don’t be afraid to switch back to name brands if you don’t like the store brand.

Pin4

4 Shares