Editorials note: This is an updated and revised version of my old post on February 22, 2020.
Smart Ways to Save Money on Groceries
Food prices are on the rise, and that can be a challenge for families trying to stick to a budget. I know because I have had to adjust my budget 2 or 3 times already. As a homeschooling family, many families live on a single income, so having a grocery budget is essential.
However, there are ways that we can save money on our groceries without making too many sacrifices.
Did you know that when I was early married, going grocery shopping used to feel like an unnecessary expense that I was paying rather than a basic need? Just shelling out that hard-earned cash each week seemed wasted to me. Shocking right?! However, today after learning there are smart things, we can do in order to save money for food–I’ve come up with a list of ways that have helped me save through the years.
Here are so money-saving tips for your grocery spending:
MEAL PLANNING
Plan your meals ahead of time and make a grocery list accordingly. This will help you avoid impulse purchases and stick to items that you need.
Sit down and write a plan on paper, use an app, or print up a meal plan tracker.
Then plan out your meals by the week, by weekly, or even by the month.
Here is a great app that I came across and am loving it. You can try it for free and see if it doesn’t save you time and money.
Plan to Eat: The Ultimate Meal Planner App Review
-Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry! This will lead to buying more food than you need. I went shopping last week to pick up some items. One of the things was a spiral-cut honey-baked ham. I made the mistake of being hungry when I went to Walmart. The only way I could justify paying $23.00 for that ham, was I was able to make 2 meals out of it. For the size of my family, I was glad to get 2 nights’ worth of dinner from it. Anyway, ( I digress) the point is if you haven’t eaten lunch and you want to keep your food budget, have a snack or something.
IN-STORE SHOPPING
There are many smart ways to save money.
-Start by shopping the perimeter of the store, this is where you’ll find fresh produce, meat, and dairy products.
-Avoid pre-packaged or processed foods, these foods aren’t great for us, and this is where they tend to get expensive. You might not think much about it but all those boxes of cookies, cakes, candy or whatever. All those processed foods can tank your food budget and let’s face it, we don’t need anyways.
Try to eat healthy meals and snacks that will give you the energy you need to get through the day. Our bodies and wallets will thank us later.
AVOID BUYING SUGARY DRINKS
Another smart way to save money is, to stop buying sugary sodas and juices. * They aren’t healthy anyway! These little calories in a bottle can sure add up at the checkout line and affect your wallet when you get home. It adds up on our waistline as well. You can save a lot of money by making the switch to water or unsweetened iced tea. Your body and your bank account will thank you!
DO COMPARISON SHOPPING
-Check the prices per unit when comparing products. Sometimes, a larger package is not always a better deal. With a family of 8 (it was 10 until the 2 oldest got married) we like to buy the larger item to get more of the product I was buying. While I do like buying in bulk and I will talk about that later, however, you have to check prices. Sometimes it’s cheaper and sometimes it’s not. Always do your homework moms when it comes to buying things.
BUY IN BULK
-Now in this section, this is where I am going to talk with you about buying your foods in bulk, but only if it makes sense.
One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to buy in bulk. This can be especially helpful if you have a large family or if you entertain often.
-You can find great deals on bulk items at many stores, including Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale Club.
-When buying in bulk, be sure to only buy what you need and will use. Otherwise, you’ll end up wasting money.KitchenAid KSMSFTA Sifter + Scale Attachment, 4 Cup, White
AT-HOME COOKING
-Cook at home as much as possible rather than eating out. Not only is this cheaper, but it’s also healthier.
-Utilize leftovers by incorporating them into new meals. For example, leftover chicken can be used in a soup or salad.
-Make large batches of food and freeze individual portions for quick and easy meals later on. Another idea would be to cook crock pot meals that are large enough for another meal. That’s a great time saver and you have two meals covered for your weekly meal plan.
MAKE A SHOPPING LIST
– Always make a shopping list for items you will need for the week. They say writing things down helps keep us stay on track and in control of our actions!
You know, like that dreaded “to-do” list which can go on forever if not checked off before time runs out… Having a shopping list will help stop you from adding items such as chocolate milk into your buggy when all you went into the store for was laundry detergent.
-If saving money is your goal–try to find a happy medium of items you need, versus what you are tempted to buy. This may be hard to do at first, but with practice, it’ll become easier over time!
CHECK FOR SALES IN YOUR AREA
Don’t forget to check local flyers or coupons that come through the mail. Several apps out there can save you money on groceries. Here are a few apps to help save on your grocery bill. Flipp, Ibotta, and Checkout 51.
-Another great tip is to see what’s on sale for the week and then plan your meals around those items. This can help you save a significant amount of money each month!
-Compare prices between different stores before making your final decision on where to shop.
-Look for sales and coupons on items that you regularly buy.
CHECK FOR DISCOUNT STORES IN YOUR AREA
Many discount stores sell food items at a fraction of the cost of regular grocery stores and help you shop smart to save money on your grocery bill. After all, why pay the full price for groceries, if you have a discount store where you can buy things like milk, eggs, and meats for cheaper?
Every little bit adds up to big savings for your budget.
-Some examples of these types of stores are Aldi, Lidl, and Save-A-Lot.
-If you have one of these stores in your area, it’s worth checking out!
DISCOUNT CARD AND LOYALTY PROGRAMS
Check with your local store where you shop for special discount cards and loyalty programs that could offer savings on future purchases.
CLEARANCE ITEMS
Always check for clearance items. When my kids want donuts, those little guys can be expensive. Our local Walmart has the (oops we made to much carts). My husband usually checks there first to see if they have any before paying full price. After all, why not save where you can?
STORE BRAND OVER BRAND NAME
Another way to save money on groceries is to buy the store brand over big-name brands. I know it’s not always the case, but a lot of the time store brand is just as good and with significant savings.
When searching for the best price, always look down. Some stores put the higher-priced items at eye level while putting lower-priced items at the bottom.
Many times we like the convenience of what’s in front of us or don’t know to check below for savings.
HOMEGROWN PRODUCE
-If you have a green thumb, growing your own produce can be a great way to save money on groceries.
-You can grow a variety of fruits and vegetables in your backyard or containers.
-Many people find that homegrown produce tastes better than store-bought produce, and it’s often more nutritious as well.
Our 10-year-old loves anything to do with gardens, ants, worms, etc. While we had a garden during the summer it’s cold so he has started his garden inside.
He wanted a hydroponics garden so this is a fun way to get the kids involved and have fun doing it. I will leave a link below to the one he wanted.
HAVE A SET WEEKLY FOOD BUDGET TO SPEND
The easiest way I have found to save money for my family is the Dave Ramsey cash system. He recommends using cash to prevent overspending. I agree with him and have found that this system really works! What I do is take out cash for groceries each week. This keeps me from overspending and wasting money. You need to do a budget and find out how much your family spends on groceries. Of course, if you do this after planning your weekly meal plans. Your budget should be lower. However, always get your grocery shopping done at one time. I have found, if you go shopping for dinner tonight, then go pick up milk tomorrow and so on. Your budget gets spent up before you can do grocery shopping.
Therefore, the best way to save is to, find your weekly budget amount, do your meal planning, and go shopping for things on your list in one shopping trip.
ADD IT ALL UP
When you are out shopping and popping items in your shopping cart, things add up fast. Before you know it, you are over your budget. I know it can be a challenge if you are taking care of the baby, pushing the cart, and shopping. The last thing we want is one more thing to do. However, it’s like trying to lose weight. The best thing you can do is track, track, track to prevent overspending on your grocery budget. So pull that calculator out. After all, we all come to the store with our phones.
LEFTOVER MONEY IN MY FOOD BUDGET
Now for the fun stuff. If you have any money left over from your shopping trip. You can use it for so many things. Maybe you are doing Davy Ramsey’s debt snowball. If so, you can put it towards your debt! Another idea is to use the money to buy healthy snacks or fun treats for the week. This will help keep you from overspending later. Also, maybe you could save for a special day trip. It could be going out to eat, going to a museum, or visiting a nearby amusement park!
In conclusion, saving money on groceries does not have to be difficult. There are various smart ways to save money on your grocery bill. By following these tips, you can save money without sacrificing your family’s health or your enjoyment of food. Thanks for reading! I hope this was helpful:)
See also
Free or cheap ways to home school
How to Set up a Homeschool Room on a budget
What are some of your favorite tips for saving money on groceries? Do you have some ideas of smart ways to save money when you are shopping?
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