SMART WAYS YOU CAN SAVE MONEY ON GROCERIES

Editorial Note: This blog post has been revised and updated. See the link below.

https://largefamilyarrows.com/smart-ways-to-save-money-on-groceries/

When I was early married going grocery shopping used to feel like an unnecessary expense rather than a basic need. Just shelling out that hard-earned cash each week seemed to make me feel like I was wasting money or something. Crazy huh? However today, I have learned there are smart things I can do to save money on the groceries I buy for my family.

Have you ever wondered how to save on one of the biggest monthly expenses next to, perhaps your mortgage?

Here is a list I have compiled of basic things that I have learned and implemented through the years to save.

MEAL PLANNING

* Plan out what your meals for the week will be.  Knowing what you will prepare to eat in advance, will save money and time.

* If you plan on having a night that you will eat at a restaurant, such as family night, date night, or a church night you should budget for the restaurant.

*When deciding your meals, always plan for it in advance. That way you will not have that in your grocery budget when eating out.

* However, you will want to schedule it in your restaurant budget for the month.

LEFTOVER FOR SAVINGS

*Next, do not underestimate the savings of a leftover night. I know, I know.  Some of you don’t like heating up previously cooked meals.  *However, think of the food that is wasted and the money that could be saved, making the meals go just a little bit further.

* So go ahead and pull out those leftover foods.  They can always be turned into another recipe. 

DON’T GO HUNGRY

* Eat your meal before going shopping.

*Or, if you are going straight to the store from work, have a snack beforehand. Many overspending takes place when we go on an empty stomach.

MAKE A SHOPPING LIST

* Always have what items you plan to purchase for the week.  They say something, about writing things down helps you to stick to it.  Like the dreaded todo list that goes on and on and on. Having a shopping list will help keep you from adding that chocolate milk to your buggy and your diet will thank you for it later.  Unless, of course, you have that craving for some delicious milk and have already put it on your list. 

SEARCH FOR DISCOUNT STORES IN YOUR AREA

* Look for stores in your area that offer discounts already.  We have an Aldi’s in our neck of the woods. If helps keep my large family from needing a second mortgage on our home, with the price of some milk.  

* We are fortunate to be able to get milk for .98 a gallon.  When you go through as many gallons of milk as we do, that’s a significant saving on our grocery budget. 

* Also, big box stores such as Sams or Cosco can be budget-friendly if you are willing to buy name brands or purchase items in bulk. 

* However, in most stores buying the generic saves a lot of money than the name brand.

*It’s important to check the prices and never assume one item is cheaper than the other just because it isn’t a name-brand product.

* Finally, many cheaper items are put on the lowest part of the shelf. I think most folks check out items within eye level, so go ahead and look down.

CHECK FOR SALES IN YOUR AREA

*Don’t forget to check local flyers or coupons that come in the mail. 

* Also, there are several apps out there that can save you money.

PLAN MEALS ACCORDING TO WHAT’S ON HAND

When you go to prepare your meal plan for the week.

*Go through your pantry and fridge and see what foods you already have on hand. 

* Then plan your meals around the ingredients you already have. If you have lots of hamburger meat.  You could plan for hamburgers, chili or meatloaf just to name a few. This again saves time and money on trying to figure out what your family will eat, or what you are going to need.  Maybe you just need some hamburger buns or some bread crumbs. It also ensures that your meat doesn’t expire. 

AVOID BUYING SUGARY DRINKS

* Stops buying sugary sodas and juices.  They aren’t healthy anyways. These little calories in a bottle can sure add up in the checkout line and affect your wallet at the end of the day. 

 STAY AWAY FROM JUNK FOOD PURCHASES

* Ditto on the processed foods.  These foods, if you want to call them that, are everywhere.  Cookies and snack cakes, candy and donuts. Of course, stores tend to put those items on the main isles as you walk through the door.

*All those boxed items and pretty packages are better to stay away from.  They will ruin the old budget and keep you from the healthier items. 

HAVE A WEEKLY GROCERY BUDGET TO SPEND

The easiest way I have found to save money for my family is the cash envelope system. Davy Ramsey encourages cash to keep from overspending.  On my husband’s job each week. He still gets a check, rather than it going straight into the bank.  So on Friday, he heads over to the bank where he pulls out cash for gas and food.

What we have, is what we have. You can’t spend what you don’t have.  I believe since we started our food budget with cash.  It has saved us tremendously.  

SAVE ANY CASH LEFTOVER

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.

* You could allocate the extra money to debts you may have. 

* Also, you could save any money left over for special dinners, such as birthdays, Christmas or someone coming over for a dinner.  

When it comes to helping improve our finances.  One of the quickest ways to blow our budget is in grocery spending.

There are many ways that we can curve our spending and grow our bank accounts.  One way is to work smarter and not harder in the area of grocery spending. Doing weekly or monthly preparations in advance of shopping has kept my family eating healthier and saved us lots of money.