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With the new year rolling in and prices high for groceries, it’s a smart idea to look for ways to save money as much as you can. A few years ago, we looked into our monthly budget and what we were paying for groceries and for eating out. I couldn’t believe the number! I realized that we had no plan for our meals and would just buy random stuff when at the store!
We made a budget to pay off our debt and that also meant being smart with our food budget. We figured out how much to budget per week for groceries and then I would get to work on a meal plan. We have completely turned around how we look at food and the ease it is to plan meals and then shop for them. I have a post about meal planning you can check out and try your hand at it.
The tips below have helped us save on our grocery budget and stretch our dollars.
Plan a Budget
Plan out a budget of what your grocery allowance is per month and then divide by how many weeks you have in each month. This way you know how much you have available to spend each week. Also remember to plan for paper products or toiletries when you make your list.
Meal Plan
Plan those meals for the week, or however long you plan to shop for. I plan my meals by the month and that way each week, it is easy to make the grocery list. I also plan out my lunches for the week and what I will take to work. Don’t forget to plan for breakfasts, snacks, and lunches for anyone else in the house. When you plan out meals, check the calendar and see if any days have celebrations or you won’t be eating at home. You don’t need to plan for a day to eat at home if you won’t be home.
Plan to Shop Multiple Stores
We have a few Aldi‘s by us and I love to go there. I plan to shop at Aldi and then anything I can’t get there, I will go to Kroger. There are certain things that I will make a trip to a specific store because I like the quality better or the others don’t carry it in stock.
Check Store Specials
Once I make my list, I will look at the ads for each store I am going to. That way I can see if something I am buying will be on sale or if it will be cheaper at the other store. I try to stay away from adding things to my list just because they are on sale. Don’t forget to download your store’s app and see if they have special coupons you can use as well. Our Kroger app will give me coupons for things I buy in the past, I’ll most likely need those things again so the coupon comes in handy.
Stick to Your List
Try as hard as you can to stick to your list. I typically go off the list if there is something I remember we are out of or I know I will be under budget and can get 1 or 2 extra things. If I need something nongrocery related but I know the store will have it, then I will write it on my list and check the price.
Buy Store Brand or Off Brand
There are so many things that are made by big-name brands that have generic branding on them. I also, love the Aldi brand that they carry because they make their products without food dye in them. There are certain items I like better instead of brand names. This will save you a lot of money by skipping those names.
Shop in Season Produce
Produce prices can be outrageous at times. It was $4 for a container of strawberries this past weekend but it makes sense why, it’s out of season. If you know what is in season per month then shopping for those items will be cheaper. Plan your meals so you can incorporate some of the in-season produce.
Skip Precut Produce
Where I am, precut fruit is anywhere from $5-$8. I can get it uncut and do it myself for about $2.50-$3. It may take more time but the savings are worth it. Plus there is less chance of contamination because it’s not passing through other hands before it gets to you.
Stockpile Pantry Items
When you can, try to stockpile some pantry items you use regularly when getting your groceries, I will have canned beans and corn on hand because I use those a few times a month for different meals. When they go on sale and you are able to add them to your haul, stock up on them. You know you will use them and it’s good to keep in case you need them.
Try No Meat Meals
This may sound hard to do but it surprisingly isn’t. You still want to get nutrients in at each meal but having an option as black bean tacos still allows you to get protein in. There are many options to still get protein and nutrients without having meat in your meals. It will cut down the cost of those meals to skip that source of protein.
Try Store Pickup
Most stores offer your groceries for pick up now which is great because you will skip straying from your list. It also saves time, if you are short on time. Check your store’s website or app because they will offer free pick up at times too. Take advantage of that.
Don’t Shop Hungry
If you have made it through all the tips and are finally here, this is probably the smartest one. If you are hungry when you go shopping you are bound to overspend because so many options look delicious. This is a big mistake when getting groceries and can be avoided if you keep a snack with you so you can have it before you shop. It’s happened to me before and I overbought stuff that I didn’t need.
All these tips are great if you can work within them. Remember that these are tips that will help you save money. I have used these tips and it has changed our grocery shopping game and budget to follow these tips. With prices getting higher it is great to learn some tips that will help you plan meals that will be delicious and within budget. Try just one or two of these tips and see if they help. Don’t stress about trying to implement them all at one time. Happy grocery shopping!