This is an ultimate list of the best ways to get food on a budget while saving a ton of money at the grocery store.
Looking for ways to save money at the grocery store? You're in the right place!
I've put together a long list of the best (and most unique) ways to save money at the grocery store, which will have you budgeting more effectively in no time!
All of these things are simple to implement and will help your family reach their financial goals, while not sacrificing the foods we love!
This post is all about buying food on a budget and the most unique ways to save money at the grocery store.
1. Walk the Perimeter
I'm sure you've heard this before, but walking the perimeter of the store is sure to help you save money on groceries!
Grocery stores purposely put all of the “essential” foods like meat, milk, eggs, and vegetables on the perimeter so that you have to walk through the aisles to get to them.
What do the aisles have? Processed food that's often quite expensive and is very TEMPTING! By making you walk through the aisles, you're more likely to be tempted by something yummy and make a purchase. It's much easier to pass up on raw meat than it is to pass up on the latest potato chips.
By walking the perimeter, you eliminate the temptation to buy things you don't need and just stick to your grocery list.
2. $5 Meals
Join the $5 Meal program to get all of your meals planned for you each month for just $5!!!!
Yes, you read that right!
This company is amazing and is on a mission to help families with their meal planning for just $5 a month. They send you the meals you'll be making along with a grocery list.
This way, it takes the work out of it for you to think of meals to make and it makes it easier when you go to the grocery store!
3. Make a Grocery List
This brings me to my next point…make a grocery list!
If you have a grocery list to go by, you are more likely to stick to it. It's like giving you a blueprint.
Walking in aimlessly is dangerous (at least for me) as I spend time walking the aisles and am more tempted if I'm looking at items versus searching for the exact item I need.
Try it next time! It's guaranteed to help you stay on your food budget!
4. Use a Discount App
There are many apps that offer a percentage back for submitting your grocery receipts!
Ibotta is one of my favorites for just this! You can submit your grocery receipts in their app and they will give you a percentage back!
5. Always Buy Generic
ALWAYS, ALWAYS buy generic.
Seriously. I kid you not.
I have ALWAYS bought generic and it has saved me thousands over the years! Many generic/store brands are actually the same thing as the name brand, but with different packaging (except Oreos. You can't mess with a name brand Oreo.) =)
6. Order Curbside Pickup
This one may be my favorite way to save money on groceries. I LOVE curbside pickup EVERYWHERE!
My man makes fun of me because he thinks it's lazy, but I see it as a major time saver AND money saver!
I am able to order EXACTLY what I need online and then pick it up for free at the store. This way, I stick to my budget and my grocery list so I only buy the things we need.
This helps me to not be tempted by yummy treats that will only cost me extra money and pounds. =)
7. Consider Dollar Tree
Dollar Tree is actually a great place to go for some things. They often have the exact same things as the big box stores, but for $1!
I put together a list of over 100 items to always buy at the Dollar Tree and I think you'll get some great ideas!
Related:
8. Preview What's on Sale
Before going to the grocery store, go to the store's website online and preview what's on sale that week.
This will help you plan your meals accordingly.
For example, sometimes avocados are $1. Other times, they are $3. We simply will not buy avocados when they are $3. I don't care if they are in a meal I want for that week, my mind will not let me buy them.
This same example goes for all things. If my protein bars aren't on sale, I don't get them. If bell peppers are $2 instead of 50 cents, I don't get them until the week after.
Side story:
Ever send your man to the grocery store to get 1 thing and have them return with something else?
I needed a watermelon so I sent my man to the store to get it.
Let's just say we learned a great lesson that day. He came home was a $23 watermelon that was too big for the fridge and was dried out.
I didn't even know they had $23 watermelons.
Why he didn't opt for the $4.99 watermelon that was equal in size from the same store, I will never know. Now we learned he's not allowed to shop for watermelon anymore…
9. Don't Just Look at Eye Level Foods
Grocery stores are some of the best marketers in the world.
Everything they do is well thought-out to entice you to purchase more. This is why the premium (and tempting) foods are in the aisles…so that you have to walk through them to get to the essential items on the perimeter.
The same thing goes for eye-level foods.
The most expensive foods will always be at eye level.
Make sure to look high and low for generic brands, sales, and lower prices.
10. Buy in Bulk
I love buying in bulk!
If there's a bin, you better believe I'll buy from the bin than buy a packaged item.
I love Costco or just getting a mass quantity of an item. It helps save money and makes life easier for me with less trips to the grocery store.
11. Look for Loyalty Programs
Most grocery stores have a loyalty program and will offer discounts if you sign up for it with an email.
Always look for these loyalty programs and sign up for them as they have saved me thousands over the years!
12. Buy Holiday Items Post-Holiday
Did you know that grocery stores often have to throw out Thanksgiving meals the day after Thanksgiving because no one wants them?
You can get a great deal on a Thanksgiving dinner by going the day after. Just store it in your freezer for another time.
The same thing goes for seasonal candies, teas, alcohol, spices, food items, etc.
13. Bring a Calculator
Try bringing a calculator with you to the store so you can add up the cost of your items as you go!
This will help you stay on budget!
14. Don't Shop When You're Hungry
This is so true! Anyone ever done this? How accurate is this?!
We actually have a rule in our house that we cannot go to the grocery store hungry. We've made this mistake too many times and know that we cannot be trusted at the grocery store when we're hungry.
Everything looks so good and you are more likely to be tempted by things you don't need!
15. Buy Things in Season
Always aim to buy vegetables and fruit when it's in season.
When things are out of season, they are more expensive and they honestly don't taste as good. (See my avocado example above.)
16. Stock Up During Sales
This is a common rule I live by.
If I see something on sale that I know I will use in the future, I stock up on it.
I have an entire backstock shelf that has the backstock items. (Any Home Edit fans? That's where I got the idea from.)
I typically keep diced tomatoes, coconut oil, chicken broth, oatmeal, frozen meats, etc in my back stock.
Basically anything I know I'll use, I'll take advantage of the sale and stock up.
17. Make Food at Home
Making meals at home saves SO MUCH MONEY, it's insane! People don't realize how expensive it is to go out to eat every night.
By making meals at home, you'll save money and learn how to cook! Plus, it's romantic to do with your hubby and fun to do with your kids!
18. Don't be Afraid of Frozen Items
Go for frozen items when you can buy them in bulk and use them at any time.
Fruits, vegetables, and meat can go bad if you don't use it right away. Therefore, feel free to buy frozen foods or freeze the fresh food you've just gotten to avoid having them go bad.
This way, you'll save money by not wasting foo!
19. Consider Growing Your Own Food
Ever thought about having a garden?
This is something I can't wait to do! Try growing your own fruits and vegetables in your back yard so that you save a ton of money and always have the cleanest ingredients!
20. Pay with Cash
Buy paying for groceries with cash at the grocery store, you'll stick to your budget and you'll visibility be able to see how much everything costs.
21. Bring Your Own Grocery Bag
Bringing your own grocery bag will save money in a few ways.
First, grocery stores often give incentives and discounts to people that bring their own grocery bags.
Second, you will skip the 5 or 10 cent charge for a grocery bag.
Third, if you try to stick to just enough items that can fit in that grocery bag, it will save you from splurging on things you don't need and make you think twice on your purchases.
22. Aim for Unpackaged Items
When I say unpackaged items, I mean to aim for a head of lettuce versus the lettuce kit of lettuce in a bag.
By eliminating the packaging, you are saving cost upfront.
23. Go to the Store without the Kids
Kids are known to ask for literally everything in the store. We love them, but we gotta leave them.
By leaving children at home (or husbands), you can grab the things you need quickly and effectively to stick to your food budget and avoid additional, unnecessary items.
24. Hold a Hand Cart
I actually do this every time I go to the grocery store and it saves me so much money!
Instead of a regular cart, I use a hand cart. Since I have to carry all of my items by hand, I go faster through the grocery store and only buy the items I need.
Once my hand cart starts getting heavy, I find myself wanting to leave as quickly as possible.
This works like a charm for me every single time.
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