How To Save Money on Groceries

Over the years, I've learned how to stretch a dollar, especially when it comes to grocery shopping. One of the first things that can throw your monthly budget for a loop is the price of food.

When grocery prices soar, as we've seen in recent years, there are some effective strategies you can do that can teach you How to Save Money on Groceries. Some of these grocery-saving hacks will only save you a few bucks each week, but when combined, they can lead to substantial savings each month.

A Comprehensive Guide for Budgeting Families

For the past 15 years, I have passionately shared recipes and techniques to help my readers feed their families efficiently. Now, I've decided to consolidate all my practical money-saving strategies and household budgeting tips into one comprehensive guide. My goal is to help you in managing your food budget more effectively and effortlessly.

Grocery shopping is a necessary but often expensive task. However, with careful planning and savvy strategies, we can make the most of our monthly food budget.

Whether you're on a strict budget or simply looking to save some extra money, this guide will provide valuable tips and tricks for smart grocery shopping.

My Journey of Saving on Groceries

Over the past 40 years, my family size has changed, and no matter the number of people I've been feeding, I've used different ways to budget when shopping. What worked when my family was small worked just as well when I was feeding a larger family.

The same methods I used years ago still work today. Recently, I've had to step it up and go back to many of these tried-and-true techniques to cut back even more on my grocery costs.

Join me as I start a new smart grocery shopping series. This first post will cover all the ways I've found to save money while feeding my family. Bookmark it—you don't want to miss any tips as I make updates.

In the coming weeks I will be breaking each money saving method down with more detailed tips and hacks that I do as I am using these grocery saving methods.

Sign up for my newsletter and get my new Quick Guide to Grocery Savings so you don't miss out on my smart grocery saving tips.

Easy Ways to Save Money on Groceries

Use these money saving tips before you leave the house.

• Do Not Shop When Hungry:

Shopping on an empty stomach can lead to impulse buys and unnecessary spending. Eat a small snack before heading to the store to avoid temptation. This will help you stick to your list and avoid buying items that you don't need.

• Plan Your Meals: Make a Weekly Meal Plan

Take some time at the beginning of each week to plan out your meals. This will help you create a grocery list and avoid buying unnecessary ingredients. It also allows for more efficient meal prep, saving both time and money in the long run.

Planning your meals for the week or month helps you buy only what you need, reducing food waste and unnecessary purchases.

Not sure where to start? Read my How to Start Meal Planning article.

• Check the Pantry and Freezer Before Shopping

Before making your shopping list, check your pantry and freezer to see what ingredients you already have. This helps avoid buying duplicates. It also allows for more budget-friendly meal planning, using up items that may have been forgotten.

Saving tips to use at the grocery store

Use these money saving tips at the grocery store while managing your food budget.

• Shop with a grocery list:

Always shop with a list to stay focused and avoid impulse buys. This will also help you stick to your meal plan and avoid buying items that are not necessary. Additionally, it can save you time by preventing multiple trips to the grocery store.

• Check Weekly Sales Flyers and Do a Grocery Price Comparison

Before heading to the store, review weekly sales flyers and compare prices to get the best deals. Plan your meals for the week around the best deals you can find.

• Buy Store Brands:

Store brands often offer the same quality as name brands at a fraction of the price. Consider trying out store brand products for some of your staple groceries to save money.

• Buy in Bulk

Buying in bulk can save you money in the long run, especially on non-perishable items or pantry staples that you use frequently. Look for deals and discounts on bulk items to maximize your savings.

Stock up on non-perishable items when they are on sale. Bulk buying can lead to significant savings over time.

• Use Coupons and Discount Codes

Coupons and discount codes are a great way to save money when shopping. Many grocery stores offer digital coupons that can be stacked with paper coupons and weekly sales. You will be amazed at how much you can save with this one method.

Look for coupons in store flyers or online, and consider downloading cashback apps like Ibotta or Checkout 51 to earn money back on certain items.

If you sign up for Ibotta and get started with my referral code ibmo7g, we'll both earn cash! Use my referral link to get started!

Start making things from scratch

Making foods from scratch can be more economical. It might seem like a no-brainer, but as consumers, we have gotten very lazy. Instead of buying a pre-made salad or a bag of chopped vegetables, buy the whole head of lettuce or the whole vegetable and chop it yourself.

It may take a little extra time, but it can save money in the long run. Plus, making things from scratch can often lead to healthier options.

You can make many of the boxed mixes you have in your pantry from scratch. Pre-packaged items often come with a higher price tag compared to buying the individual ingredients and making it yourself.

Here are just a few examples of my recipes for foods you can make from scratch at home.

• Sandwich bread, homemade pasta noodles, pizza sauce, and pizza dough.
• coffee creamer, coffee syrup, bulk pancake mix

• Make Extracts at Home:

Homemade extracts can save money and are often more flavorful than store-bought versions. Try making homemade vanilla extract by soaking vanilla beans in vodka or almond extract by soaking almonds in alcohol. These extracts can last a long time and are great for baking and cooking.

• Make other household products from scratch:

Make your own bulk powdered laundry soap and all-purpose cleaning sprays at home to save money. There are plenty of simple and effective DIY recipes available online that use common household ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils.

Use your freezer to save money

• Buy meat and poultry in bulk

Take advantage of weekly sales and buy multiple packs of meat and poultry your family eats each week. Meat is the most expensive item on a grocery list. Take as much advantage of weekly sale prices as possible.

Check out how I freeze chicken. I do the same thing with bulk ground beef, stew meat or roasts.

• Make Freezer Meals:

Stocking your freezer with homemade, ready-made meals can significantly cut down on your food expenses. This strategy not only allows you to buy ingredients in bulk, often at a lower cost, but also helps you avoid the higher prices of pre-packaged convenience foods.

Having prepared meals on hand reduces the temptation for costly takeout or restaurant dining, ensuring you stay on track with your budget. It can also cut down on trips to the grocery store. Pack your freezer with enough meals and you can skip the grocery shopping trips for a week or longer.

Check out some of my Freezer Meal recipes here.

• Bulk Cook Meals

Bulk cook meals and freeze the leftovers. It takes the same amount of time and effort to double a recipe and cook it, providing you with convenient, ready-to-eat meals.

I do this every single time I make any of my Instant Pot Soup recipes or Crock Pot Soups.

Grow Your Own Produce & Herbs

• Start a Garden:

Growing your own fruits and vegetables not only saves money, but it also ensures you have fresh and healthy options available. Even if you don't have a large backyard, there are plenty of small space gardening options available.

• Grow Herbs in Containers:

If you don’t have space for a garden, growing herbs in containers can still save you money. Plus, fresh herbs are always more flavorful than store-bought dried ones. Dry the surplus and make your own herb blends at home and save money.

I like to dry common fresh herbs like parsley, oregano, and dill in the dehydrator to have money in my spice cabinet. I even make my own Mint tea at home with the mint I have grown and dehydrated.

Use Easy, Budget-Friendly Food Preservation Methods

Methods like vacuum sealing, freezing, and dehydrating can help you save money by preserving food for longer periods. This allows you to take advantage of sales or bulk purchases and seasonal fruits and vegetables without worrying about food spoilage.

Learn More Advanced Food Preserving Methods

Methods like freeze drying, water bath canning, and pressure canning are advanced but worthwhile skills that require some investment in equipment.

Conclusion

Saving money on groceries doesn't have to be a daunting task. By implementing these easy grocery-saving tips, you can significantly reduce your monthly food expenses.

Whether you're a frugal family, a budget-conscious shopper, or someone on a tight budget, these strategies can help you make the most of your grocery budget.

Stay tuned for more tips and tricks as I continue this smart grocery shopping series. Don't forget to bookmark this post and share it with others who might benefit.

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Feel free to reach out with any questions or share your own tips for saving money on groceries in the comments below.

Let's help each other navigate these challenging times with smart and savvy grocery shopping strategies.

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