I don’t know about you but one of my largest expenses is my grocery bill. Some months it feels so completely out of hand. Know the feeling?
I’ve always considered myself to be somewhat frugal. I know how to shop the sales and I know the price I will and will not pay for an item based on previous sales.
What I seem to have been missing for quite a while is just how much every little purchase, every unnecessary item can add up so quickly. All of the sudden, I’ve spend $100 (or way more) than I had planned to for the month.
In recent months, I have become increasingly aware of my financial goals and tackling my debt. One of the ways I am managing to lower my expenses is to create a monthly budget for my groceries.
My goal is $400 per month with some personal care items included. I’m not quite there yet but every week I have been doing better than the last! We are trying to make healthier food and meal choices, so cheap pasta and rice are not always an option for every meal.
Nonetheless, I have come up with 25+ ways to help lower my grocery bill every month. I know that different areas of the country have different stores. In my area, Meijer, Kroger, Walmart, Aldi, Sam’s Club and Costco are available to me.
My two main stores are Meijer and Aldi with a once per month trip to Sam’s and a very occasional trip to Costco. I’ve heard Kroger has had amazing deals lately, does anyone else shop there?
***Side Note: I have a Sam’s Club membership and my mom has a Costco membership and we use each other’s as needed.***
*****Additional Side Note: I used Groupon to purchase my Sam’s Club membership for half price. This is only available to new members but I also got a bunch of coupons loaded onto my card. If you don’t have a membership yet and would like to buy one, I highly recommend using Groupon. Also, spend the extra money and get a Plus membership. You get cashback when you spend a certain amount of money. Totally worth it.*****
Pantry Challenge
If you haven’t heard of a pantry challenge, it’s where you get to use your creative side. Many of us have items in our cupboards and pantry that are just waiting to be used. I mean, think about all of the food you’ve thrown away because you bought something and never used it so you just threw away. That’s literally throwing your money away.
This is where the challenge comes to play. At first, it should be fairly easy to make meals with the items you have on hand but as your supply starts to dwindle, it can be a little tricky. This is where Pinterest and cookbooks come in handy.
I’ve even taken my remaining items and made a small list of things that I need from the grocery store to finish eating the rest of my food. You would be surprised at the amount of money that you can shave off of your grocery bill for a week, two weeks or even more!
Buy spices from Sam’s Club/Costco
I cringe when I have to buy spices at my local grocery store. The amount of money that a little container of, say garlic salt, is just outrageous to me. Even a bottle twice that size only costs $1.00 at Aldi.
We use a lot of steak seasoning in our house. A little bottle in my area costs about $2.00. This week it was on sale, $1.50 for 3.4 oz. This makes the unit price 51.5 cents per oz. The exact same seasoning at Sam’s is going $5.98 for 29 oz. This makes the unit price 20.6 cents per oz.
What does all of this mean? That my local store is 2.5x more expensive to buy spices from than Sam’s Club. And the deal on Italian seasoning? Out. Of. This. World. If you cook a lot at home, it’s a must to shop for deals whenever you can.
Meal plan
This is an area that I am just starting to dive into. We get out of work at different times and that can make dinner a challenge. We recently started using a whiteboard and I plan out that week’s meals. This way we are on the same page and there isn’t any confusion, or more likely, eating out.
I used to dread coming home to make dinner because I knew it was going to be a guessing game when I got home. What can I make for dinner without anything being thawed out, right?
This way, I can get whatever ingredients I need a day or two in advance so I can start right away as soon as I get home.
Grow a garden
Now, I realize that growing a garden is easier for some than others. You can still grow herbs in a windowsill and there are vertical gardens that you can buy now as well. Both of our parents have gardens and it saves us money on our vegetables. We had green peppers from the garden and some steak from our bulk meat order. Together with other ingredients I had on hand, I made philly cheese stuffed peppers for practically nothing out of my pocket.
Farmer’s market
There are a few things that I like about farmers’ markets in general. One, you are buying locally and therefore are putting money directly back into your local economy. And two, you can find some pretty great deals.
An even better money-saving tip is to go at the end of the day. Most vendors would like to sell whatever they brought and are usually more than willing to lower their prices a bit to make sure that their produce is sold. Buying locally and getting a great deal? Sounds like a winner to me!
Regrow vegetables
This does go with the garden idea but not as extreme. Did you know that certain vegetables can keep growing after they’ve been picked? For example, if you cut green onions (scallions) down so there’s just a little part of the white stalk and roots, they will regrow once they are put in water.
Check out this Buzzfeed article for more information on it.
Meatless days
Anyone else ever feel like you NEED to have meat included in your lunch and dinner? Meat is great and all but it is also a large part of food budgets in general.
We eat meat for the protein but there are other great sources of protein we can eat that do not carry the same price tag. Beans, for example, are high in protein and fiber, along with other nutrients. I can get them for $.60 a can and make at least two meals out of it. Refried bean quesadillas, anyone?
Buy in bulk
There are a few things to consider when you purchase an item in bulk. If it’s perishable, will you use the entire package in time before it expires? Did you double check the unit price to make sure that it’s actually a good deal and not just a marketing gimmick?
I try to buy as many items in bulk as possible. Toilet paper, paper towel, spices (as mentioned before), diapers, wipes, trash bags, laundry soap, snack bars and meat are all things that I buy in bulk. We buy a ¼ cow every fall and it comes out to about $3.50 per pound for organic, grass-fed beef. It tastes so much better than store bought too!
Depending on what your family eats, there are many more things that you can buy bulk. You can buy rice, oatmeal, dried beans and things like that for very cheap. I have not dived into those just yet but I have heard the price comparison is astonishing.
As if I needed another reason, the less often I have to go to the store, the less of a chance I have of buying things I don’t need.
Buy in season
When it comes to produce, it can be very expensive if you do not buy what is on sale or in season. I center our fruits and vegetables mainly around whatever is in season so sometimes, we eat a lot of the same things but it changes with every season.
I just discovered this year that I like strawberries and I bought so many of them as they are very cheap in the summertime. I love fresh blueberries so I will buy big containers and freeze them in freezer bags to have fresh blueberries pancakes whenever I want. You can freeze most fruits very easily. Canning or blanching vegetables is also a great option too. It’s a great way to save money and eat healthy year round.
Shop with a grocery list
This may sound simple but it’s very effective. I’ve noticed that when I go grocery shopping without a list, I tend to buy things that I don’t need and then I forget about the things that I do need.
I try to group items together with the way I walk around the store. For example, I always start in the health and beauty section. So, my list will start with what I need in health and beauty, onto cleaning supplies and so forth.
I’m sure you’ll see this in later posts but a way that motivates me is to time myself. I go through the store as fast as I can, following my list. It helps shorten the time of my trip and it doesn’t give me time to browse the clearance sections for things I don’t honestly need.
Stock-up list
Does your store ever run a great sale? Where items that you normally buy are dirt cheap? Do you stock up on those items when they are priced so low? I know what counts as a low price for an item I normally buy but I don’t always remember how cheap I am able to get it from time to time.
This is where a stock-up list comes in handy. Every persons’ list is going to be a little different but it’s very easy to create one. Let’s say that your store is running a sale and you can buy cream of mushroom soup for $0.69 per can. If this is the lowest price you’ve seen in months, add it to your list for future reference and take advantage of the sale.
The list allows you to have a guide for when you are grocery shopping or need to stock up on an essential. This goes for non-food based items as well like shampoo and conditioner.
Shop at Aldi
Now, I understand that Aldi is not available to everyone. This really applies to any discount store that is available to you. Just like Aldi, they won’t carry all of the items that Walmart does. Only the more popular, essential items. Still, the money that you can save at these stores is substantial.
I used to go to Aldi to buy everything I could on my grocery list and then head to Meijer after that. Now that I try to shop early on Sunday morning, I section my list out and head to Meijer first for the items that I am unable to get at Aldi and then head there next since they open at a later time.
Use rewards and coupons
Many stores have digital coupons that you can use towards your items and/or rewards for spending a certain amount of money each month. You can also use coupons from the Sunday paper, as there is normally at least one insert of coupons.
Another great resource is coupons.com. You print them off and scan them at checkout. One tip: You can access coupons.com by going to Swagbucks and you receive 10 swagbucks per coupon redeemed.
Shop once per week or less
There are some people who completely rock at meal planning and they only have to go shopping once a month. They are amazing and I hope to one day attain a goal such as that. But for now, I stick with going grocery shopping one time per week at the most.
Sometimes, I haven’t realized how low I am on a certain product and I have to make a quick trip to the store but I try hard to avoid it because it’s a dangerous trap for me to buy more. It helps to keep a running list on the fridge once you run out of something. As soon as something pops in your head, write it down. This will help you have a complete list for your next grocery trip. I also have a list in my phone.
Join Facebook groups
There are people out there that love to find the best deal available on groceries. They scour websites and find the best matches between sales and the coupons available. I used to be like this but quite frankly, I just do not have the time anymore. Enter Facebook grocery groups.
I belong to Michigan Meijer weekly deals page and I love it. I don’t have to look for a great deal because someone else has already found the best deals for that week and tells me how to stack the coupons. They will also post when a certain store has a great clearance deal to be on the lookout if your store has the same deal. Bottom line, it’s super helpful, quick and easy.
Grocery deal websites
Much like Facebook groups, there are websites dedicated to the best deals for a variety of stores each week. The one that I have used most often is couponmom.com. Their method of couponing is actually very simple.
They operate under the assumption that you buy a Sunday paper every week but their deals also include digital coupons. As their system goes, you take the inserts of your paper every week and put them away. When they find a deal for a particular item, they tell you which coupon insert week to pull out and just follow instructions from there. Pretty simple, right?
Buy cheaper cuts of meat
Meat can be so expensive at the store, especially if you’re in the mood for beef. With the use of a crockpot, you can buy a cheaper cut of meat and still have a very tender and delicious meal. Paying $4.99 per lb versus $9.99 per lb definitely makes a difference. The stores I shop at normally discount the older, but still perfectly good, cuts of meat later on in the day, as an added bonus.
Pop that baby in there on low for 8 hours and you’ll never be able to tell the difference!
Use Ibotta and Checkout 51
So, whether you’re a coupon person or not, using these apps can help save money every week. I have to admit that I am not always the best about checking the apps every time I go shopping and I end up kicking myself for not snagging free money!
I really love the non-brand name coupons. They’ll have 25 cents off a gallon of milk or 50 cents off a box of cereal. LOVE them.
Buy generic
There are a few items that I would rather not buy generic but for the most part, there’s hardly a difference. This goes for grocery and non grocery items. I love Ulta and Sally’s as much as the next girl but it’s not always the best for my wallet.
I try to stock up on our health and beauty supplies when there’s a Buy One, Get One 50% off running. Not only am I paying about half price for the item by buying generic, I’m saving an additional 50% on the second item. I had to buy diaper cream last night; name brand was $11.69 and the store brand was $4.29. They both work great for us but I would much rather keep the seven dollars in my pocket.
Invest in a deep freezer
Deep freezers can be a god sent sometimes. As we like to buy in bulk, this allows us to store all of our meat properly. I have seen many great deep freezer for sale on garage sale sites and Craigslist. There are different sizes too so you can buy the one that suits your family best. We bought an upright one (looks like a fridge) and we love it.
We can just pull meat out whenever and resist the urge the eat out because “we don’t have any food”. Once I get better about shopping once per month, I would love to be able to store all sorts of frozen items like fruit and vegetables too.
Buy meat in bulk
I’ve mentioned it a few times that we buy meat in bulk but I say this so many times because it really is an awesome thing. Processing included, we buy organic, grass-fed beef for about $3.50 per lb in our area. This includes all of the types of cuts like steaks and roasts. We bought a package that had about 164 premade burgers; it would have been cheaper had we just gone the bulk ground beef route. It tastes so much better than store bought too.
Use a co-op
I don’t have a food co-op near me but I have heard great things about them. As I understand, many of the items you buy in bulk and that’s how you receive such great prices. I’ve seen a few receipts from Amazon Mechanical Turk and it really makes me wish we had one close. Make sure that you use whatever you are buying in bulk. Otherwise, that’s just money down the drain.
Drink water only
I’ve never been much of a pop or juice drinker but I do like my coffee and tea. I always make my own so it’s pretty cheap but my point is, drinks can be expensive.
Our water is very hard and unpleasant to drink on its own, so we have a Brita filter that we use. I have a reusable Brita water bottle with its own filter as well (which reminds me that I need to buy a replacement filter soon). I do still buy bottled water but it’s a habit I am trying to break. Water is free at restaurants compared to the $2.50 per glass you will pay for a flavored drink. Not only is it cheap/free, it’s also much healthier.
I do occasionally buy an alcoholic drink at dinner but when I pay the bill, the drink rarely seems worth the cost. I mean, $9.00 for mixed grapefruit drink? Really?
Never shop hungry
It never fails that when I shop hungry, I always seem to buy more food in general and then junk food that I really don’t need. Since I like to shop early in the morning, I take a thermos of coffee with me to satisfy my taste buds until I come home to make breakfast. Even having a granola bar before you walk in can make a big difference in the amount of your bill.
Pay in cash
As I say this, understand that you can use cash-back credit cards as long as you pay them in full each month. For some of us though, that’s not so easy. And there’s nothing like only having a certain amount of cash on hand to make sure that you stay on budget.
There’s just something about having physical cash in your hand that makes you think about every single item in your cart. We have a spare change/bills jar in our kitchen to store any extra money that we accumulate throughout the week. It’s a great place to store any leftover grocery money for a rainy day (or effortless savings account).
Shop ethnic stores
I have never shopped at an ethnic store but I’ve heard that their prices are almost unbeatable. The theory behind this (I’ve heard) is that they do not have name brands and therefore, do not have the huge markup associated with name brands. So, don’t be afraid to shop in an unfamiliar store. You never know what you will be able to find!
Never buy something just because it’s a good deal
This is something I really struggle with, last week even. They had a good deal on laundry soap and conditioner. The thing is, I already had a supply of both. The budget was a little tight last week and I totally would have gone over budget if I had bought them JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE A GOOD DEAL.
Now, I fully believe in stocking up at a great price. But, it was a want versus need situation and I decided that I didn’t truly need those items. Definitely made the right choice there.
Forget pre cut fruits and vegetables
Just today, I saw a post on Facebook that really made me think. It was a comparison picture of watermelon. The woman had a huge, overflowing bowl of watermelon that she had bought for $3.99 and cut up herself. Next to it, a small bowl with only about 20% of what the large bowl contained. The price? $4.99. She paid a dollar more and received a MUCH smaller portion. Stores love to sell convenience and it comes at a high price. Take the extra five minutes and cut it up yourself. You won’t miss the time on Facebook anyways 🙂
Go without the kids if you can
I realize that this is easier said than done, I’ve been there. This is why I go early in the morning when my little one and better half are still sleeping. I’ve heard that it can be difficult as kids get older to resist toys or food items that you otherwise wouldn’t buy. Not to mention the increased amount of time that you spend in the grocery store when you shop with them.
We love to browse the aisles and look shoes, bakeware, pots etc. It’s dangerous.
Only buy what you truly need
This goes hand in hand with the point above about not buying something just because it’s a good deal. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a great deal. I love browsing the clearance aisles for things that I *might* need. I do a great job of convincing myself that I need another kitchen gadget, bathroom towel etc. Even if you spend $5.00 per week on extra things that you didn’t need, that amounts to $260.00 per year.
What could you do with an extra $260.00 a year? Is that a car payment? Credit card payment? A memorable adventure weekend for you and the kids? I’m sure you can come up with better ways to use that money than on stuff you didn’t need.
Well, there you have it. My top 30 ways to save money at the grocery store. I would love to hear any feedback you have, including the ones I haven’t had a chance to try yet!
Leave a comment and let me know what you think!