As we all know by this point, the price of groceries is getting a little bit ridiculous. Inflation is crazy right now and prices in the grocery stores are shooting up. For some people, it even looks like it is more affordable to order out rather than buying groceries and cooking at home. However, for a lot of people, that is simply way out of the budget.
As a young adult living on a tight budget myself, I know how hard it can be to get all the groceries that you need in a way that is affordable. Luckily, I found a few ways that help me save money at my local grocery store and I hope that they can help you out too.
1.) Check your Pantry
How many of us go to the store and have the same ingredients just stacking up in our fridge or pantry? How many of us have bought ingredients that we don’t use that often that have been in the fridge or pantry for way too long? I know I have definitely been guilty of this before.
One key rule to saving money on groceries and reducing food waste is to shop your pantry first! Check to see what you already have in the pantry and see what meals that you can build around that. It is also important for reducing food waste because you can see what ingredients are about to expire and make sure to use them up before they go bad.
This also goes beyond just the pantry. Make sure to check the pantry, the cabinets, the fridge, and the freezer. If you have a tight grocery budget for your upcoming trip, then shopping your kitchen first can really help you to save a lot of money.
2.) Create a Grocery List and Meal Plan
Never ever go into a grocery store without a plan. Writing out a grocery list before you leave the house helps you stick to your budget. I also advise creating some sort of meal plan so you know what you are eating throughout the week. This meal plan should include different breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner options. Your grocery list should include all of the ingredients that you need to pick up from the store to cook those recipes.
Don’t forget to factor in the first tip when creating your grocery list and meal plan.
3.) Check the Prices
Don’t just go grabbing items in the store willy-nilly. When shopping on a budget, it is important to make sure that you are comparing prices. Some brands are more expensive than others, and you can save money by buying more affordable brands.
A lot of these brands are essentially selling the same thing, so I would just say buy the most affordable option. However, there are a few product categories that I would say to stick to your favorite name brand item. It is really up to your discretion, but I would suggest adding more affordable brands to your grocery list.
4.) Check For Your Grocery Store’s Coupon List
This is one of my favorite ways to save money on groceries! A lot of grocery stores have specific coupon lists and weekly deals that you can either find in newspapers, on their website, or using their app. Make sure to look through the different deals and sales that you could take advantage of and build your meal plans based around that.
It is important to note that all sales aren’t always the most affordable option. Make sure you are still price checking when you go to the store to ensure that you are getting the best deal.
5.) Sign up for your Grocery Store’s Rewards Program
A lot of grocery stores now have a membership or rewards program that you can sign up for on the website or on their app. These programs allow people to benefit from shopping at their grocery store. Some programs offer exclusive deals, cash back, or loyalty points that can be traded in for free groceries.
Check your local grocery store and see which programs you can take advantage of.
6.) Don’t Buy Pre-Prepared Foods
If you are going to the store and buying pre-chopped fruits and vegetables then you are wasting your money. It is so much cheaper to just buy the entire produce item and prepare them yourselves.
I know that it is more convenient to buy pre-prepared food items, but it only takes a few minutes to prepare food on your own. The money you save is definitely worth the time. Just make sure to invest in some reusable containers or bags to store the food in.
7.) Buy in Bulk if You Can
Buying in bulk may be more costly upfront, but you save money in the long-run because you don’t have to constantly repurchase the same items. This is especially important if you are buying for a large family or for a lot of people. Don’t be afraid to spend the money upfront. If you are making a plan before buying your groceries then you should be confident in buying in bulk.
However, it is important to note that you can’t buy everything in bulk. Only buy products that you know won’t go bad or will be used in a good amount of time.
8.) Check Out your Local Farmers Market
I love going to my local farmer’s market in the warm seasons. A lot of the times buying fresh produce at the farmers market can be cheaper than buying produce in grocery stores. I also feel like you get a wider variety of produce options if you like to make food from different cultural backgrounds, and the food tends to be more fresh and natural.
9.) Don’t Stick to Eye Level
Popular Name Brand items are usually placed on the shelves at eye-level. Make sure to look up and down the shelves to find some generic items that can be just as good as your name brand products. You also don’t just have to buy the generic store brand to save money. There are a ton of different brand that are selling the same products. You never know, you might just find your new favorite brand that’s affordable too!
10.) Don’t Buy Items that are 1 Serving Size
Try not to buy products that are sold in individual serving sizes. For example, apple sauce is often sold in little cups. However, you can save a lot of money if you buy the apple sauce in a large container and portion it out yourself. It doesn’t take too long to portion it out yourself, and you can maintain the convenience factor by putting it into your own portable containers.