How to Save Money at the Grocery Store
I’ve really made an effort over the past couple of months to cut down on my grocery budget. Everyone has a different idea of what’s reasonable to spend, but let’s just say I was spending way too much money on groceries, especially when you consider how often I receive free products to review. It was time to get things in order.
So I made a few of the usual changes, planning meals, packing lunches, but I did find a few things more helpful than others. I mean, we all know what we need to doβ¦ but it’s not that easy, now is it.
This is a sample of groceries for the week:
Stop trying to be perfect
You’re not going to pack your lunch every single day. You’re not always going to use all of your produce before it goes bad. Sometimes you’ll have to take an unplanned trip to the grocery store (oops, impulse buys!) it happens. But it’s not that big of a deal. Just like healthy eating, it’s about balance. If you forget to pack your lunch on Monday, don’t throw everything out the window for the rest of the week. Just pack it Tuesday.
If you don’t know what to do with it, don’t buy it
Eggplants are on sale? Awesome. But if you have no idea what to do with it, or you don’t really like it… don’t buy it. It’s like buying clothing because it’s on sale. You’ll always avoid it, you’ll let it sit in the fridge, and then eventually you’ll have to throw it out. This is where planning comes in handy. Think about what you could do with leftover ingredients. Think about new ways to revamp leftovers.
Be realistic with what you buy
Yes, dried beans are cheaper than canned, but are you really going to soak them overnight? Don’t get too ambitious, otherwise, you’ll just end up ordering take out. Keep in mind things like pre-cut vegetables (you know, the ones wrapped in plastic wrap) are way more expensive than veggies you’ll have to chop yourself. But sometimes things like pre-packaged/washed lettuce will make dinner come together much easier. Decide what you have time for, and plan accordingly. I personally love kale that is pre-cut and washed, but I don’t mind dicing my own peppers and onions. (They also keep a lot longer that way!)
Know what things cost
I’m not saying you need to go to every grocery store in town for the best price, but decide what is worth your money. I love certain things from the farmers market, so it’s worth it to me to pay a little bit more. Check out some of your staple grocery items and see if there is a store brand that costs a little less.
That said, in college, I lived of Kroger Carbmaster yogurt. It’s like $0.40 a cup. And it’s full of a bunch of random preservatives, chemicals, and flavorings. It’s worth it to me, to pay a little bit more for Greek yogurt that doesn’t contain things I can’t pronounce. Know what things cost and why you’re paying more or less.
What does all this mean? Well for me, I’ve basically cut my grocery spending in half this month, saving me about $150 bucks. That’s $150! That’s a lot of money, my friends. But I’ve still been able to cook dinner for friends, try out new recipes, and pick up my favorite local groceries at the farmer’s market.
Great tips, darling! Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us <3
GREAT tips–that seem to focus on what so few “budget advice” things do–figure out what IS worth the money to you, whether it’s quality or convenience that will ensure you actually use something. Yeah, rice is cheap as dirt, but I WILL NOT COOK IT, no matter how long it sits in my house. So even spending $1 on it’s a complete waste. But buying the Greek yogurt brand I LIKE, even if it’s a few cents more? Worth it.
I totally agree!! I can’t believe all the things I’ve bought but haven’t used!
I felt kinda ridiculous at my company’s last food drive, because I was bringing in these weird elaborate grains and canned goods…but they’d been in my cabinets for months, so I wanted them to go where they’d actually be used! I can just imagine the guests at the food kitchen after that though, haha…probably not quite as used to weird foods as the HLB community π
Great tips! Some things are worth paying more for, I agree. I love grape tomatoes, which are more expensive than the other types, but I get them because I know I’ll eat them. Also, the biggest tip that has helped me save money (and believe me, I’m cheap when it comes to food- fashion, not so much!) is to think of creative ways to work with what I’ve got. I used to think I had to go to the grocery store whenever I was low on say lettuce or something. Now, I just use what I’ve got. Frozen veggies are a cheap cook’s treasure π
I love using frozen veggies for things like soup! They work perfectly and they’re so much cheaper! I also buy frozen blueberries in bulk because I love them on my yogurt but they’re just so expensive to buy fresh!
Would you be willing to do more money saving tips at the grocery store? This post is seriously awesome (as someone straight out of college and wanting to save as much money as possible!). True story though, don’t buy things unless you know where they are going!
Totally! I’m glad people find this helpful! I seriously used to spend upwards of $400 a month at the grocery store when I was a vegan (that’s so insane!) but luckily I’ve gotten it waaaay down! I’ll share more tips soon!
Great tips! I find that making a list helps me stay on track. That way I remember what I need, and am less likely to buy things I don’t!
Awesome tips! Thanks for sharing :).
This is so great Liz! One thing I want to do once I am done with my internship and have a paying job is to write down every single thing I buy in terms of food for a week or two (eating out, groceries, the occasional diet coke etc.) This will help determine how and where to actually cut back on costs and make a loose budget!
That’s a great idea! I’d love to hear what you discover!
I thinking “knowing what things cost” is huge. I hate buying something, only to find it much cheaper in another store. So, I’ve tried to pay attention to when an item is priced appropriately (or on a “must buy” type sale!).
I also spend the most money on food in my budget, but I feel like it is the most important to me so it’s okay to not buy the cheapest things sometimes. Nevertheless, I realize that my spending can go way down! My best (cheapest) shopping trip was when I had a semi-meal plan on Sunday for the rest of the week and bought ingredients that would work well for a lot of dishes. That way I wouldn’t be left with a bunch of carrots, or half a bag if broccoli at the end of the week!
I’ve been trying to do a little more meal planning and it definitely seems to help!
Γongrats on the savings π I need to start tracking our monthly grocery bill. It has been difficult to do because Marty and I both pick things up at the store. When we first got married we would make one trip a week together but now, I go to the grocery store almost everyday and pick up what I need. He will stop 2-3x a week too because there are things he buys that he knows I won’t bring home (aka processed, sugary cereals- I just can’t do it!)
We are probably spending too much on groceries; however, we do limit the amount of times we’ll eat out every month so that saves money on date nights. Maybe I will try harder to track our budget in June! Thanks for all of the great tips π