When it seems like grocery prices just keep going up and up, you may be looking for ways to cut your grocery bill. Spending less on groceries means you will be able to allocate those funds to other places. Places they REALLY matter. When it seems like there simply isn’t anything else you can do to save a little extra cash, I promise you there are ways. Sometimes it takes being a little creative, which is why I decided to compile a list of some of my favorite ways you can cut your grocery bill. Let’s figure out ways to stretch your budget and save some cash!
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Shop Your Pantry & Fridge First
This may seem obvious but use the food you have at home before you buy more! I’ve recently started doing this and it has cut my grocery budget literally in half. Prior to implementing this in my own routine I was wasting so much food because I would forget about it and it would expire. When you use up a pantry staple like rice or oatmeal, add it to your list so you can buy more next time you’re at the store. If you want to stay extra organized, keep an excel spreadsheet of all the items you have on hand so you always know where the gaps in categories are.
Make A List And Stick to It
This is another thing that has significantly cut my grocery budget. Before going to the store, I take inventory of the items I have at home and make a list of the things I still need to pick up to make meals. When shopping, I only buy things on my list. If it’s not on the list it doesn’t go in the cart! While this has been one of the more difficult tips to stick to, it certainly makes a difference in the long-run. Don’t forget to add a few snacks and sweet treats to your list. Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat yourself from time to time!
Meal Plan
Plan your meals for the week using first the ingredients you have. While planning out your meals, make a list of the items you still need to pick up to make those things. Don’t have much for inventory? Add in a few meals you can make with cheap ingredients. A few cheap meal ideas include soup, spaghetti, sandwiches, and casseroles. Even choosing one low-cost meal can really transform a budget.
Buy Generic Products
I’ve found that many of the name brand items I love have a generic copycat item that’s basically the same thing. Sometimes these items are even half the price of what the brand name companies would charge! Now, there are a few items the generic brands just can’t replicate well enough, but for the most part they taste exactly the same. I’ve found that most of my grocery cart now consists of generic items!
Stick To A Budget
Make a budget and stick to it! First, I would start with averaging out the amount of money you spend on groceries every week. Then, use that amount to shop with and never spend more than that amount. Lastly, if you think you could get enough groceries for the week with less money, slowly start decreasing that amount every week until you are at a comfortable place with your budget. If you have extra money in your budget, stock up on items that will last you a while like some pantry staples or freezer items.
Simplify Your Meals
Using a variety of ingredients will obviously cost you more money because you’ll have a variety of things you need to buy! Choose meals that only have a few staple ingredients that you can also use to make other things during the week. Also, keep some simple seasonings on hand like salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Even using the most basic seasonings will add a little flair to your meal without breaking the bank.
Make More Items From Scratch
While this is one I haven’t quite mastered, there are several content creators out there that consume mostly homemade items! And, with the tool of Pinterest right at your fingertips, you can optimize basic ingredients you already have and create something great! Start out by making homemade mini muffins or bread! Another hack I like to use is instead of buying pre packaged brownies or cookies, I make them at home! This can be done from scratch or with mixes purchased at the grocery store. Either way, you’re going to be saving money!
Buy In Bulk
If you have the money to stock up on a common ingredient you use a lot of, buy it in bulk! Bulk prices are often a lot lower than when you buy items in a smaller quantity. The only downside to stocking up on groceries is you need a place to store them. If you have a small kitchen like myself, you need to get creative with how you store them. You could look into storing solutions for closets, basements, or even underneath your bed!
Search For Coupons
Many grocery stores offer both clip-out coupons in newspaper ads and online coupons you can save and use in-store. If the grocery store you’re shopping at has an app, download it! There will likely be discounts you can only get through the app. Plus, it’s a great place to easily check for weekly deals or sales.
Watch For Sale Items
When planning your weekly grocery haul, you’re going to want to look first at the items currently on sale. Look for in-season fruits and vegetables to center your meal plan around. When looking at what is on sale, search for recipes that include those items. Sometimes pantry staples are on sale at my grocery stores. I use this opportunity to stock up so I don’t have to include them in my budget when planning for recipes that include those ingredients.
Use Apps to Get Money Back
This is something I feel like not many people know about. There are several apps out there that will give you money back for the everyday items you purchase! Personally I use Fetch Rewards but another popular app is Ibotta. These apps will give you points for your purchases that you can exchange for gift cards to some of your favorite shopping places.
I hope this list was helpful when trying to figure out how to really cut that grocery budget! I know times are tough so there is no shame reaching out to others if you really need help feeding your family. If you have any other suggestions, share them in the comments so other readers can work on decreasing their grocery bills too!
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