Hi Friends
How are you all holding up these days? I know most of us are still feeling some form of anxiousness and uncertainty during this COVID-19 pandemic. Another thing I know is that even in uncertain times, we all still have to eat. So today I want to discuss how we can save some money while grocery shopping. And it’s not just for financially/ economically uncertain times like now, but a good thing to practice going forward. Because let’s face it… who doesn’t want to save money??
#1 Walk into the store with a set budget in mind/ set amount of cash (and do not go over)
If you are like me, you have tried this and STILL go over. So maybe consider using the “envelop method” where you allocate money for your groceries when you get paid and keep the cash in an envelop. Then only take that with you shopping so once it’s done, there is nothing else to spend. Or have a card dedicated to only groceries and that is what you take with you. You will load up the funds, via automatic transfer, during payday.
As you are shopping, don’t forget to bring your own bags! Let’s save the planet while saving some money. I even sell some totes that I take grocery shopping. They are handmade in India with recycled and spare fabrics.
#2 Make a shopping list
I fail to save money when I walk into the grocery store unprepared (or any type of store really). What has helped is when I use paper or my phone’s notes app to make a list of items I need. Knowing what I am making for the upcoming week beforehand is super helpful and key to making the list short. I like to scroll down Pinterest to see what dishes call to me, then make a list of what’s needed.
#3 Shop your refrigerator and pantry first
You know that annoying feeling of buying something just to see a pack of it already at home? Yea.. me too. I find I sometimes repurchase things because I did not take inventory of what I had first. Or I buy a bunch of food but have ingredients for FULL MEALS already at home. So it has been helpful to shop my fridge first and make what I see. Then when it’s the scheduled shopping day, I will buy items for other meals that have been on my mind.
#4 Price shop at different grocery markets
We need to treat grocery shopping as we do other shopping. I know when I want a cute bag, for example, I see which retailer has that look at the best price. So why not do that with our food? There are apps that can help show what items are on special at your favorite grocery stores.
Another tip is the utilize your notes section of your phone. When you see that a particular item is always at a good price at a specific location, write it down. I know where I can find meats, like ribs and lamb, at the best price and where it is always more expensive. Take note.
#5 Reduce the number of trips you make and create a schedule (ex: only go once every 2 wks)
Another useful practice I started was set specific grocery shopping dates. When I would just go to the store whenever I need an item, I would always over shop. So now I make it a note to only go grocery shopping every 2 weeks. Depending on your family size, budget and location, you may need to go more or less often, but set a schedule.
#6 Themed meals for the week (to stop from buying too many different ingredients each trip)
When I started to cook more, Pinterest used to inspire me to make all these fancy dishes but the problem was they all required unique ingredients that I didn’t use often. So once I used the small amount to make my dish, the rest would go to waste! Especially if it was fresh produce like a bushel of cilantro.
One way to minimize this is to have themed meals for the week (or two weeks). For example, if I made a delicious sofritos burrito bowl for work lunches, I would make dinners and additional lunches in the same Mexican cuisine family. That way the same ingredients will be used for multiple dishes. It adds variety to my meals and reduces waste.
#7 Make a weekly meal plan
To make the previous tip work, it helps to meal plan! Know in advance what you want to make for the upcoming weeks and shop accordingly (starting with your fridge and pantry of course).
#8 Plan meals based on what veggies and fruits are in season (even meats in some cases)
This is not a new tip but sometimes we need a little reminder. When shopping for produce, be mindful of what is currently in season. Buying fruits and vegetables when they are not is usually more expensive. So google what is in season now and use Pinterest to see what unique and delicious meals can be made with them.
#9 Ditch the Wholefoods and Fairways trips
Now I love the fancier grocery stores as much as the next person, but when I walk out of fairway my bags are always lighter while my bill is heavier. They have AMAZING items and a plethora of options, but its not healthy for my budget so I try to minimize when I shop there. That goes for Wholefoods and other more expensive supermarkets as well. I’m not saying never go, I’m just saying to at least cut back significantly.
#10 Grocery pick-up services to help reduce temptation
Do you find it hard to trust yourself in the grocery isles? Yeah, me too. So why not order online and have your items delivered or ready for pick-up? I have not tried this yet but I can see how helpful it is. You can’t pick up impulse buys if you don’t see them.
#11 Buy in bulk when it makes sense to
Now usually when you buy in bulk you are actually spending more money at that moment, but it makes sense when it is an item you repurchase often. Take rice for example. My family consumes a lot of rice so it makes sense to buy in bulk so that it lasts longer and saves money in the long run.
Buy in bulk to refill smaller containers of items like spices, pasta, cereal, etc.
#12 Check the price per unit size
Similar to the notion above, it may make sense to buy the larger amount of an item. I like to check the price per unit to see what makes more sense. Sometimes I would see an item with twice the amount of product for only a quarter of the price (or less) higher. That to me is a deal because you are getting more for your money. An example: a supermarket may have loose apples for purchase at $5 per pound which works out to 7 apples. But they also have a pre-packaged bag of 12 apples for $8. The loose apples work out to be $0.71 each whereas the bagged apples are $0.66 each. It is more cost effective to get the bagged dozen.
#13 Ditch the name brands (& buy generic)
As a kid I used to turn my nose up at the store brand cereals but now, I’m not so snobby! Generic brand items are almost always less expensive than the name brand version yet just as good. Check the ingredient list to help determine if they are the same. I like to look at the order the ingredients are in. Product ingredients are listed by quantity — from highest to lowest amount.
#14 Rebate apps or cash back cards
How lucky are we that we get to live in a time where apps can give us cash back for shopping! And not just retail shopping but also grocery shopping. Look into apps like Ibotta, Shopkick, Dosh and more. Google and compare to see which is best for you.
#15 Eat before you go grocery shopping
This last tip is an important one… don’t go to the grocery store on an empty stomach! I know it sounds silly, but it’s a real problem. Some people go hungry and end up emotional buying to fill whatever craving they currently have, especially in the snack department. They are hungry so everything that’s a fave looks appetizing. Me on the other-hand, I cannot make up my mind when I go shopping hungry. I end up with nothing substantial and just in need of another trip in a few days. Either way, it doesn’t work out. So have a meal or snack before you shop 🙂
Those are my 15 tips to saving money when you go grocery shopping! I hope those were helpful and made sense. If you have any others, leave in the comments! I’d love to find more ways to save.
And if you are interested in more money and saving tips, check out this post where I share “Ways to save $hundreds right away“.
Until next time my loves! Stay safe and stay inside (if its still COVID-19 time while reading this).
With love,
CoCo
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