It seems like the newest topic on everyone’s mind is how to save money at the grocery store. It came up in conversation recently, my social media feeds keep showing me videos and posts on how to do this, and I am even getting emails with articles as well.
I am not surprised given how expensive groceries have become since we first saw a price increase with lots of supply chain issues starting in 2020. However, it seems like the prices never went back down and I still notice weird item/brand substitutions at my usual store.
If you find yourself wondering if there is anything you can do at all to help keep your spending down every week, the answer is yes!
Keep reading for 5 tips on how to do this.
1. Have a budget. It may sound obvious but not everyone plans how much money they will spend at the grocery store each week. I highly recommend having a range and absolutely setting a maximum number. This will help you keep spending within reason and it will allow you to include this as part of your overall budget or money spending plan, which you should definitely have!
2. Limit Target visits in person. This one is highly specific but if you are like me, every time I walk into Target to pick up one or two things, I spend at least $100. I started doing online ordering with curbside pick up and it really has helped me cut down on Target spending.
3. Re-do your grocery list weekly. I have a basic list in an app but every Sunday before I go food shopping, I edit with what we need. It is tempting to replenish every single thing, especially when you are not sure what snack your kid will like this week but it’s not necessary. I now wait until most of the snacks are done before buying new ones. You can do this with any item. It also helps create variety by forcing you to use what is available. If you know you won’t want to make fish twice this week, then don’t buy both salmon and tilapia and wait until the week after (unless there is a great sale!).
4. Buy the sales. This is a good follow-up to the last point. Sometimes I like to break from the list and either add or substitute items based on the sales I see in the grocery store. For example, if there is a sale in shrimp, I may buy a bag of that instead of another seafood. It also helps to be mindful of the pricing of different vegetables. I often switch which kind of tomatoes or grapes I get and even apples or oranges.
5. Use points and coupons. Not every store will have this option, but if yours does, take advantage! I go through my Giant app while standing in line and add the coupons I need. I also collect points and can redeem those for money when paying. I have been able to get $20 of my bill at times!
Hope these tips are a good start on how to save money. I will start posting recipes of easy and budget friendly meals that are also healthy. My kids (almost 6 and 7 years old) don’t always eat these but I will also have tips if you are having to make an adult and a child meal. We are still working on this at our home!
Let me know if there are any specific recipes you would like to see!
