21 simple but effective ways to cut down your grocery spend
Are you tired of overspending at the grocery store? It’s easy to do – you go in for your weekly shopping, smell some freshly baked bread and can’t resist, then your usual brand is out of stock so you have to choose a more expensive one, and before you know it, your cart is overflowing with items you didn’t plan on buying.
Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. But with groceries being one of the biggest expenses for any household, it’s becoming more and more important to find ways to save money on your purchases.
Here are 21 simple ideas to cut your grocery bills:
- Plan your meals in advance. Meal planning is a great way to streamline your shopping, reduce food waste, and lower your grocery spend.
- Make a shopping list based on your planned meals and stick to it. Avoid impulse purchases.
- Buy seasonal fruit and vegetables. They tend to be better value and more environmentally friendly because they require less shipping.
- Consider switching to generic or lower-cost brands. You may not notice a difference in taste or quality.
- Check the unit price to make sure you’re getting the most cost-effective size. Bulk buying tends to be cheaper but always compare the pricing labels.
- Don’t shop on an empty stomach. Studies have shown that people are more likely to make unnecessary purchases when they’re hungry.
- Look for yellow sticker or reduced food items, especially towards the end of the day. Most things can be frozen, so you can stock up on cheap deals and save them for later.
- Go meatless for some meals. Meat is often one of the most expensive items in the grocery store.
- Be aware of sneaky grocery store tricks. Stores are designed to make as much money as possible, so watch out for things like higher-priced items at eye level or end-of-aisle “bargains” that may not actually be good deals.
- Use coupons to get discounts on the products you buy. Look for them in newspapers, magazines, and online.
- Shop around and compare prices at different stores to find the best deals.
- Buy in bulk if you have the storage space, but make sure to check the unit price to ensure you’re getting a good deal.
- Shop at warehouse stores: Stores like Costco and Sam’s Club offer bulk quantities of items at discounted prices. Just be sure to compare the price to other stores and only buy what you will use before it expires.
- Shop online to take advantage of cashback and coupon codes, but be sure to factor in the cost of delivery.
- Shop at farmers’ markets: Farmers’ markets often have lower prices on produce and other products compared to supermarkets. Plus, you’ll be supporting local farmers and getting fresh, high-quality items.
- Use a grocery price book: Keep track of the prices of the items you regularly buy and compare them to other stores and sales to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
- Use a grocery rebate app: These apps allow you to earn cashback on your purchases by scanning your receipts.
- Shop the perimeter of the store: The perimeter of the store is usually where the fresh produce, meats, and dairy products are located. These items tend to be healthier and cheaper than processed foods found in the centre aisles.
- Plan your meals around sale items: Look at the sales flyers and plan your meals around items that are discounted.
- Buy in bulk and freeze: If you have the storage space, consider buying items like meat, bread, and nuts in bulk and freezing them for later.
- Make your own meals and snacks: Instead of buying pre-made meals and snacks, try making them yourself. It’s often cheaper and healthier to make your own items from scratch.
Saving money on groceries doesn’t have to be a hassle. By following these simple steps, you can reduce your grocery bills without becoming a coupon-clipping fanatic or living on dried noodles. Happy shopping!