Last updated Mar. 9, 2023 by Peter Jakes
I get it: Grocery shopping is not most people’s idea of a fun Friday night. But if you’re trying to save money on groceries, it can be even less fun.
Luckily, there are many ways to do that without giving up your favorite foods or making yourself miserable at the store.
These tips will help make grocery shopping less of an ordeal and more like an activity that saves you money.
Reuse your bread bags.
Like me, you go through a lot of bread bags. I use them to store all kinds of leftovers, produce, dirty laundry, toys, etc. Here are some creative ways to reuse your bread bags:
Reuse the bags as trash can liners. -This prevents your plastic bag from making trash smell worse than it already does.
Use them for storing wet clothes (like bathing suits) when you’re traveling or don’t have access to laundry machines. They’re also great for keeping track of wet towels in hotel rooms when traveling with kids.
Store dirty dishes in bread bags until you get home from eating out at restaurants or parties, so they don’t take up valuable freezer space (I love doing this).
Use an app to save money on groceries.
You’ll be able to save money on your grocery bills by using an app that curates coupons from around the web. The app, called Checkout51, is free and has a database of over 50,000 coupons.
It will help you find the best deals at your local stores and compare prices.
Another option if you don’t want to download any apps (or want something simpler) is to make use of Google’s assistant feature by saying “Hey Google” or “OK Google,” and then speaking out loud what you’re looking for:
Show me coupons for Checkout51. Any available coupons for that product in our mobile search results will appear right underneath the category/brand/product’s name.
Go to Aldi (or another discount store).
The discount grocery store Aldi is a great place to buy produce, meat, dairy, and cleaning products.
Aldi is a discount grocery store that has locations throughout the United States. It’s known for offering people high-quality groceries at low prices.
You can save money on your grocery bill by shopping at Aldi instead of other grocery stores because their prices are lower than other major chains like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.
Consider frozen meats and veggies.
Frozen foods can be just as nutritious and tasty as fresh but are often cheaper. So you can use them to make your meals and save money.
For example, you could make a healthy stir-fry using frozen vegetables and chicken breast instead of fresh ones.
This meal costs less than buying takeout at a restaurant, especially if you consider how much more expensive fresh veggies are at most grocery stores.
Shop in the bulk section.
Buying in bulk is a great way to save money on groceries, but it can be challenging if you have limited space or lack other storage options.
Fortunately, you can reap the benefits of bulk shopping in several ways without having an entire pantry dedicated to storing your purchases.
Buy items in large containers: Many grocery stores now offer a range of foods sold in bulk bins rather than prepackaged bags or boxes. These include staples like rice and beans and exotic spices, and dried fruits.
In addition, they’re typically sold by weight rather than volume (for example, 1 pound = $2), making them more cost-cost-effective to buy the same amount individually wrapped at regular prices.
Plus, if you purchase something packaged by weight and decide not to use it immediately, no problem. Just don’t throw away any leftover food since throwing away unused food is one way we tend to waste money when trying new recipes at home).
Keep more of your produce fresh with a little DIY effort
You can keep your produce fresher longer by placing it in a plastic bag and submerging it in water. This method works well for most fruits and vegetables, but if you’re curious whether a specific produce item will work with this method, try it.
There’s another option if you don’t have time to store all your fresh produce simultaneously. Place your favorite fruit or vegetable, such as an apple or carrot, in a plastic bag with water and refrigerate until ready to eat.
You can also use this method for berries; make sure they’re dry before storing them like this, so they don’t mold.
Another way to keep fresh and frozen veggies from spoiling is by placing them into sealed containers with water up to an inch over their tops before putting them away in the refrigerator.
This will help keep them moist while allowing any excess moisture that may cause spoilage at once without needing any extra care later on.
Stop buying these items at the grocery store.
Canned soups. While delicious and convenient, canned soups are the worst offenders for grocery store prices.
Instead, you can find some of your favorite varieties (e.g., broccoli cheddar) for a lot cheaper at Costco or Sam’s Club, and if you buy in bulk, they’ll last long enough to get through the winter.
- -Dried pasta and grains (i.e., rice and oats). You can usually find these items on sale at Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.
Still, their prices are often comparable to what you’d pay at the supermarket if you’re not careful about looking for deals on off-brand products like Bob’s Red Mill or Arrowhead Mills instead of Quaker Oats (or whatever brand name is popular among your friends).
- Canned beans: Beans seem like a good idea until they come out of your pocketbook with all their liquid still inside them after being heated up in the microwave, and then there goes another $2 down the drain. If this sounds familiar to you too often, then maybe it’s time for a change.
Stick to the list.
The best way to save money on groceries is to follow the list. So please make a list of what you need and stick to it.
Don’t buy things not on your list, and don’t go to the grocery store hungry.
Avoid online shopping for groceries.
Online shopping can be expensive, especially if you don’t have an online grocery service membership and pay the full Aristotle when you buy your items.
In addition, it’s less convenient because you can only shop during business hours and might have to wait until the next day before getting your food delivered though some companies will let you place orders as late as 8 p.m.
Online grocery stores may charge more than local stores because they have higher business costs since they don’t have physical locations or employees on payrolls as brick-and-mortar businesses do.
Finally, online shopping may take more time (because who doesn’t love spending an hour scrolling through endless product options?).
-This means higher gas bills or lost productivity at work if you’re using your vehicle rather than driving around town with someone else looking for deals at several different places in one day.
Use coupons when necessary.
Use coupons when necessary. Coupons are an excellent way to save money on groceries, but they aren’t always the best choice for every situation.
If you’re going grocery shopping after a long day at work (or to get in and out) or need to pick up something quickly before heading home, using coupons can be more trouble than it’s worth.
However, if you have some time on your hands and are planning for several weeks of meals, and mainly if your family eats what comes in the box of cereal or bag of chips, you may find that using coupons will help you save more than 50 percent off your total bill.
Save money on the groceries app.
Save money on groceries app is a program that has been developed to help people save money when they are grocery shopping.
The idea behind the app is that it enables you to you remember what you have bought previously so that you don’t buy something twice.
-This can save you a lot of money if, in a given month, you buy lots of things that you might otherwise end up buying again. The app also lets you keep track of your groceries.
And see how much things cost so that, over time, you can become more aware of how much certain items cost and where to get them at the best price.
It is straightforward to use, and its primary function is to help people save money when grocery shopping.
How to cut grocery bills by 90 percent
When we were in college, this girl we knew used to talk about how much money she saved by buying everything in bulk at Costco.
She’d buy giant tubs of mayonnaise, gallons of ketchup, and bags full of cookies. Getting the best deal on mustard and flour seemed like a lot of work.
It turns out we were wrong. One of the easiest ways to cut your grocery bill is to go big-box. After just a few months of shopping at Costco, we’ve already seen our grocery bills plummet.
We can’t remember how dropping almost $100 weekly on food was like.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are eight simple ways to save money?
If you’re looking to save money or just want to cut back on your spending, here are eight simple ways to get started:
Shop for things you often buy (food, toiletries, entertainment) and see if you can find a better deal.
See if there are coupons for what you buy (this can apply even to staples like bread and milk).
Make a list before you go grocery shopping, and stick to it. -This will help you from impulse buying unnecessary or unhealthful items.
Turn down your house’s heat or air conditioning slightly. You’ll feel just as comfortable while saving energy.
When eating out at a restaurant, split an entrée with a friend. -This is also easy to save on food that’s otherwise expensive to prepare at home entrees that come with rice or pasta.
Don’t spend money unnecessarily when you go out. If you’re going out to eat, order water
How do I stop wasting money on groceries?
Save money on groceries by using the leftovers from this week’s meals to make something else you will enjoy eating. This way, you will use up any meats, cheeses, and vegetables that may be about to go wrong before the next time you run out for the week.
Put everything you will use for dinner in a dish with a lid. If your leftovers don’t fit, use Tupperware or even plastic bags (just ensure they are freezer-safe).
Once dinner is made, and it is almost time to start cooking dinner again, take all of your leftovers from the fridge and see what you can make with them. Many delicious combinations don’t require recipes.
For example, add chili powder and beans if you have chicken, beef, and brown rice.
If you have leftover taco meat, use it as a topping on a salad or in a quesadilla with cheese. You can also experiment with new combinations and come up with your recipes.
How much savings should I have at 40?
Everyone’s situation is different, so setting an actual number for this question is hard. However, there are some things that you might want to think about when trying to figure out how much you should have saved by your 40th birthday.
First of all, how much do you make annually? If you’re just starting, $40K (or whatever your salary is) probably doesn’t seem like a lot of money.
But if you’re earning a six-figure salary, that $40K will be much less significant in the grand scheme of how much money you make every year.
When you think about what you may spend every month, that number might be easier to work with and handle. Most people spend between $1-3K monthly (without saving).
So if you figure out your annual salary, divide it by 12 months, and multiply it by $1-3K (depending on your spending habits), that’s a reasonable ballpark estimate of what you should have saved by the time you turn 40.
Remember: there are no set rules, and everyone’s situation differs. It’s helpful to look at numbers while trying to understand where you stand.
What should I buy to save money?
What should I buy to save money? Buying a piggy bank to put spare change in is an easy way to save money.
Then, after you’ve saved a significant amount, you can use it for your next car payment or your future house.
“But I don’t want to wait. I want instant gratification” If you want to buy something immediately, you can purchase a gift card that you can use later.
“But, I don’t know what the person would like.” Get a gift card to the store they most often shop at. This way, they can buy something they need or would like.
Another option is to give cash as a present. Money is also significant because it gives your friend the power to choose what they need/want.
If you’re giving cash as a present, I suggest giving $10 bills instead of singles, so spending it all at once is harder.
How much money should you always have in your checking account?
Well, that depends on many factors. What if you have a credit card with a $2,000 limit and pay it off monthly? You might be able to get away with just having one month’s worth of expenses available in your checking account, right?
Or what if you’re in the habit of withdrawing $500 weekly to “play it safe” and avoid overdraft fees? You might need more than that.
In general, you should aim to keep as much in your checking account as possible while maintaining a low enough balance that you won’t get charged any monthly fees.
Most banks charge monthly maintenance fees for checking accounts when the balance drops below a certain amount, usually around $500-$800. Some will blame the price even if an account is overdrawn by just one dollar.
That’s why it’s essential to keep track of how much money you usually have in your account to ensure that if you end up with too little in there one month, you won’t bounce any checks or incur any other penalties.
The exact number will depend on your income, expenses, and other factors. The important thing is to know how much money is typical for you.
How can I save money daily?
Saving money is a great goal, and it’s easy to think of a few ways to do it: track your spending, clip coupons, buy in bulk, and buy clothes at thrift stores.
But those tactics are all reactive: they involve waiting until you spend money and thinking, “How can I save some of that?”
This article will discuss active saving methods—ways to set yourself up so that your default spending tends toward thriftiness. It will focus specifically on saving money while grocery shopping.
Summary
Save money by shopping in bulk. Buying cheap food items in bulk is a great way to save money on groceries.
Some stores, like Costco and Sam’s Club, offer steep discounts when you buy large amounts of an item.
-This can be especially beneficial if you have a big family or use the same products repeatedly (like laundry detergent).
Save money by using coupons. Saving money on groceries doesn’t mean sacrificing sound quality.
You can still buy high-quality products at low prices if you know where to look for coupons and discounts (like this website).
CouponsVouchers are available online and in print at grocery stores. Ensure they match up with something on your list before heading into the store.
Save money by shopping at discount stores like Walmart or Target instead of organic markets such as Whole Foods Market or Trader Joe’s;
-these significant retailers will often offer discounted versions of name brands like Nutella spreadable hazelnut cocoa spread ($4) instead of paying $8 for “artisanal” products from smaller vendors who don’t necessarily offer returns policies.
Groceries can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. You can save money on groceries using the tips outlined here.
Whether buying organic or on a budget, there are plenty of ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality.
