One of the biggest expenses families have is their grocery bill. If you’re not careful, you end up spending way too much money at the grocery store each month and have little money left for other things you may want. But there are some ways to save on groceries that are easy to do and can make a huge difference in your budget.
With three boys (two teens) I know how hard and expensive it can be to just keep food in the house. One thing that we have them do is eat leftovers for afterschool snacks so they’re not eating a bunch of junk food that won’t fill up their tummies. This also cuts back on how much we spend on junk or filler food that isn’t any good for them anyway.
You don’t have to do all these to save money on groceries, but try some out and see which works best for you and your family.
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Meal Plan
Creating a meal plan for the week is the easiest way to ensure you stay within your budget at the store. We keep a list of our family’s favorite meals and pick ones out to make. We also have a frozen dinner night and a fend-for-yourself night. That way, we don’t have to cook every night.
Use Leftovers
You can use leftovers to make other meals, or you can just have a leftover night. There are ways you can incorporate your leftovers into your meal plan to use both.
Buy Some Things in Bulk
There are some things you can buy in bulk to save money. Just make sure to check the price per unit to make sure you really are saving money by buying the bigger package.
Shop Your Pantry
Check your pantry for items you can use in your meals for the week. That way, you’re not buying things you already have in the house.
Shop Discount Stores
You can shop at different discount stores that will save you money. I like Aldi and Lidl. You can get a variety of things at a lower cost than in other stores. And they have items that other stores don’t carry.
Do Online Pick-up or Delivery
I like to do online pick-up. It’s usually free and keeps me from doing any impulse buying. I just go down my list and add things to the cart. The only downside is that you can’t pick your produce or meats. So you have to hope that the person picks the items well.
Plan a Budget
Using a budget for groceries keeps you from spending too much. You give yourself a set amount you can spend and do your shopping based on that. You may have to shop around for sales more. But you can easily stay within budget and still get everything you need.
Use Cash
Another way to save money on groceries is to only use cash. That way, you’re limited on how much you can spend in one shopping trip.
Use Cashback Apps
If you shop online you can use different apps to earn cashback on your purchase. Some like Ibbota let you scan your receipt and offer cashback on certain things you buy.
Look for Sales/Shop Flyers
When you plan your shopping trip or list, you can base it on the sales that different stores are having.
Make a List
Make a list before you head to the store and stick to it. Only buy the things on the list and nothing else.
Go shopping Less
If you go to the store multiple times a week, try to only go once. You can even cut it down to twice a month. But that takes a lot more discipline and might not work if you have a larger family.
Don’t Shop on an Empty Stomach
Make sure to eat a snack before you go to the store. This keeps you from buying extra things just because you’re hungry.
Shop in Season
Find out what produce is in season in your area and keep those in mind when you plan out your meals or list.
By Off-Brand Items
By buying store brands or off-brand items, you can save quite a bit. Because just like most things, you’re paying more for the name. And the quality of store brands is just as good, if not better in some cases.
Final Thoughts on Ways to Save on Groceries
Even just doing one or two of the things on this list will help you save money on groceries each week. You should try one or two each trip to the store to find what works best for you and your family.