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This post will detail 8 genius ways to save money on groceries everyone should know! We are sharing with you the tips we use to save money each week at the grocery store. We even created a completely customizable Monthly Grocery Budget Tracker for you to use.
Grocery shopping can be a hassle at times, and many times you are shopping at the store it’s difficult to keep track of your spending. Growing up, we would play this silly betting game with our mom at the grocery store. When we would get to the checkout aisle, we would bet how much we were going to spend that day. It was fun, but made us conscious at a young age to be mindful of what we were buying and how different items added up.
Have you ever bought groceries and the total rings up higher than you expected? We know the feeling of expecting a lower number on the cash register and being surprised when it isn’t.
Are you on a budget or looking for ways to save money on food? We understand how budgeting for certain items can be stressful at times, but have learned to view it as a fun challenge.
Finding discounts or ways to save money is like a game of sorts to us. It’s not a difficult challenge if you know what you are looking for when you go into a store. That’s why we wanted to make it easier and less stressful to step into a grocery store every week.
These 8 genius ways to save money on groceries will be ones you’ll wish you’d known sooner! Today, we are here educate you on how to shop successfully and confidently.
8 Genius Ways to Save Money on Groceries Everyone Should Know
1. Write Out Your Grocery List
This is one of two things we do before we go to the store. Every week we use this template to plan out our grocery shopping. Making a list of grocery items before you enter the store will help you buy things that are only on your list. It will keep you disciplined and able to get in and out of the store quickly. This has transformed the way we shop in the store. We no longer go to the store without our grocery list!
2. Use a Budget Tracker Every Month
Secondly, using a budget tracker is another thing to do before going to the grocery store. A budget tracker is smart to use whether you are on a budget or not. It makes you consciously think about how much you spend on groceries every week.
This is also a great way to track all your food expenses in general—when buy groceries multiple times a week, spend money at a fast food restaurant, or drive though Starbucks. Once you write down you expenses, you may realize how much you truly are spending each month on food alone!
3. Shop at Less Expensive Grocery Stores
This may seem like common sense, but this is one of the most effective ways you can save money on groceries. Many times grocery stores mark up items higher depending on the location and name of store.
Some less expensive grocery stores to shop at include:
- Aldi
- Walmart
- Costco
- Trader Joe’s
- Amazon
4. Use a Smaller Cart or Basket
Grabbing a basket or smaller cart is something we do every time we go into the store. Doing so, will help you limit the amount of food you are buying, because your basket fills up fast. It also helps you make sure you are staying on track with the grocery list you made and only buying items that you actually need.
5. Buy in Bulk Online or at Costco
Buying in bulk is a genius way to save money on groceries. Buying items in bulk, such as coconut oil or olive oil, pasta, canned beans, and frozen meats will cost you less per pound than buying them individually.
Items that cost less and are smart to buy in bulk are:
- Meat
- Baking essentials (oil, flours, sugars etc.)
- Pasta
- Canned food
- Snacks
- Toilet paper & paper towels
- Toiletries
- Cleaning supplies
- Pet food
6. Shop the Perimeter of the Store
Grocery stores put pricer items at eye level. We try to stay around the perimeter of the store when shopping. Not only are the healthier items on the outer aisles, but when venturing into the middle of the store you may be tempted to spend more money on items that aren’t needed.
7. Buy In-Season Items
Buying in-season items is how people shopped at markets before mass production and distribution of products were available within finger tips. Doing so has a couple of benefits. First of all, it’s healthier for you to eat in-season items, because they are more nutritionally dense. Secondly, in-season produce is cheaper than buying produce out of season!
Check out 9 Items You Should Add to Your Grocery List This Summer!
8. Go Generic
Most grocery stores have their own generic line of goods. It is a lot of times significantly cheaper than other brand name items. Kroger and Target have great, inexpensive options for everyday products! They also provide healthier options at lower prices.
We have also been shocked at how some of the generic items have much healthier ingredients in them. Target’s Good & Gather brand is the perfect example of this! Unless you are super attached to a brand, generic products are the way to go!
That’s all for the 8 Genius Ways to Save Money on Groceries! We hope you found this helpful! We know these tips have helped us budget and save money on groceries every month. Whether you want to try one or all of these tips, it will make a difference in the way you grocery shop from here on out!
What motivates you to save money? Let us know in the comments below!
