Cutting Costs at the Grocery Store | Beginner's Guide

Cutting Costs at the Grocery Store and Within Your Home

• Create a Shopping List: Plan meals for the week and stick to a list to avoid impulse purchases.

• Use what you have: Raid your pantry and take inventory of your stock. Incorporate this into your usage for the next month.

• Use Coupons and Discounts: Take advantage of store promotions, digital coupons, and loyalty programs.

• Buy in Bulk: Purchase non-perishable items in bulk to save money over time. Be sure to price check this though. Bulk isn't always cheapest.

• Choose Generic Brands: Opt for store brands instead of name brands for significant savings.

• Limit eating out: When you eat out often, not only does it cost more it also lets the food you have go to waste. Sometimes, it can lead to more snacking which will raise your grocery bill as well.

• Shop Alone: If you go in with a list, someone else is more likely to get you off track and add more to the cart than you planned.

• Shop Seasonal Produce: Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season for lower prices and better quality.

• Avoid Shopping When Hungry: Eat before shopping to reduce impulse buys.

• Compare Unit Prices: Check the unit price to find the best deal between different sizes and brands.

• Limit your Trips: Multiple small trips to the store don't seem like a lot, until you stop and add them all up.

• Shop the Perimeter: Most stores are set up to have the processed junk in the middle. The Dairy, Meat and Produce are locate on the outer sides of the store.

• Use Leftovers: Reduce food waste buy using leftovers, if you don't like leftovers cook smaller portions.

• Use Grocery Pickup: Avoid the items not on your list buy doing grocery pickup. Not only will it alleviate extra costs but you can ensure you are sticking to your grocery budget.

• Use Shopping Cash Back Apps: I personally use Walmart Cash back, Sam's Cash back, & ibotta , I don't earn a lot since I only buy what we use vs what's got the biggest amount back, But I have earned about $900.00 in real money back from Ibotta alone in the last 5 years.

• Use Proper Storage: You can find cheap quality vacuum sealers like this one I have , you can use it to seal dry goods, or meats and some veggies to use at a later date. Especially when you buy in bulk or catch a good BOGO.

• Eat what you buy / Buy what you eat: It can be tempting to buy what's on sale, or something you have wanted to try. However, you need to be more realistic. Will you actually eat it, cook it, etc. on the days you are feeling exhausted or just want a quick snack?

• Shop during off-peak times: Shop during the quieter times of the store. Chaos more often than not equal impulse. Whether you don't want to wait for someone to move so you can reach the cheaper item, the cheaper item is out of stock so you grab the more expensive version, or if you're like me and hate a lot of people you will avoid going back to get that forgotten item...leading to another trip at a later time and most likely buying items not on the list.

• Meal Prep: Prepare meals in advance to reduce food waste and save time during the week.

• DIY Cleaning Products: Make your own cleaning supplies using vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils.

• Grow Your Own Herbs and Vegetables: Start a small garden to save on groceries and enjoy fresh produce.

By implementing these strategies, you can effectively cut costs at the grocery store and within your home, leading to significant savings over time. Stay tuned as I will break these sections down more in depth to give you better ideas of how to implement habits that will actually work for you and your home.