5 Grocery Shopping Hacks to Save You Money
The big three things that we all spend our money on is our housing, transportation, and food. The easiest of which to tackle is the amount you spend on food. When I first tracked my expenses several years ago, I spent a little over $600 on food in one month…. crazy right?! Since then, I have been able to decrease that to less than $300 a month between Mr. BLWAB and I.
How did I cut my food costs in half? It took determination, planning, and commitment. Below are 5 strategies to help you lower the amount you spend on your groceries every month.
1. Meal Plan
This is number one because it’s the most important. This involves planning all of your meals for the week/month beforehand. I normally do it on a weekly basis every Sunday and knock out my shopping that day as well. Now, when I say all of your meals, I mean ALL – breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, deserts, sports drinks for your little athlete… everything! Once you know what you are going to eat, you won’t have those impromptu trips to your favorite fast food spot.
2. Make a Shopping List
Once you know what you are going to eat, make a list of the ingredients that you will need. Be sure to check your pantry first before you buy something that you already have. Take that list with you when you shop and commit to the list!
We’ve all been there where we are wondering down the aisle until that fancy package catches our eye. We stop, pick it up, come to the conclusion that it “looks good”, and toss it in the cart. Just to have it stay in our pantry for weeks. The point of the list is that it prevents you from making those impulse purchases.
3. Shop Generic
Some people are brand loyal when it comes to pasta sauces, cereals, and the like. I suggest at least trying the generic version. Switching to the store brand can instantly save you money and with staple items like sugar and flour, the same manufacturers produce both the generic and name brand products anyway. I only buy generic unless there is a sale that makes the name brand cheaper.
4. Shop in Season or Frozen
Fruits and vegetables are cheaper when they are in season. Do a little research to know when certain things are in season when and plan your meals around that. If you really want something that isn’t in season, buy them frozen to get them at a reasonable price. Frozen fruits and veggies are just as nutritious, if not more so, compared to the fresh produce.
5. Use Coupons, Don’t Let Coupons Use You
Yes, coupons can help you save money. But does it really save you money if you buy something you didn’t need to get after all? I used to walk around the grocery store, without a plan or a list, and just bought things that were on sale just because it was on sale. Then I put it in my pantry when I got home and forgot about it. Two months later, it would still be there. When it comes to taking advantage of sales now, I base my meal plans around them so I’m sure to use it.
Keeping the amount of money we spent on food every month to a minimum was one of the factors that helped my husband and I become debt free. I know it can make a big impact in your life as well. If you haven’t done any of the above before, then I guarantee you it will lower your food expenses. If you want more great tips, feel free to reach out to me or follow me on instagram.
