7 Ways to Cut Costs on Grocery Shopping
Shopping for your family’s groceries can become an expensive affair. If you aren’t careful, you can be shocked by the high total printed on your receipt. However, there are some steps you can take in order to keep the costs down. Read on to find out how to be more frugal when it comes to grocery shopping.
1. Never shop without a list.
This just leads to overspending when things you don’t need end up in the cart. Always make a list from the things you need while still at home – and don’t stray from the list unless absolutely necessary. Get a printable list here or you if you like a electronic version/app for your phone be sure to download the latest coupon app- Favado!
2. Create a monthly food budget.
Even if you shop weekly, a monthly budget will allow you to better manage costs. Money set aside each month also means you aren’t scrounging cash together at the end of the month in order to buy food. Divide the total monthly expense by four if you want to shop more often.
3. Meal planning can drastically reduce costs.
Preparation is the key to saving money when shopping for groceries. Plan meals in advance so you can buy exactly what you need and nothing more. This planning also makes creating a shopping list a breeze. Get a printable meal planner and tools to help you get plan here!
4. Build a price spreadsheet with your recipes.
Seeing your past purchases in a detailed spreadsheet allows you to comparison shop with different brands or stores. It will also help you decide if a sale price is a good deal for your needs.
5. Clip coupons without shame!
Many people have begun using coupons to cut down their grocery bill. You don’t have to be an extreme couponer in order to save. Just clipping a few can reduce your bill by $5 or more – and every little bit helps. You can print coupons and check out what’s available in the coupon database!
6. Cook larger meals so there will be leftovers.
Food that is left over from dinner makes for a great low-cost lunch or dinner option for the following day. This is usually a cheaper route than planning out each separate meal, plus it makes for less work for the chef! Need ideas? Check out the latest recipes we have posted here on the blog!
7. Stock up on paper products when they are on sale.
It is sometimes possible to combine coupons with store specials to save big on things like paper towels and toilet paper. Buy in larger quantities than usual during these times, so you save money and have a nice stockpile to last you until the next time you find an amazing deal. Be sure to check out the latest deals on items you should be stocking up on!
Here’s a few other tips to check out:
#1 is definitely so important! These are all great tips but going in without a list is just dangerous. 🙂
Great tips! When I go without a list I buy NOTHING I need and spend way more than I should have. Menu planning and creating a list save us TONS.
Meal Planning is my biggest one! And I try to plan around what’s in the pantry! Thanks so much for sharing these ways to cut costs while grocery shopping!
great tips! Hopefully I won’t be spending $200+ at the store now 😉
Great tips! We are working on getting meal planning going again.
These are all great tips and I agree 100%. It surprising how many people still don’t shop with a grocery list, I would be lost! Thanks for linking up to this weeks Follow our Thrift Linky!
I really want to start couponing and I have tons of resources but finding the time is tough!!!!!