Alex and I try to save money wherever we can. I’ve written previously about some ways we reduce our budget every year, but today I wanted to share about grocery shopping specifically. It will never cease to amaze me how fast money can be spent on food! So here are my top 8 ways to save at the grocery store!
1. Half your meat – Most recipes can easily be altered to use less meat. I do this with most of the casseroles I cook, and they usually don’t have to be ‘edited’ in any other way.
Instead of using 1 pound of beef or what not I use a half pound and save the other half for the next night’s recipe. The flavor is still nice and meat-y and we save a lot of money every week this way!
2. Bake your own bread – This is not something that I’m currently doing, but I’ve done it in the past and it saved us a lot of money every month.
Bread can be expensive, especially depending on what type you buy! We buy bread for a bit over $2 a loaf, but I could bake my own for about 50 cents a loaf. BIG difference, and can make a huge impact on your grocery budget if your family really likes bread! (my boys LOVE it!) I used this recipe when I was doing it. It’s an easy and fast recipe that makes really yummy bread! You don’t even have to worry about kneading the dough!
3. Meatless meal – Do one meal a week without meat. Meat makes up a majority of the cost for most meals, so even just doing 1 meatless meal a week could save you a lot in the long run.
Do a meal like beans & rice, meatless spaghetti/Alfredo noodles, a lot of fresh veggies/potatoes (Baked) or even breakfast tacos. So many tasty (and easy) meals don’t require meat and that can really reduce your overall grocery cost.
4. Shop sales – Only buy produce that is on sale. If you familiarize yourself with the average price of fruits/veggies that you like you an easily shop accordingly.
We eat fruit and veggies by the season, and sometimes I will change our menu to plan around an extremely cheap veggie I found in the store. Plan to be flexible if there are good deals on ingredients to something that you know how to make.
5. DON’T shop aisle end caps – You know those “great deals” on the end caps of aisles? You are just walking by and then you see something and think “oh yeah, I need that!” and so you grab one and keep going? I don’t know why we automatically assume it’s a great deal if it is on the end, but I’ve noticed that most of the time it is not.
Many times it’s an awful deal and if you go search for that item actually on an isle you can find the same thing (different brand) at a much lower price. So when you see something you are forgetting, go and find the product where it is normally located in order to find the best price.
6. Buy “off” brand – Do I even need to say this one? Don’t always buy name brand. Be willing to experiment with the off brand stuff, and you will end up saving a lot of money.
Target brand (up & up) diapers are amazing, and they are half the price of name brand. Walmart whales (equivalent of goldfish) are actually better in my opinion, but they are much cheaper.
There are so many great products that are not name brand, be willing to try and see what your family likes.
7. Stock up when there are sales – If something that you use regularly is on sale, buy as much of it as your budget will allow.
This month Chicken was half the price it usually is, so I stocked up and filled our freezer! We will be eating mainly chicken meals for at least the next month (depending on how long the sale lasts), but we are also saving a LOT of money.
8. Buy some treats – Okay this may sound counter productive but hear me out. Find a healthy limit to “treat” food (ice cream etc) and stick to it.
If you cut out all of the special foods you will end up splurging by going out to an ice cream parlor or hitting up the grocery store another time in the week to pick something up (and we all know it is impossible to go to the grocery store and leave with just one item).
I keep our treats/junk food limited to 1. We can only have one sweet/sugary/’treat’ in the house at a time. I will not buy more than one a week and I will not buy any more until the first is GONE. meaning if it lasts longer than a week, I won’t buy anything else ‘special’ the next time I’m shopping. This keep us disciplined, healthy, on budget and enables us to enjoy special desserts and treats a few times a week.
If you are looking for more ways to save while you shop, use ebates to get cash back!
Have you tried any of these? Or do you have any great grocery-budgeting tips of your own? I love hearing your input!
Even more budgeting tips – learn how to survive, and thrive on one income!
and CRAZY money saving tips for every part of your life, here!
Rachel @ reprezent98201 says
I am SO glad to read a post about how to save money without couponing. I get stressed out just thinking about couponing and sometimes feel like it doesn’t even help the budget. I go with meal planning and sticking to my list. :) I found you on timewarpwife’s linkup (love your toddler family time list!) and subscribed to you on bloglovin’. I am looking forward to reading more of your posts!
Paula says
coupon-ing stresses me out too! I know it can help sometimes, but it’s not worth the effort for me. glad to have you here! <3
Sarah says
If you’re making the effort to plan meals and make a list, then shop at Walmart for the bulk of your groceries – they price match all local sale ads. I’ve cut $20 off of my bill several times by getting the sale prices from 4 other stores that are around here! Having said that, WalMart isn’t the best for everything… but to be able to save $10-20 consistently is SUPER
Paula says
true.. I have a good friend that does this very well ;)
Erica {let why lead} says
Amen to Rachel’s comment about couponing sounding stressful! I’m just happy if I feed my family, much less clip coupons to do so! But I do try to do some of these things too. Unfortunately, groceries are really expensive in the Bay area! How I miss having a nearby Walmart. :) Anyway, that’s awesome about your one-treat-at-a-time rule! Brilliant!
Rachel @ reprezent98201 says
I even gave couponing a chance after reading things over at moneysavingmom.com and frugallivingnorthwest.com with linkups of store prices and coupons in the Sunday paper. Then it just got to be overwhelming and I quit. Groceries are pretty expensive up here in the PacNW too but our Walmart is by Cabela’s so my husband is MORE than willing for me to do my grocery shopping there (read: he takes the baby to Cabela’s while I grocery shop).
Paula says
that’s awesome that your husband is able to do that & you can time trips accordingly! everybody wins!!! ;)
Paula says
coupons scare me too, but I know some people who have lots of success with them. To each his own!!! ;)
Carrie says
Stocking up when there are sales has saved us so much money! We also recently bought a chest freezer, which has been a big help. Now I can really stock up when there’s a good sale and I have plenty of freezer space! :-)
Paula says
that’s awesome! A chest freezer is one thing I’d like to get when we get a house! Seems like it would help a lot to stock up and save !
Poekitten says
Great tips! I’ve also found that menu planning helps, as simple as it sounds. Then at the store I only buy from my list. By menu planning I’m able to use that whole can of evaporated milk over two recipes or something like that. I’ve also started making somethings, like tomato sauce and chicken broth from scratch. It’s fun, cheaper and I like knowing what’s in it!
Paula says
very true, and very smart! I go through stages when I’m better a meal planning, right now i’m not doing the best with it ;)
Lori says
I love the suggestion to cut the meat in half. Most of the time, my fam. doesn’t even notice. OR, since I don’t really like meat, often times I’ll make half the recipe with meat and half without, which, again, uses 1/2 the meat, but the meat lovers get it all!
Paula says
That’s a great idea!!!
Amanda says
I love the Wal Mart Whales, too. Or there are some Penguins that are good and cheap.
I always try the cheap brands to see if they’re good, but there are some things I’ve found that it’s not good to go cheap on. The cheapest sauages always seem to have a bad texture/taste. And I bought the Adams’ brand of coconut extract, which is very cheap, and it was terrible. I’m going with McCormick on that one from now on.
Spices I’m kind of all over the map on. I order cinnamon online because the good stuff (Vietnamese cinnamon) is really that much better. But I’ve found it doesn’t make that much of a difference for a lot of the other spices. Some I buy the generics, some I buy the brand names.
Paula says
I’ve never had the penguins. ;)
You definitely have to choose your “off” brands wisely, but it’s worth experimenting. Sounds like you have yours all figured out :)
Faith @ Artistic31Mama says
Great tips here! I used to bake our own bread and go out of the habit. I love the tip about using less meat. I tend to do that but will have to do it more. I also use the meatless meals (much to my husband’s disapproval…he’s a meat man lol). These are really great. :-) I always buy off brands. I tend to shop at our Walmart for everything I need that’s not on sale somewhere else and buy the Great Value brand. Unless something is on sale at another store Walmart’s prices on their brands are unbeatable and they are in close comparison quality wise to the name brands.
Paula says
my hubby is not always a fan of meatless either, but he doesn’t mind it when I half the meat ;)
Britney Mills says
Just found your site through Mom in the USA. Looking at some of your articles I think you are right down my alley :)
Paula says
glad to “meet” you here in “our” alley britney :)
Nicci says
Thanks for your post. I don’t use coupons right now, so I’m always looking for ideas to cut our grocery bill.
A Little R & R says
Great ideas!!! I have to go grocery shopping on Monday – so I will remember this!
ashley says
Great post! I already follow all of these tips, but it is nice to have a reminder since it is so easy to get lazy about grocery shopping and going over budget!
Paula says
I can definitely relate to that!
Heather says
Wow! Thanks so much for this tip! I’m a new wife and momma and our budget is EXTREMELY tight at the moment so I’m always looking for ways to save on Mulah. I found you through the Link-up and am now a new follower! Thanks again!
Paula says
Glad this helped! I understand being tight on money, but it’s a good way to learn to be creative :)
Judith at WholeHearted Home says
This was really helpful, especially the heads up on Target diapers. It is a long ways away but will help when I’m out that way.
Kate @ Teaching What is Good says
Excellent! I also suggest: meal planning (or building a full pantry and ‘shopping’ from that) and looking at all the disposable items used in the home and swap them out for reusable.
Paula says
those are great ideas!!! thanks Kate!
Mrs. Sarah Coller says
Speaking of lightening up on the meat, a lot of times I use mushrooms in place of half the meat—like with spaghetti, etc. They give a good, rich flavor and are filling. Thanks for the bread recipe! These are great tips. Hope you’ll consider linking with my Homemaking Party tomorrow!
Blessings,
Sarah
Paula says
smart! I’ve never done that, i will have to give mushrooms a try! Thanks for sharing!!!
Paula says
looks yummy! thanks for sharing!
April says
I love item number 8! What a great idea!!! I will definitely be including that into our shopping habits.
Abbi Cappel says
This is such good advice!! I posted something similar recently but your ideas are wonderful!! Abbi @ Seasons of Homemakers
Please check out the Seasons on Saturday Link Party going on right now!!
Becca @ The Earthlings Handbook says
Great advice! I do use coupons, but I find only a few for things I am willing to buy–most are for weird processed and overpackaged foods that I don’t want at any price. Here are my tips for saving on groceries.
I agree with Sarah that mushrooms can substitute for meat in many ways. We love the burger recipe from My Sister’s Pantry that uses nuts and mushrooms to make a burger that has flavor and texture oddly similar to a hamburger, without the yucky gristle!
Helle says
Hi there
What great tips.
Even though I live in Europe, this is very useful.
Cheers a lot for sharing .0)
Adelina Priddis says
These are great ideas! I’m always looking for ways to save at the grocery store, but never have luck with coupons. Thanks!
Brooke says
These are such great ideas, Paula! I love saving on groceries, but I’m not a big coupon girl. Thanks so much for sharing! I also like to use cash when I shop for groceries. I get my grocery cash at the beginning of the week, and do what I have to do to make it last. Something about seeing the actual bills in my wallet keeps me on budget. Have a wonderful weekend, and Happy 4th of July!
Amber @ Myth Busting Mommy says
Visiting from the blog hop today. I love these ideas, especially the one about only using half of the meat for each recipe. What a great suggestion!
Kathy Penney @ Sparkles And A Stove says
Very useful post! Pinned it! Thanks for sharing at All Things Pretty!
Judy @Savoring Today says
I don’t use coupons much because they are mostly for unhealthy types of food, so these are great ideas for saving money. Thanks for sharing with Hearth & Soul Hop. :)
Judy says
Great tips Paula!
Thank you so much for sharing your post @ Pin It Monday Hop. It is still open, please come by sometime when you get the chance and check what other Bloggers are sharing. See you!
Judy
Pursuit of Functional HOme
Tara from The Magnolia Barn says
Couponing can be fun (AND stressful), but I found I had better luck with non food items. We try to eat as whole and organic as possible and it’s hard to find coupons to help you out, but this list is great! I love the idea to use 1/2 the meat called for in the recipe.
Theresa @DearCreatives says
great tips! Thanks for sharing & linking up @ DearCreatives.com & Happy 4th!
Rabia @TheLiebers says
We try to use a rotating menu, so I generally know what meats we buy and what their prices are. When things are on sale or mark down we stock up. I also like to have an “empty the pantry” challenge once a month, where we only buy milk at the store and otherwise live off of what we’ve already got.
Nonni says
Hi, love all the discussions on saving money at the grocery! Aren’t freezers the greatest for storing up weekly sales! Just love them! I have REALLY narrowed down my impulse-buying because we made the decision in our family to go organic after watching a few documentary’s on Netflick as to how much poison is being sprayed on our food and we’re eating it. Organic food is more expensive so I have to choose dishes (meals) very thoughtfully. My go-to choices are fresh soups and bean dishes (organic) interspersed with awesome fruits, veggies, large salads with nuts, etc. Only organic milk. We completely cut out meat due to the terrible condition of the packing plants and the meat itself carrying so much bacteria. We eat organic chicken, turkey and some choices of fish. All in all we eat awesome healthy. I bake or make most all our desserts. Very little processed food (we have organic millet bread once in awhile) and my grocery bill on a fixed income is doable so far. I can’t say it doesn’t take planning. It does. But I can’t feed myself and our family genetic modified foods with the same poison in the seeds as I spray on the weeds in my driveway! I hope everyone looks at what foods they can afford to trade for an organic version. Every trade will make you and your family healthier. Note: The European Union will not import beef from the US because of our use of sub-clinical antibiotics and cancer-causing meds manufactured into our cattle feed (Netflick-documentary: Frankensteer)
Mariah says
These are some great suggestions! I might try that halve the meat, we don’t usually do it, but I think it could make a real difference! Thanks for sharing! Found you through WFMW
Miranda says
I do all these tips and I still have a problem with grocery shopping I have 150.00 to spend a month and I find it very hard to get everything I need. We are a family of 5 but two are still really little.
Sue Mescall says
Paula, thanks for the common sense tips! I don’t have time to do the coupons…like others, I try to go with meal planning using what is available.
Sue Mescall
Debbie Woolsey says
I find that our local Meijer store puts its sale items on the end caps. It took me awhile to figure it out, but I was going to get the sale item and it was gone from the shelf. When I asked an employee, I was always directed to either an end cap or the display in the middle of the aisle.
Sarah Alvarez says
The most helpful way to save money when I am shopping is just going to the basic list after checking my pantry, meal planning and giving a budget for the week such as $60 maximum . Sometimes I don’t have a list or plan so my husband and I will actually calculate each item as I add it to the cart and before checking out we can pull out or trade items that we don’t need for what is needed or more favored so we stay in our budget. I notice when I don’t add everything up after each item I get a larger bill and feel too embarrassed to put things back at that point. So this was my way of over buying and impulse buying which always doubles to triples my desired spending.
Sarah Alvarez says
Also weighing everything!! Gotta weigh it to know what you’ll be paying. When you see the total creeping up higher it will deter you from putting more in the cart!
Jennifer says
My best tip is to invest in a yogurt maker! In our family of two we’ve saved $500/year in our first year of making our own yogurt! I’ve slacked a bit this year and slipped into buying, but I’m hoping to start again this year.
Margeaux Vittoria says
I love your suggestion about desserts – I’m going to implement that this winter! I’ve definitely made some expensive trips to Walgreen’s to get Ben and Jerry’s on the spur of the moment :P
fiftarina says
I found that planning meals ahead can save more on groceries bill. For meatless meal, have you tried tofu and tempeh? These two are made from soybeans, but they are ‘meaty’ enough for a meat replacement. I use them a lot in our menu and our family loves them. You should try too!