If you are having a difficult time trying to budget your income while completing all your groceries, there are creative hacks that can help you save thousands of dollars while you shop!
And no, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to cut your groceries in half. These are just smarter ways to do your grocery shopping that can help you with your budgeting.
Just imagine how much you can save by doing these hacks, which you can use for other purposes, like emergency funds or personal savings!
If you are excited to try these strategies on your next trip to the grocery store, read on!
1. Create a Meal Plan
Have you ever gone to the grocery store without knowing what to get because you are confused about what to cook or eat?
This will cost you a lot because you will end up getting a lot of items that you might not even use.
It is always smart to sit down first and make a weekly or bi-weekly meal plan, depending on how often you go to the grocery.
While writing this down, consider your grocery budget as well. This should cover your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks.
I actually find this activity exciting as I plan my favorite dishes and think of well-balanced meals for my family.
2. Check Out Your Pantry and Refrigerator First
Before listing down what you need to buy, always check first what you already have in your pantry, cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer.
It is a waste of money to buy items that you may already have and will just end up being spoiled.
You can even try doing this before you plan your meals so you can consider meals that use ingredients you already have.
This also promotes the “first in, first out” method, which prevents spoilage and saves you money every time you shop!
3. Don’t Leave Home Without a Grocery List!
After you are done with your meal planning and checking what other stuff you have, you are now ready to make a grocery list.
This guarantees that you do not wander off and add a lot of stuff to your cart that would just end up not being used. Not having this list is a real budget-killer.
On the other hand, having a definite list and sticking to it will save you thousands of dollars every year on your grocery expenses.
Pro Tip: Always counter-check your list with your budget for food and groceries. Having a list alone without considering the budget will not save you money at all.
4. Schedule Your Trips to the Grocery
If you have a grocery list of items you need, this means that you have carefully considered everything you need to buy at the store, which can be once a week or every other week.
This also means that you prevent spontaneous trips to get an item that you forgot to buy.
The less time you spend physically at the store, the less temptation you have to buy items that you don’t need — and a lot of savings!
5. Consider Frozen Fruits and Vegetables Over Fresh Ones
While many still prefer buying fresh fruits and vegetables, going for frozen fruits and vegetables is a better option for saving money.
Aside from lasting longer, they are as nutritious as their fresh counterparts — sometimes even more!
According to Business Insider, most fresh vegetables are shipped from longer distances, making them less nutrient-dense than frozen ones.
Further, if you don’t have too many people in your household, how often do you finish your entire stock of fresh fruits and vegetables without bits and pieces getting rotten?
6. Watch Out for Sales and Discounts!
Why buy your groceries at their regular prices when you can get them at lower prices during sales events or when they are offered at discounts?
However, do not buy or overstock an item just because it is on sale.
It is important to stick to your grocery list and only buy items that you really need.
Here are some ideas on the best times to do your groceries:
- Later in the day: Many stores drop the prices of their meats and vegetables toward late afternoon. They do this to make room for newer stocks and are not necessarily about to perish.
- Middle of the week: Grocery stores tend to offer sales and discounts toward the middle of the week. They do this so they can have space to replenish their shelves for the weekend rush.
- Holiday and event sales: Major holidays, such as Black Friday, offer crazy deals. You would need to be patient with the huge crowd of shoppers, though.
You may also want to watch out for clearance or closing sales, which offer huge discounts. Their purpose is to sell everything fast, so feel free to haggle for a better deal!
7. Take Advantage of Apps for Cashback and Coupons
Before heading to the grocery, make sure you check some apps that will help you earn cashback or give you huge discounts as you shop.
Some of these apps even have their in-app store, although many of them can be used as you go to your favorite physical store.
If you are not familiar with these money-saving apps, here are some of them:
- Ibotta: Ibotta is one of the most used apps for groceries. You earn cashbacks by uploading a photo of your receipt in the app. Once your accumulated cashback reaches $20, you can transfer your rewards to PayPal or exchange them for gift cards.
- Fetch: With hundreds of brands at your disposal, Fetch converts your purchases into points, which you can redeem for gift cards or rewards.
- Rakuten: Earn cashback at over 3,500 participating stores with Rakuten. With its claim of 20 million people earning cashback from them and $3.2 billion worth paid, it is a trusted grocery companion.
- Upside: Upside is an app where you can generate cashback not just with groceries, but also with gas stations and restaurants. You can redeem what you earned via bank transfer, PayPal, or through a gift card.
- Kroger: If Kroger is your grocery of choice, you will be glad to know that they have an in-house app that can save you a lot of money. Take advantage of their personalized coupons and exclusive savings!
As you use these apps to gain cashback, clip coupons, and redeem rewards, you will be surprised by how much savings you have accumulated by shopping more.
8. Check Out Items You Can Buy in Bulk
It is common knowledge that items offered in sets and larger packages or containers are usually priced much lower if you compute them on a per-unit basis.
Buying things in bulk also saves you the trouble and the cost of multiple trips to the store. Here’s a list of items I always buy in bulk to save more.
However, don’t just buy things in bulk just because it has a better offer. Consider your spending habits as well.
If these items just end up getting stuck or unused in your cupboards, then you are just wasting money.
Pro Tip: Do not buy perishables, like fruits and vegetables, in bulk unless you will use them to prepare for a gathering which will ensure that there is no spoilage.
9. Always Consider the Unit Price
Do not go on a grocery trip without having your phone’s calculator handy.
Sometimes a bulk offer or a large package may be tempting but check how it actually fares if you break it down on a per piece, per gram, or a per liter level.
This will help you compare products in different packages, allowing you to understand the pricing better and get the best deal out of your money.
10. Utilize Your Coupons!
I am guilty of stocking up on coupons in my bag and then throwing them away after realizing that I missed the opportunity to use them before they expired.
When I looked for opportunities to save more money, I started paying more attention to my coupons until it became one of my habits for frugal living.
Pro Tip: Always try to check out the Sunday paper. It is usually full of coupons and great deals on grocery items.
You’d never know; there might just be a buy one, take one coupon for items that you usually use!
11. Don’t Be Afraid to Try New Brands
Most of us may find comfort in certain brands that we are familiar with, but this actually prevents us from exploring other brands that are cheaper yet as effective.
It wouldn’t hurt to experiment with other brands that others may recommend or that have proven successful in the market.
However, when doing this for the first time, don’t buy the larger packages yet, just in case it doesn’t work out for you.
Pro Tip: If you really want to save more, try products that will last longer, like a more concentrated dishwashing liquid solution that can be diluted further and clean more volume of dishes.
12. Follow Your Favorite Brands
While I encourage experimenting with brands to get the best deal for your money, you are also expected to settle on a favorite brand sooner or later.
When you have determined what brands work best for you, follow them! You can follow or subscribe to these products on social media or sign up for their mailing lists.
This will help you get notified of potential deals and discounts for your favorite brands.
13. Explore the Items on the Upper and Lower Shelves
When grocery shopping, our natural tendency is to look directly at the shelf in front of us — at eye level.
What you might not know is that store owners may deliberately place the most expensive or high-profit brands in areas that are easily visible.
Now that you are aware of this, make sure to check those cheaper yet quality products that are stashed neatly on the upper and lower shelves.
Explore every nook and cranny of the grocery. You will be surprised at some of the wonderful items you can find in hard-to-see or reach places.
14. Go for Online Shopping
While many consumers prefer to do the traditional way of grocery shopping in physical stores, there is no doubt about the huge savings and offers we can get from shopping online.
When I became a member of Amazon Prime and learned about many money-saving hacks while shopping on Amazon, this turned out to be a more convenient option for me.
In addition to saving on gas and resisting the temptation to add more stuff to my grocery cart, in-app shopping also gave me more options for discounts and offers, such as free shipping.
You can also try shopping at Thrive Market. On top of their exclusive deals, this shop is a great choice for those who are into healthy and organic products.
15. Try Your Store’s Own Product Versions
Large and established grocery stores or platforms, like Target or Amazon, usually carry their own version of popular household items at much lower prices.
Although generic, these store-brand products are excellent choices for consumers who are not brand-conscious.
You can try searching Amazon Basics on the Amazon site. You can find all sorts of items, from kitchen to hygiene essentials, all at a much lower rate than branded ones.
16. Never Shop on a Hungry Belly!
Always have a good meal before heading off on your usual grocery routine.
This is very practical advice for those who are doing their grocery shopping — whether online or in the physical store.
As humans, we love to eat and may have voracious appetites.
Going to the grocery store while hungry will make you spend more as you will be tempted to grab every delicious food or snack that your eyes land on!
On the contrary, being full while shopping allows you to think straight and more logically about the items you need and easily stick to your market list.
17. Leave Your Kids at Home
How many of you bring your kids to the grocery store and wind up seeing things on your cart that you did not place as you lined up at the counter?
Having your kids at the grocery store is definitely a reason your cart will contain more items than it should.
Aside from snatching things from the shelves with or without your knowledge, they will always point out things they want.
Unless you are able to manage their crying or tantrums, many kids are actually quite persistent in trying to get what they want.
This will also cause you to spend more in the grocery store than you normally would.
18. Go for Healthier Snack Options
While healthy snacking may not always convert to a cheaper alternative, one can certainly be creative around these.
Instead of going for your usual party-size pack of Lay’s Classic at $5.70, try a gift box of six Honeycrisp apples at just $27, or about $4.50 apiece.
Further, instead of buying soda all the time, which has very high sugar content, why not get used to drinking distilled or alkaline water?
The best part about healthy options is that you reduce the risk of getting sick from too much salt, sugar, coloring, and preservatives from unhealthy snacks.
Staying healthy also means avoiding the very high cost of medical emergencies and procedures.
19. Compare Prices Among Your Local Supermarkets
Although prices of consumer goods are mostly regulated, they may still differ slightly from store to store. Other stores may also offer deals that others may not have.
If distance is not an issue for physical stores, you may want to establish a supermarket circuit so you can get the best deals on all the items you need.
This works best for online purchases. Try comparing prices between some of the most popular online groceries like Walmart + InHome, Amazon Fresh, and HungryRoot.
20. Consider Membership in Wholesale Clubs
Wholesale is always better than retail in terms of pricing, not to mention bulk offers.
This is a better option for large families who benefit from purchasing items in huge quantities.
Aside from saving on the price of the goods, you also save on the cost of multiple trips to the grocery.
What you need to know about wholesale clubs is that membership comes at a cost.
One of the largest wholesale clubs is Costco, and basic business membership is $60 a year.
This membership does not just guarantee you cheaper prices on groceries — you also get great deals on gas, travel, medications (in some states), and particular business-related expenses.
21. Grab a Small Basket Instead of a Large Cart
Shopping with a large cart gives you the impression that you have just purchased a few items against the space you still have. This will encourage you to shop more!
On the other hand, a smaller basket will make you feel that your basket is already full and that you only have a small space left. This will encourage you to stick to your grocery list strictly.
So unless you are going for bulk purchases that will save you several trips to the grocery store, it is more practical to carry that small basket with you.
22. Always Check the Expiration Dates!
Sometimes, store owners drop the price of items when they are close to expiration.
Though it may be tempting to save a ton on these items, always check the expiration dates of the items you are buying and if you can consume them before they spoil.
There is no sense in buying these items at a lower price if you end up throwing them away after a few days.
23. Buy Whole Items Instead of Cut-up Ones
In another article, I discussed some of the things you need to stop buying to save money, and this includes avoiding the purchase of individual cuts of chicken or pre-cut fruits and vegetables.
Though they offer some convenience when it comes to meal preparation, prepared cuts of meat, fruits, and veggies are usually priced higher than whole ones.
Why exchange saving money for a few minutes of cutting a whole chicken into different parts?
In fact, asking your family to help you cut up those fruits and veggies will also be a good bonding activity at home.
24. Review Your Items Before Check Out
This is a very handy trick that I learned from my aunt — before we head for the counters to pay for our groceries, we always review everything in our cart and return the items we got out of impulse.
Even with a grocery list, your appetite might win you over. You may even convince yourself to get items by saying, “Just this one time!”
Further, a sale might pull you into buying something you don’t need. This will definitely make your cart fuller than it should just be.
You may want to keep some of the items to give yourself a “little reward,” but putting back two to three items each time will definitely save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
25. Double-Check Your Receipt Before Heading out of the Store
Make it a habit to double-check all the items on your receipt and check for any possible errors before you head out the grocery exit.
Here is a list of some of the basic things you need to watch out for:
- Each item must reflect the right price.
- All items are of the right quantity.
- The deals, discounts, and coupons reflect correctly on the item you purchased.
- If you are using cards that accumulate points, make sure that the points reflect properly.
- You are given the right change.
There is nothing more frustrating than when you are already home resting and you realize that you have been charged twice for an item or have been short-changed.
Often, going back to the store to have this corrected will be even more costly than the actual error.
So make sure to make reviewing everything a habit while at the store!
Combining all these smart tips while grocery shopping will definitely save you thousands of dollars!
Do you have other creative ways to add to the list? Let us know through the comments below, along with your questions!
