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Extend your grocery budget with smart strategies that make every dollar count. As the grocery shop for my household, I have noticed prices gradually rising over the past couple of years. It’s hard to save some money while filling the fridge with a week’s worth of food. Luckily, some tips from shopping experts can help us save as much money as possible. Next time you walk into your local supermarket, try these tricks to see if they’ll work for you.
1. Meal Plan
A weekly menu will help you avoid purchasing unnecessary items on your next shopping trip. When you go to the grocery store, bring your weekly meal plan and buy what is on your list. It might take some time to build up resistance to impulse buying, but having a plan to stick to will make it so much easier.
2. Shop Alone
Sticking with impulse buying, it is much easier to eliminate these urges if you shop alone. Children or partners can easily influence you to break down and buy unneeded products. By going on shopping trips solo, you can stick to your list and avoid spending extra money on impulse buys.
3. Shop During Slow Times
Busy crowds at the store can negatively impact your spending habits while shopping. Studies show people are more likely to grab products without closely monitoring prices and sizes that fit their needs. When the store is quieter, you can take your time and find the best prices and brands for you and your family.
4. Swap for Cheaper Cuts of Meat
Cheaper doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality. Swapping out ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken can often save a few bucks. Other options include swapping out cheaper cuts of steak or switching from grass-fed beef to regular grain-fed beef. Simple swaps like this can add up to a lot of money over time.
5. Shop Generic
Consumers might not be aware that most generic or store-branded products are made in the same factories as name-brand products. Swapping out name brands on simple products like condiments, peanut butter, cereal, and baked goods can be as much as $3 less than the branded options. Try swapping these out and see if your family can tell the difference. I’m willing to bet they won’t.
6. Avoid Buying Household Items at Grocery Store
You might be tempted to make a one-stop shopping trip at the grocery store and buy household and hygiene products when buying groceries. Products like shampoo, shaving cream, deodorant, cleaning products, and laundry detergent are often much cheaper at stores like Target or Walmart.
7. Avoid Eye-Level Shopping
These grocery stores and marketers are extremely clever and experts at getting you to spend more money. But luckily, there are ways to outsmart these rascals. Eye-level shelves are designed to get you to purchase items on said shelf, so these items are most likely higher priced. Look for knee-high shelves for similar products at a lower price point.
8. Get a Rewards Card
Listen, it’s 2024; if you don’t have a rewards card at your favorite grocery store, you are just throwing your money away. Rewards programs usually offer great deals on products and can sometimes offer discounts at local gas stations.
9. Bring a Calculator
Have you ever been checking out and realized you spent much more than expected? Me too. That is why I use a calculator as I shop to help me stay on budget. I like to keep a running tally as I fill my cart so I won’t be surprised when I hit the checkout line.
10. Follow the Sales
Now, you don’t want to waste gas driving all over town, but sometimes, you might want to visit two different stores to take advantage of their deals. For instance, I have one store from which I only buy my produce. I have a second store across the street where I buy my proteins. I know which store is cheaper, so I separate my list accordingly.
11. Use a Credit Card With Cash Back Rewards
Many major credit card companies offer cash-back deals for shopping at major chain grocery stores. Certain cards can offer as much as 5% cash back on all purchases. Use this card only for grocery store purchases, and start watching those reward points accumulate.
12. Use Curbside Pickup
One of the easiest ways to avoid spending extra money on impulse buys and overpriced items is to avoid the store altogether. Shopping online can help you find the best prices and only put what you need in your virtual cart.
13. Buy in Bulk
Buying products in bulk from stores like Costco or Sam’s Club can save you a lot of money in the long run. If you have the space and ability to freeze the extra products, shopping in bulk is a no-brainer. This comes in handy when you find great deals on products you love but can’t eat before they go bad.
14. Don’t Shop Hungry
We have heard this old adage for years now: Shopping on an empty stomach leads to overspending and impulse buying. Avoid those junk food cravings by shopping after lunch or breakfast, when you are full and less susceptible to buying unnecessary items.
15. Buy Seasonal Produce
Fruits and vegetables have different seasons when they are more readily available. When produce is in season, the crop is abundant, making it go on sale so companies can sell it off faster. Avoid out-of-season products because they will be more costly than in-season products.
16. Shop Bulk Bins
Bulk bins allow you to purchase as much or as little of a product as you need. You don’t have to buy a giant box of flour or sugar when you only need enough for a small batch of cookies. By purchasing a small amount, you will save money and help avoid wasting an expensive product.
17. Shop the Perimeter of the Store
Most grocery stores have the same layout. The perimeter consists of produce, dairy, bakery, and butcher shop. The center of the store usually has higher-priced processed food products. Not only will this help you save money by avoiding over-priced junk food, but it will also help you live a healthier lifestyle.
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Once you eliminate your bad spending habits, that money can go toward your emergency fund, paying off debt, or other essential things. Here are the 41 biggest wastes of money to look out for.
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