Grocery shopping can be expensive, especially if you have a lot of mouths to feed. Here are tips you can follow to save money on groceries when shopping on a budget. How to save money grocery shopping.
Inflation and food shortages across the globe are causing grocery prices to rise dramatically. How do you save money on groceries these days? Is it even possible??
The amount you spend on groceries depends on where you shop, what you buy and the number of people in your household. The average cost of monthly groceries for one adult on the thrifty plan ranges from $215 to $308.
But regardless of how much you spend, there are simple actions you can take to save money. Whether it’s using the right form of payment or clipping coupons.
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Those averages might come from a lack of budgeting or from the insane price of groceries. Still, there’s no denying grocery prices are going up (and might keep going up), so is there a way to figure out how to save money on groceries? Yep—pull up a chair
The savings can add up each trip and help offset the increased cost of groceries. Grocery shopping on a budget is important to save money.
From grocery apps to price matching to product swaps, these tips will help you keep that cash in your wallet. Check out some of these tips to help you save money on your grocery purchases.
Why Are Grocery Prices So High Right Now?
If you feel like your grocery runs are costing more lately, you’re not wrong.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) cited that at-home food prices (meaning, non-restaurant spending) increased 12.4% between October 2021 and October 2022, thanks, in part, to continued inflation and supply chain issues.
According to the USDA’s October 2022 Cost of Food report, a single person between the ages of 19 and 50 is suggested to spend between $255 and $450 per month on groceries.
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And someone between 51 and 70 years old should spend between $249 and $417 per month; both those findings are based on different spending levels.
Of course, that number increases the more people you have in your home—and with inflation, that suggested monthly grocery budget feels extra tight.
How to Save Money on Groceries In 2024
Sure, grocery prices are hitting ridiculous levels that make you want to cry. But you don’t have to give up and toss your budget out the window.
And you definitely don’t have to spend an arm and a leg (or starve!). Here are 30 easy ways to go grocery shopping on a budget!
Like it or not, buying groceries is a part of life. But paying top dollar for your weekly supermarket trip doesn’t have to be a given.
If you’re feeling sticker shock at the store, here’s how to save money on groceries in 2024.
1. Know When To Shop – Best Way To Save Money On Groceries
When it comes to getting a good deal, timing is key. Many experts say it’s cheaper to do your food shopping on Wednesdays.
According to Google Maps, stores tend to be less crowded on Wednesday evenings, so you’ll end up less flustered and distracted. It’s also when weekly specials start at many U.S. supermarkets.
That’s because grocery stores restock their shelves midweek and mark down what didn’t sell from the week before.
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But because they’re in the process of changing the discounts, sometimes they’ll still give you the price cuts from last week’s sale.
If going on a Wednesday isn’t doable, just try to avoid the weekends. Bigger crowds equal fewer deals.
Time of day plays a big role with bargains too. Early bird gets to hit the clearance shelves first!
But if you’re slow to rise, shopping right before closing time when the deli and bakery counters are trying to sell off the rest of their stuff is another great way to score big sales.
2. Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB).
Nope, it’s not what you think. It’s time to bring your own bag to the grocery store.
If you bring reusable shopping bags to the store, you can often receive a discount on your order total. Stores like Whole Foods Market can give you a 10 cent discount per bag you bring.
Lots of stores will give you a discount on your total grocery bill just for bringing in a reusable bag.
How easy is that?
Your savings will usually run somewhere between 5 and 10 cents per bag.
Five bags could save you anywhere from 25 to 50 cents. Hey, savings are savings! Keep some reusable bags in your car so you don’t forget them at home.
3. Clip Coupons – How To Save Money At The Grocery Store
After you’ve signed up for your favorite grocery store’s loyalty program, maximize your savings by clipping coupons for additional discounts.
Look out for the weekly circular in the mail and sift through the pages for deals that matter to you. Cut out any coupons and save them for your next grocery run.
There are also now digital options that are just as easy to use. Download your favorite grocery store’s mobile app, browse available discounts and click to load coupons onto your digital loyalty card.
Then when you checkout in-store, the discounts will automatically be applied.
4. Think Before You Buy In Bulk
Buying in bulk is amazing . . . when it actually saves you money.
But don’t assume the big bulk buys at the discount stores are automatically the cheaper option. When you’re grocery shopping on a budget, be sure to stop and compare the price per unit or ounce for the item you’re buying.
As tempting as it is to stock up, don’t buy more than you really need—especially when it comes to items that go bad.
Buying bulk cereal might be a great investment for a family of four, but you should probably skip that 40-count of Greek yogurt if it’s just you.
5. Sign Up For The Loyalty Program
Most grocery stores offer loyalty programs that are free to join. By signing up, you can benefit from member-only discounts that automatically deduct at checkout — without the need to clip coupons.
6. Pay With a Grocery Rewards Card To Spend Less On grocery
Using the right form of payment at checkout can help you earn rewards that can be used to offset your bill.
While a generic cash-back card like the Citi® Double Cash Card can earn you 2% cash back. (1% on all purchases and an additional 1% after you pay your credit card bill).
There are specific grocery rewards cards that can earn you up to 6% back.
Here are CNBC Select’s top picks for cards offering supermarket rewards:
- Winner: Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (6% cash back in the form of statement credits at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) Terms apply.
- Runner-up: American Express® Gold Card (4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X) Terms apply.
- Best for gas stations and groceries: PenFed Platinum Rewards Visa Signature® Card (3X points on supermarket purchases)
- Best for online grocery shopping: Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card (5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market)
- Best for no annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (3% cash back in the form of statement credits at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%) (See rates and fees) Terms apply.
7. Use Credit Cards Strategically
Check your credit cards to see if you can earn cash back or other rewards when grocery shopping.
You’ll need to track details like spending caps and rotating categories. But rewards credit cards can pay 2% to 6%, which could shave hundreds of dollars a year off your food costs.
To reap the best return, pay the card off in full each month rather than carrying a balance — otherwise interest charges may eat up your savings.
8. Redefine Dinner Saving Money At The Grocery Store
If the word dinner makes you picture a big homemade meal with a nice cut of meat, two steaming sides of fresh veggies from the farmers market, a warm loaf of French bread, and a chocolate dessert—chill out and give yourself a break.
This isn’t 1952, and supper doesn’t have to be a big feast. Your family will survive on BLTs, beans, omelets or a big salad a few times a week.
Don’t be afraid to serve simple meals or have breakfast for dinner to make your groceries stretch. Kids think it’s fun to eat pancakes for dinner—so take advantage of that.
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Eggs are cheap, and you can whip them up into different dishes like frittatas and quiches if you’re feeling fancy. Or keep it simple with some egg salad sandwiches.
Just a little rethinking of the last meal of the day can shrink your guilt and your grocery budget. Plus, you’ll get a lot of time back by not preparing a three-course meal every night. Freedom!
9. Use a Rebate App – Best Apps To Save Money On Groceries
There are a handful of rebate apps, such as Ibotta and Rakuten, that give you cash back for buying groceries. Best grocery coupon app to save money on veggies.
You can register for free with one of these services to save more on top of loyalty benefits and credit card rewards. Depending on the app, you may need to link a loyalty card or submit receipts to receive a rebate.
10. Use Apps On Your Smartphone
When you’re searching for ways to save money on groceries, don’t forget about all the rebate apps out there!
- Ibotta,
- Receipt Hog,
- Checkout 51 and
- Fetch Rewards are just a few of the great apps that can help you save.
While rebates don’t give you a discount up front (like a traditional coupon), you should see savings in the long run. The Best apps for cashback on groceries are in your phone, use them.
11. Grocery Store Loyalty Cards
Download the loyalty app for your most frequently shopped stores. You can avoid clipping physical coupons and add discounts directly to your loyalty card.
Savings are then automatically applied at the time of purchase. Your app also may tailor your coupon offers to products you’ve previously purchased.
If your store offers combination savings such as “buy five, save $5,” the app can help you plan your shopping to maximize these sales.
You also can earn fuel points for discounts at the pump if your grocery chain has a gas station affiliate.
12. Pay With Cash –Way To Save Money On Groceries
It’s like we always say around here: Cash is king! The best way to be sure you’ll end up with a lower bill is to stick to your grocery budget and pay with cash.
When you go to the store with cash in hand, you know exactly how much you can spend—because once the cash runs out, that’s it.
Plus, it’ll help you rank the meat and vegetables over the ice cream and cookie impulse buys. Those little extras are okay, but you have to plan for them.
If you find that you’re eating like royalty at the beginning of the month and then scraping by at the end, take out cash for groceries every week instead of once a month.
That way, you’ll have a better picture of how much you can actually afford to spend on every grocery trip.
13. Try Going Meatless For a Meal – Food Shopping On a Budget
Look here, carnivore. Don’t be afraid to branch out and have a meatless meal once or twice a week.
No one is saying you have to become a vegetarian, but buying a lot of meat can make your grocery bill skyrocket (especially when the meat isn’t on sale).
So instead, find some meatless recipes to whip up on Meatless Monday—or whatever day of the week you choose!
14. Buy Meat Only When It’s On Sale
When it’s not Meatless Monday, bring meat back into your diet by learning how to become a savvy meat shopper. Be on the lookout for great bulk deals on meat.
Don’t worry about it going bad before you can use it all, because you can always stash it away in the freezer. Also, look for cuts of meat that are cheaper alternatives to what you usually buy. Instead of chicken breasts, opt for chicken thighs.
Skip the sirloin and grab ground chuck. Pass on the pork chops and pig out on the pork loin.
15. Avoid Delivery When You Can – Ways To Save Money On Groceries
Grocery delivery services often come with additional fees, so from the get-go it’s cheaper to buy groceries in person or order them online for pickup.
Here are the cheapest ways to order groceries online.
16. Don’t Buy More Than You Need
We love a deal. Everyone loves a deal.
But if you get suckered into buying stuff you don’t really need, did you really get a deal at all? Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale or because you have a coupon.
If it wasn’t part of your planned grocery list, then you still spent more money than you were planning to—deal or no deal.
17. Compare Prices Between Stores
If you live near various grocery stores, consider shopping at a few and comparing prices. You can learn which store has the items you need for less and also look at the sales they run.
If it’s not too much of a hassle, you may want to grocery shop at two stores to optimize savings.
If you currently shop at a high-end grocery store, consider switching to a store that’s known for more affordable food prices like Walmart, Aldi or Trader Joe’s.
18. Round Up Your Grocery Cost Estimates
This is a fun little trick to play on yourself when you’re stumped for how to save money on groceries.
While you’re walking around with your calculator, round up each item’s price. The $1.49 product becomes $2, that $7.75 item becomes $8—you get the idea.
If you do this for everything in your cart, you’ll still know roughly what you’re spending. But you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you’re at the checkout counter and come in under budget every time.
19. Download The Flashfood App – Best Grocery Coupon App
The Flashfood app lets customers know about their local store’s discounted items (products that are close to their sell-by date).
For participating stores, you can order through their app and pick up the products at the Flashfood station inside.
20. Don’t Shop When You’re Hungry – How To Save Money On Groceries
People do a lot of silly things when they’re hungry. They say things they don’t mean, eat all of their roommate’s chips, and aimlessly stroll the grocery store aisles like zombies.
And while your best friend might not hold you responsible for what you said when you were hangry, your grocery bill won’t let you off the hook so easily.
Step away from the 48-count of frozen waffles, and put back that pineapple upside-down cake from the bakery. Walk into the grocery store with a full stomach, and you might be shocked by how much lower your grocery bill is.
21. Learn The Sales Cycles Money Saving Food
Are you ready to do a little detective work? Start paying attention to when your favorite items go on sale and how much the price drops.
Jot it down in a small notebook or on your smartphone and see if there’s a trend. Soon you’ll be able to predict the sales before they hit!
Holidays like Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day and Halloween are known for their candy sales.
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If you want to snag a bargain, shop the clearance section after the holidays are over. Stores will deeply discount their seasonal merchandise, and you can stock up for a low price.
Jetta has an insider tip for consumers who make one large shopping trip per month — go to the supermarket early. “At many retailers, there are usually better deals the first week of the month,” he says.
Jetta notes this phenomenon is a byproduct of the paycheck cycle; stores are likely to compete for traffic when they know their customers have just gotten paid.
22. Shop The Farmers Market At The End Of The Day
Okay, heads up—not everything at a farmers market is going to be cheaper. But by the end of the day, most farmers don’t want to take their food home with them.
So, walk around your local farmers market at closing time and see what kind of deals you can score.
Make a reasonable offer for the box of produce they have left. Chances are, you’ll get a great deal on delicious fresh fruits and veggies. This is how to save money buying groceries the last minute.
23. Start Meal Planning – Pick n save Money Services
If you’re someone who struggles to come up with meal ideas—and ends up making too many unplanned, expensive trips to the grocery store—meal planning can help keep your grocery budget on track.
By creating a menu and doing one large shop for several days of meals, you can plan around grocery items that may be on sale, such as seasonal vegetables or certain cuts of meat.
While meal planning might sound overwhelming, there are apps to help take the headache out of the process. Whisk, for example, allows you to create a customized meal plan each week.
The app connects to major grocers, including Walmart and Kroger, and creates an ingredient list that you can order online directly from the store (or you can save the list to reference while shopping in person).
By having a plan for what you’ll be eating ahead of time, you’ll avoid unexpected costs while doing last-minute shopping during the week.
24. Keep Inventory On Your Fridge Door
It’s easy to waste food when produce or dairy gets hidden behind other items in your fridge.
A good way to fix this is by adding a simple list to the front of your refrigerator as a reminder of what fresh items you have in there that need to be eaten quickly.
Every time you open the fridge to grab something, you’ll see it. Fridge organization for the win!
25. If You Buy It, Use It! Food Shopping On a Budget
Nothing’s worse than discovering funky fruits and vegetables hanging out in the back of your fridge. What’s even sadder is that those rotten cucumbers and moldy peaches are dollar bills going right into the trash. Ouch!
Try your best to actually use what you buy at the grocery store.
Put a list of food inventory on the front of your refrigerator to help jog your memory. Whatever you do, just don’t let the food go to waste.
26. Get To Know The Supermarket Layout – Ways To Save Money On Groceries
Where the healthy foods are located. On the perimeter (or outside aisles) of the store you will usually find the fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, lean meat, eggs and lower fat milk products.
Go to the inside aisles for other nutritious staples such as grain products, beans, nuts, seeds, peanut butter and whole grains. Skip the aisles with the pop, candy and chips.
Grocery Shopping on a Budget Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
A few new habits can help you lower your monthly grocery bill, stick to your budget, and meet your money goals faster.
That means you’ll have more cash to pay down debt, invest for the future, or save for something fun like a babysitter and a nice meal out where someone else cooks and cleans up!
Now that you know how to save money on groceries, try one of these budget hacks on your next trip to the grocery store.
You might be surprised by how much cash stays in your pocket. Who knows you might also get a lot more creative in the kitchen.
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And hey, if you want to learn how to budget your absolute best for groceries and everything else in life try our free budgeting app, Every Dollar!
Individually, none of these methods are going to protect your budget from inflation, especially at the grocery store. But small changes can add up over time.
As inflation continues to press hard globally, spending some time couponing, scanning receipts or helping conduct market research can help ease the financial burden. It all depends on how much time you’re willing and able to invest. Learn how to grocery shop on a budget to save money on food.
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