How to Save on Groceries

Have you been to the grocery store lately and mindlessly filled your cart with the usual items on your grocery list, only to check out and feel like you're having to pay more than you used to for the exact same items? Shrinkflation is tough but there are still ways to save on food.

You're not imagining it – the price of just about everything has increased in the past few years, groceries included. In fact, the annual inflation rate increased by 2.2% in March 2024, which is no good but better than the 11.4% in August 2022.

This hike in food expenses can be blamed on inflation, supply chain issues,  and consumer demand since the pandemic started in 2020. Another cause, as described by senate.gov, is that some corporations are raising their prices much higher than their costs (price-gouging) in the last few years to profit executives. While there's not a ton you can do about inflation and the cost of goods and services, you can learn to shop more wisely, use a budget, and save money on groceries to help keep that final total more manageable.

Try these 10 money-saving grocery tips the next time you head out to the store to help stick to your budget and save a little dough.

Make a Grocery List

How many of us have been guilty of going into the grocery store knowing we only need a few things, but then getting there and getting distracted and buying more than we originally planned? Stop this common occurrence in its tracks by making a shopping list before you head to the store and make sure to stick to it. One thing that’ll help you stick to your grocery shopping list is going shopping on a full stomach. Hungry shoppers often spend more.

Buy in Bulk

When you purchase items in larger quantities, you're paying less per unit (think, per can of green beans) than you would if you only purchased one. Thus, you're saving money on each use of that product (each time you open a can of green beans). Even if you're only saving 10 cents every day, that adds up to $36.50 saved on that one product every year.

The key to buying in bulk, though, is to only buy the items you will actually eat or use. You might think you'll eat 12 microwaveable packets of Indian curry, but odds are, after the first two you'll grow tired of the novelty and the rest will sit on the pantry shelf until it expires.

Also, keep in mind how much you'll use a product. For example, buying paper towels in bulk is a great idea but not if you end up using more than normal just because you know you have a great stock of them.

Make a list, only purchase what you'll actually use, and only use a normal amount to make buying in bulk worth it.

Embrace Grocery Apps

Gone are the days when you need to look at every grocery store paper ad to compare prices and find the best deals (though it's great to still do that, too). These days, almost every grocery store/retail chain has its own mobile app. Many grocery brands’ mobile apps include digital coupons only found in the app. If you don't want to have to look at a bunch of different apps, then try a price comparison one like Flipp. Plus, a lot of grocery apps also have lists, coupons, and reward card connectivity to simplify your shopping.

Try Meal Planning 

Now this doesn't have to apply to every meal. Planning out your meals can simply mean one meal a day or only a couple days a week or however it works best for you. Take stock of your fridge and pantry to see what ingredients you already have that you can work with, then write down the ingredients you'll need to make meals for the rest of the week and only buy those items at the grocery store. Again, grocery lists are key here!

Set a Grocery Budget

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American’s grocery cost per month is $475.25. If your budget allows for a total of $100 a week on groceries, then do your best to stick to your hundred-dollar budget. If you find the idea of keeping track of what you're spending too daunting, then use a calculator to add it up as you go. If you start to go over, look at what's in your cart to see if you can swap an item for a cheaper one or to decide if it's something you really need to purchase. The more you use this method, the easier it will become to know how to shop within your budget. There are also mobile apps that help you budget better in general.

Invest in a Vacuum Sealer

If you're buying in bulk and/or meal planning (or prepping) then you might want to separate what you've purchased and vacuum seal it to store it in the freezer for later use. For example, if you find pork chops on sale at your local warehouse store, you can take them home and separate them into packs of two or four, place them into vacuum seal bags, and put in the freezer for easy portioning.

Consider Buying More Frozen Foods

Sure, fresh veggies and meat are great, but have you considered buying more frozen food? Experts have found no real difference in the nutrients in frozen produce versus fresh, so why not go frozen to make sure your food lasts longer? Plus, frozen fruits and veggies are often much less expensive than fresh.

Prep Your Own Food

That bagged, washed, chopped lettuce is so much more convenient than purchasing a head of romaine, but it's also more expensive. In addition, the preparing and bagging process opens the door to contamination and recalls. The same goes for other pre-cut veggies and fruits, pre-cut and pre-cooked packages of chicken breasts, and any other already prepared foods. Brush up on your knife skills and save money by prepping and washing your own food. Make sure to invest in a good knife sharpener!

Use a Grocery Delivery or Pickup Service

Although it sounds counterintuitive, having someone else shop for you can actually be less expensive. Why? Well, because for starters, you're more likely to only order what's on your list and you'll be less likely to make any impulse buys. Oftentimes, grocery chains will waive pickup or delivery fees for new or frequent customers. Popular grocery shopping services include Instacart and Uber Eats. If you’re just looking for a shopping service to save time then many national retailers offer a pick-up option, like Walmart and Kroger.

Use the Loyalty Programs

Every major grocery chain now offers some kind of reward or loyalty program. Even though it may seem like a pain to sign up for one more program or carry one more card, it's worth it to reap the rewards, discounts, and other benefits the grocery stores offer. Many coupons are only available digitally and can only be loaded to your account. In addition, some loyalty programs offer members-only benefits for using their rewards programs, like discounts on fuel (another money-saving bonus).

Creating and sticking to a grocery budget can be tough to master. But you'll soon discover that with a little ingenuity and planning, the money-saving results will make it worth the effort.

For other money-saving tips, head on over to our Finance Academy and read up on our latest blogs. 

Grocery Savings FAQs

What grocery store saves you the most money?

Aldi is a no-frill German-owned grocery chain that is known for saving their customers money on groceries. Aldi has become more and more popular in recent years due to their low prices. Trader Joe’s is also known for affordability. Neither grocery chain offers many brand-name items, which helps them keep costs down.

How to live off $150 a month for food?

If you’re on a very tight budget, you’ll want to opt on cooking your own food, which means stretching your grocery shopping budget. Here’s a list of 5 simple and cheap recipes to try. Also, see these easy dinner ideas on a budget, which includes recipes for vegetable stir-fry, skillet lasagna, and white bean tuna salad.

What are the best grocery loyalty programs?

Most grocery stores in the U.S. have some kind of loyalty program where you create an account, download a mobile app, and then have the ability to create shopping lists, clip digital-only coupons, and shop online These, often free, accounts will also score you points on things like fuel. Grocery stores with loyalty programs include Kroger, Meijer, Target, Publix, H-E-B, Albertsons, and others. Which loyalty program is best depends on what’s important to you and what stores are in your area.