HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON GROCERIES
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Have you noticed the packaging on food items is shrinking? My Sugar Free Minute Maid Lemonade container is slimmer than it was last year. And my pretzel sqaures are smaller. The prices remain the same on these items (sometimes) but we are getting less for our money.
I started to think about shoppers on fixed budgets or those of us who sometimes overbuy and that leads to waste.
Here are a few tips for all of us on how to save money on groceries.
It turns out that saving money on groceries begins at home with a list and includes a little meal planning. Let’s start with …
1.Meal Planning
Most of my friends and my kids menu-prep for the week.
It is anorganized way to plan meals.
My adulting kids only buy the ingredients they need and they “share” ingredients over more than one meal.
Currently, my version of meal planning involves defrosting ground chicken or chicken breasts first thing in the morning which gives me eight hours to decide what to make for dinner. Productive meal planning starts with a grocery list.
2. GROCERY LISTS
It turns out that a grocery list increases the chance of saving money at the checkout.
Create your shopping list- think of it as a rough draft. Once you create a draft you can focus on what is in your pantry or, cabinets or refrigerator.
My mindset is I can never have too many 14-ounce cans of Pinto Beans. They are shelf stable.
And that is how I return home with a four-pack of canned green beans that was not on my shopping list.
Stick to the list to avoid impulse purchases- they are never on the grocery list.
3. Avoid the Department Temptations
(bakery or floral) . Or the dozen Krispy Kreme donuts conveniently positioned near the self-checkout.
4. Shop Generic
Store brands often have the same quality as name brands but are usually cheaper. This is Trader Joe’s model! It is why their stores have a small footprint, fewer items (SKUS) which translates to lower costs for Trader Joe’s and shoppers.- Seasonal Aisle grab Hershey Kisses for baking because a milk chocolate tastes the same regardless of the color of the foil wrap.
6. Store Food Properly
Learn how to extend the life of produce, dairy, and leftovers. I do not always take the time to freeze leftovers. And I never labeled them because I conveince myself I will be able to distinguish between the frozen Tlapia and the chicken thighs in six months. I ordered these freezer labels.
7. Stock up on non-perishables or freezeables when they’re on sale.
- But pace yourself. My husband is notorious for coming home with six bags of cranberries at Thanksgiving because we will need one bag for Christmas.
8. Coupons
In full disclosure I do not use coupons or grocery apps. When I am at shelf-checkout, I need all my mental energy focused on the scanner to prevent the dreaded “help is on the way.”
Do you use coupons?
9. Here is a surprisingly easy tip to avoid buying more groceries than you need! Ready?
Choose a smaller cart! The smaller cart limits me to what I can buy and I don’t have the temptation to buy more because I have space in my cart.
I limit myself two reusable grocery bags. This is another way to manage how much I spend on groceries.
What suggestions do you have to save money on groceries.
Please leave in comments and I wil update this fall! Thank you taking a moment out of your day to read Everyday Edits.
Please pin or share this tip for others to find. I am always ready to share your tips!
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I do pretty well on the meal planning and grocery shopping, but always slip on “actually use what you buy before it gets icky and you have to throw it in the trash”!
For all those extra bags of cranberries, my favorite recipe is Tracy’s Cranberry Bread from Three Too Many Cooks (https://threemanycooks.com/recipes/nibbles-and-apps/tracys-cranberry-bread/). Sometimes I reduce the amount of sugar because I love the tartness of the cranberries. This recipe works well in a loaf pan or as muffins.
Thanks Kim! I pinned the recipe! laura