Groceries are one of the biggest expenses in any household. Luckily, if you want to reduce your grocery bill, there are plenty of simple strategies you can use to cut back on costs.
In this slideshow, you’ll find 55 of the best grocery hacks that will not only save you money but also save you loads of time. By using these fun techniques, you’ll be able to simplify your future shopping trips, as well as put loads more money in the bank while you’re at it.
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PhotoMIX-Company
1. Grow your own food
Growing your own food is a great way to save some money on groceries and get some guaranteed fresh produce at the same time. While it’s probably not convenient to try and replace your entire diet with home-grown food, it’s pretty easy to grow some tomatoes and other vegetables in your back yard.
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CarlyPals
2. Loyalty programs
Most grocery stores have loyalty programs. If you are not already a member at your local store, it is a good idea to sign up. Many grocery stores have card-holding member-only prices that are cheaper than listed prices. It is likely that you will regularly receive other promotional offers as well.
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Marccoton
3. Freeze meat
Buying meat in bulk when it is on special and freezing it can save you a lot of money. Once it’s frozen, it basically has an indefinite shelf life. Raw meat goes bad quickly sitting in the fridge if you don’t cook it within a few days. There is nothing worse than having to throw out expired meat you forgot to cook.
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Cobanams
4. Electronic coupons
Long gone are the days of clipping paper coupons. Many grocery stores now have their own mobile apps you can download that streamline the coupon process. Just present the coupon on your phone at check out and they will scan it or be able to type in the code for you.
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geralt
5. Use glass storage containers
Investing in a few nice glass storage containers for leftovers can save you money in the long run. Not only are glass containers more durable, but they also don’t absorb odors like plastics do. Never let leftover food go to waste.
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Rubbermaid Products
6. Make a list of “staples”
Have a core list of staple grocery items that you buy every week. These should be versatile and affordable items that can be used in several different types of dishes. Things like rice, lettuce, milk, eggs, and chicken breasts are just a few examples of potential options.
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dubajjo
7. Prep veggies immediately
It’s easy to let vegetables sit in the fridge for weeks without using them. Eventually, they’ll go bad. Prepping your vegetables as soon as you get home from the store can help keep you accountable and force you to actually use them.
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pxhere
8. Food blogs
Following budget-friendly food blogs online can give you ideas about good cheap and healthy dishes you can make. Many people waste money on pre-prepared food because they are afraid of cooking. Search online for simple recipes and start preparing your own meals. It will save you boatloads of cash.
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Element5 Digital
9. Pinterest
Another good place to find recipes is on Pinterest. Search through cheap meal boards and find a few dishes that look good to try out. It is a great resource for both amateur and professional chefs alike.
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Mohamed Hassan
10. Store food properly
Extend the shelf life of the food you buy by learning how to store it correctly. Don’t mix different types of fruits and vegetables in the same bag. Make sure leftovers are stored in airtight containers. Also, raw meats are best stored on the bottom shelf of the fridge. That way other food doesn’t get contaminated if the container happens to leak.
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Amanda Mills
11. Meal planning
Cooking your meals in bulk can save you time and money versus cooking a new dish from scratch every time you’re hungry. Having a pre-thought-out plan for every meal will also keep you from being unprepared and wasting money on take-out and other fast food.
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Kelly Parker McPherson
12. Double check receipts
It’s a good idea to look over your receipt before you leave the grocery store to make sure everything looks correct. Sometimes sale prices don’t show up correctly at check out. It’s also common that an employee will make a mistake and ring something up wrong. It’s easy to do, especially when they are typing in produce codes.
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pxhere
13. Have 10 go-to dishes
Thinking of meal planning ideas can be exhausting. With all of us leading busy lives, it’s best to have around 10 go-to recipes you can rely on. This will give you a sufficient amount of variety without making the cooking process too overwhelming. It also makes grocery shopping much simpler.
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pxhere
14. Cash back credit card
While paying in cash is okay occasionally, the benefits you gain from using a cash-back credit card can add up over time to significant amounts of money. Getting 1 or 2% back on grocery purchases doesn’t seem like much, but it can make a huge difference.
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Hloom Templates
15. Make a shopping list
Once you are in the store, it’s easy to end up buying all kinds of junk food and other products that you don’t really need. Brands spend millions on advertising every year and design brightly colored convincing labels that are hard to pass on. If you make a shopping list before you go and stick to it, it can help you avoid wasting money on unnecessary products.
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geralt
16. Ignore everything at the checkout lane
The checkout lane is filled with all kinds of enticing sweets and other things designed to trick your brain into buying them. Put your blinders on when going through the checkout and resist those impulse purchases. Buying a candy bar or magazine every time you go shopping can add up to hundreds in wasted cash.
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SchuminWeb
17. Look through your pantry before going
Make sure to check your pantry before heading to the grocery store. It’s easy to forget what all is in there. You don’t want to accidentally purchase something that you already have sitting in the cabinet at home.
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Downtowngal
18. Put an item back
An interesting practice you can add to your shopping routine is putting one item back on the shelf before heading to check out every time you are shopping. Look through your cart and decide which item is the most unnecessary. Then leave it behind. This is a good habit that will help bring more mindfulness to your grocery shopping trips.
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Smallman12q
19. Use your smartphone for grocery lists
How many times have you left home to go shopping only to realize that you accidentally left your grocery list behind. Putting your list on your smartphone instead will guarantee that this never happens to you again. There are plenty of apps for this, as well as built-in note taking programs that come standard with most phones.
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pxhere
20. Skip the bottled water
Stop buying bottled water! Not only is it expensive, but it is also bad for the environment. Use a water filter at home on your tap or buy big refillable water jugs instead. Invest in a nice water bottle for when you are on the go.
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congerdesign
21. Eat before shopping
One of the most repeated pieces of grocery shopping advice is to eat before you go to the store. It is extremely important. Going in hungry will have you buying all kinds of things that look good in the moment while your stomach is rumbling, but are ultimately bad decisions. You will have much more willpower if you eat before you go.
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freestockphotos.biz
22. Paper products
Lots of people spend huge amounts of money on disposable paper products such as paper towels, plates, etc. Consider using cloth napkins or other more sustainable alternatives instead. Buying toilet paper is okay though. That is one thing you don’t really want to reuse.
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Mike Mozart
23. Reduce your trips to the store
It’s best to limit yourself to shopping only once or twice a week. No matter how disciplined you are with your shopping list, the reality is that the more times you go to the store, the more money you are likely to spend. Doing your shopping all at once versus making several small trips will also save you time and gas money.
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pxhere
24. Double check expiration dates
Always double check the expiration dates on products. This is especially important with raw meats as they have a notoriously short shelf life. The last thing you want to have to do is throw away food because it expired before you were able to use it.
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usdagov
25. Coupons
While using coupons is definitely a good way to save money, make sure not to buy something you don’t really need just because you have a coupon for it. It is best to make your shopping list first. Then search for coupons for the products on your list after.
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Samantha Romero
26. Cut back on drinking
Alcohol is a big expense. When many people sit down and crunch the numbers, they are shocked at how much they are actually spending on booze. If you think you might be one of those people, consider cutting back.
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David Shankbone
27. Store flyers
Many grocery stores have store flyers by the entrance that show all the best deals for the week. These can also be found on their websites. Check the flyers before you go shopping to see if any of the staples you need are on special. If they are, it doesn’t hurt to stock up.
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Hans
28. Budget
Make a grocery budget that is reasonable and do your best to never exceed it. If you don’t keep track of how much you are spending, it is easy to let things get out of control and spend more than you would like to.
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Katie Harp
29. Meat markdowns
Ask employees which day they typically mark down meat. Most stores follow a set schedule. Buying meat on days that they reduce prices can easily save you 25% or more. Just make sure to use the meat or freeze it straight away after purchase.
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pxhere
30. Or just eat less meat…
Meat is often one of the costliest items on peoples’ grocery lists. While protein is important, reducing the amount of meat you consume is one way to save some serious cash. Beans and lentils are good alternatives.
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KiwiNeko14
31. Compare meat prices
If you are going to eat meat, however, you should always check at the meat counter to see if the prices on the packaged items match the counter prices. Sometimes the meat on display is priced higher than the meat sold at the counter direct from the butcher.
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alanjovan
32. Follow the seasons
Buying seasonally can help you save money. Buying certain fruits and vegetables in the off-season can sometimes cost you double what the normal price is. Change up your diet throughout the year to match what is currently cheapest.
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Matthias Wilke
33. Think about who you go shopping with
Consider who you normally bring to the store with you and whether they cause you to spend more or less. For example, when the kids tag along with you, do they constantly bug you to buy additional items you don’t need? For other families, their kids may incentivize them to try and get in and out of the store as quickly as possible, actually causing them to spend less.
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Max Pixel
34. Rain checks
Many stores offer rain checks if an item you want to buy is out of stock currently. Just go to the customer service desk and ask. They will normally give you a coupon to get the item at a slight discount when they get the next shipment in.
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Daniel Ramirez
35. Clearance sections
Many grocery stores have clearance sections. It is worth checking these to see if any of the items that are on your grocery list are on clearance. Cans with dents in them or other perishable items like bread can often be found at big discounts.
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Informed
36. Learn about pricing
This comes with experience, however, it is important to know when you are getting a good price on something and when you are not. Being able to recognize a good deal is a skill that can be developed by paying close attention to how prices fluctuate on items over time. Also, you’ll notice that some brands are a better value than others.
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Walmart
37. Explore different stores
Many people go back to the same grocery store over and over again simply out of habit. It is important to check out other stores from time to time to compare prices and products. You might be surprised by what you discover.
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Justme89
38. Reusable Bags
There are a lot of states that now charge money for plastic bags. Bring your own reusable bags with you to save money. It’s better for the environment that way as well.
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U.S. DoD
39. Discount grocery stores
Check to see if you have a discount grocery store or big wholesale store in your area. Joining a membership store like Sam’s Club or Costco can lead to big savings on some items. For many people, the yearly membership price is well worth the investment.
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Walmart
40. Only buy what you know you’ll eat
A lot of people have good intentions when they go on new diets and try to change up their lifestyle habits. Although, if you are not 100% committed, it can lead to a lot of wasted food. Make sure to only buy what you know you’ll eat, or else you’ll end up literally throwing money away.
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gustavthree
41. Brand choices
Consider buying generic or store brands instead of the big well-known ones. Oftentimes, the only real difference is the marketing. You might be surprised to find that the store brand tastes just as good, despite the cheaper price tag.
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Mike Mozart
42. Understanding deals
Make sure you know how the specials work. If a promotion says four items for $10, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to buy all four items. Unless it specifically states you have to buy four, you can probably just buy one and pay $2.50.
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Squirrel_photos
43. Cheaper options?
Every time you buy something you should think about whether there is a cheaper alternative option. For example, buying a bag of dry beans is a much better value than buying a can of precooked beans. In addition, cooking your own meals is almost always cheaper than buying pre-prepared meals like TV dinners.
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Willis Lam
44. Packaged snacks
Avoid all packaged snacks. They are almost always made up of empty calories and don’t fill you up. While it is tempting to buy a box of cookies or bag of chips occasionally, the truth is that it is not really a good investment of your money.
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pxhere
45. Cut your own vegetables
It’s pretty common that people will buy precut bags of vegetables to save time. However, the time saving comes at a big cost. Buying your own fresh vegetables and cutting them up yourself is a lot cheaper. It doesn’t really take that long either once you get better with your knife skills.
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Max Pixel
46. Unit prices (weight)
Most price tags not only list the price of the item, but also the unit price of the item (i.e. 2$/oz). Using the unit price is the best way to make comparisons between products. While common sense would tell you buying in bulk is the cheapest, that is not always the case. Sometimes smaller bags have a cheaper unit price.
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Alexas_Fotos
47. Ibotta app
Ibotta is a smartphone app that gives you cash back for choosing products you want to buy before going grocery shopping. When you get home, you’ll just need to take a photo of your receipt and upload it to confirm that you bought the item. Ibotta can save you a few dollars on every grocery trip.
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JESHOOTS-com
48. Checkout 51 app
Another useful shopping tool is the Checkout 51 app. It works in much the same way as Ibotta. Upload your receipts and get money back on every purchase.
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TheDigitalWay
49. Shopkick app
Shopkick lets you earn gift cards just by walking into a store. Every time you pass through the doors, you get points which can later be exchanged for rewards. Earn additional points by scanning receipts and barcodes of items.
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TheDigitalWay
50. Sale cycles
Understanding sale cycles can save you cash. Most products go on sale on average once every six weeks. If one of your staple products is on sale, you should try and buy enough of it to last you all six weeks until it goes on sale again.
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pxhere
51. Use a spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is a good tool to help you keep track of how much you are spending on grocery items. Organize it by category. Spreadsheets can also help you keep track of product prices over time. That way you will be able to recognize a good deal in the future when one arises.
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OpenIcons
52. Shop online
A lot of big grocery stores have an online shopping option. Select which groceries you want on their website, then just show up to the store and pick up your order. They will likely charge an additional fee for the service, but time is money, right? Depending on your schedule and how much you value your time, it could be worth it.
53. Buy toilet paper and paper towels at CVS
It might be worth a separate trip to CVS for your paper product needs. Several times a year, they run a special for $10 off for purchases over $30 on select toilet paper, paper towel, and dish detergent brands. Whenever this special is running, you can stock up for the year.
Source:
Mike Mozart
54. Use Amazon
People don’t really think about using Amazon to buy their groceries. However, Amazon is a great place to find uncommon grocery items at good prices. The Amazon Prime Pantry service is also a cheap way to stock up on bulk orders of staple products like coconut flour, nuts, etc.
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NurKochen
55. Facebook Groups
Facebook is a good way to connect with other people who are interested in saving money just like you. There are tons of coupon groups and other grocery shopping groups you can join where people share the best deals. Several minds are always better than one!
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Tumisu
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