We’re all looking for ways to slash our grocery bills, but exteme couponing just takes up way too much time. Who has time to clip hundreds of coupons every week? I know I don’t! If you feel the same way, that doesn’t mean you are stuck spending more- it just means you have to get creative. I’m all about a good coupon but I don’t sit around for hours clipping them- I grab the good ones, stock up on my favorite products, and save where I can. However, there are ways to save at the grocery store that don’t involve clipping anything! Below are some of my favorite tips for reducing your grocery bill. You’ll be on your way to saving big in no time!
Meal Planning
Ah, the dreaded meal plans. Actually, with Pinterest, meal planning is no longer dreaded! There are so many ideas {check out my boards like Recipes to Try and Slow Cooker Recipes for some ideas}, you could literally eat a different meal every day of the year and never have a repeat!
Sit down at the beginning of each week or month {whatever works best for you} and print off a calendar for your menu. {Want a cute one? Grab my free weekly meal planner!} I like to plan breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but you can just plan dinners and leave breakfast and lunch for leftovers and oatmeal, eggs, etc. Either way works just fine! Once a week, sit down in front of your calendar and start putting in some of your favorite budget meals. If you are planning by the week, look at your local ads and see what’s on sale. Meal planning around the ad prices will save you up to 50%!
Eat Less Meat
I’m not saying you have to go full-on vegetarian all the time, but try to take a day or two off from it each week to save some money. Try some awesome vegetarian recipes, or create your own! Eating less meat could save you $50 or more each month, if you’re currently eating it at every meal.
Shop Sales
Always buy food when it’s on sale! How do you know if it’s a true sale? You won’t know, unless you keep a unit price sheet. Tracking items by unit price is the best way to keep tabs on actual prices, because you will know if the store is trying to trick you by replacing an item with a smaller one. Check various stores, too. Staying loyal to just one store can cost you a pretty penny. This may sound time consuming, but it can take just minutes. When you get back from a grocery trip, enter the price you just paid for the items you buy all the time {bread, bananas, milk, whatever your family consumes weekly} onto a price spreadsheet. Keep track of it each week and you’ll start to see a pattern- and you’ll see when your favorite items are at their lowest prices!
If the sale price isn’t cheaper than the generic, it’s most likely not a real sale. However, if you need the item right now or haven’t started your stockpile quite yet, go ahead and buy the generic- you’ll save quite a bit in the long run. Items you want to look out for to start your stockpile with include toothpaste, toothbrushes, cosmetics, and other toiletries. You should be able to score those for at least 75% off retail in order to stock up without spending a ton of money.
Bulk Shopping
One more way to save money on your groceries is by shopping in bulk. A membership is about $50 a year, so consider that when factoring your expenses, but you should save that in just a few trips. You’ll also save money on gas- and while that isn’t exactly cutting your grocery bill, it is contributing to reducing your overall expenses which leaves you a little more wiggle room for groceries in your budget.
Bulk shopping is a perfect example of why you need a unit price list. If you don’t know how much you’re paying per ounce, piece, or even pound for certain foods, you can’t tell if it’s a good price to buy in bulk at Sam’s Club or Costco. Bring your unit price sheet with you when you hit the bulk store, and compare side by side in real time! If it’s a better deal if you buy it in bulk, and you’ll use that much of that particular food before it spoils {or if you can freeze it for later}, grab it. If not, buy it at the regular store next time you go.
Saving money doesn’t have to take a ton of time, but it will take a little planning – and patience. Work on building your stockpile, watch the sales, and make sure you create your unit price list as soon as possible! These are all things that will ensure your success when saving money on groceries!
What’s your best way to save big at the grocery store?
