8 Tips to Save Money at the Grocery Store
Welcome back for another blog post designed to help you shop for healthy food on a budget! If you haven’t already, be sure to read last week’s post about saving money before you go to the grocery store. This week, I’ll share my top tips for saving money while you’re at the grocery store.
1. Stick to your list…
It may be tempting to venture off your list, but the more you stick to what you have written down, the less likely you are to spend extra money. Avoiding impulse buys is a great way to save at the store. Grocery stores like to stick the unhealthy snacks right up front or by the registers where you can see them, so be sure to have a plan for how you will avoid buying these even if they look good!
2. …unless you see a good deal on something you normally buy
I love a good sale! I will often purchase extra ground turkey, chicken, or bread as these items can be easily frozen for later use. Stocking up on things when they’re on sale is a great way to save money. You may find that this makes your grocery bill higher if you buy extra meat, but this will even out on your next trip when you don’t buy any meat because you already have some in the freezer.
3. Modify your list if you find something less expensive
This is especially true with produce; often fruits and vegetables that are in season are less expensive. Maybe you are planning to make a soup that calls for bell peppers, but you find that carrots are on sale, so this could be a substitute that would save you money. Also, be sure to check for frozen or canned varieties as these can often be cheaper and easily substituted for fresh produce.
4. Check the unit price
Do you ever wonder which size package is the better deal? Below you can see that both packages of frozen broccoli are on sale for $2.99. But, if you look at the unit price in the bottom lefthand corner, you’ll see that the package on the left is slightly bigger so it is in fact cheaper to get the bigger bag (though this is not always the case). Always check the unit price on packages of fruit, veggies, grains, and dairy products to make sure you are getting the best deal!
In the same store, we can get a pound (16 oz) of fresh broccoli for the same price, so the fresh broccoli would actually be the best deal in this case.
5. Shop in the bulk section
The bulk section is a great way to save money and get the exact amount of an item that you want. Grains, dried beans, nuts, seeds, and spices are my favorite bulk item purchases. Another benefit to these items being less expensive is that you can bring your own bags which is a much more environmentally-friendly option. Some grocery stores even let you bring your own spice jars! Spices and dried herbs are so much cheaper if you buy them in bulk, so I highly recommend doing this; the spices and herbs are usually fresher as well because they are cycled through often. For instance, a prepackaged jar of dried basil may cost $4-5 whereas the same jar would cost $0.40-0.50 in bulk. That’s 1/10th the price!
Below, compare the cost of bulk rolled oats to a package of oats. The package is 2 pounds and costs $6.99 (about $3.50 per pound). Look at how much cheaper the bulk oats are; they’re only $1.19 per pound! This requires a little bit of math, but just think how much money you could save if you started buying oats from the bulk section instead of in a package.
6. Avoid buying pre-chopped fruits and vegetables
It may take more time to chop these things on your own at home, but trust me, it’s worth a little extra time if you’d like to save some money. Bagged salads and greens also tend to be more expensive than loose-leaf greens, even though there is some extra prep time involved. Pre-chopped items also lose their freshness more quickly.
7. Don’t buy more than what you can eat before it goes bad
If you know you won’t be able to eat the whole package of spinach before it goes bad, then consider purchasing the smaller size. Often you can actually freeze many foods if you don’t think you’ll be able to finish them before they go bad. If I have extra spinach that I won’t be able to finish, I stick it in a bag in the freezer and add it to smoothies. I’ve also started freezing some of my oat milk because I can’t usually drink it all before the expiration date; the consistency does change a bit, but it’s not noticeable when added to smoothies or baked goods.
8. Don’t forget your reusable grocery bags!
Many grocery stores now charge if you use their bags, so make sure to bring your own! It’s also great for sustainability. I like to keep my reusable bags in the car so they are there whenever I need them!
Everyone wants to save money at the grocery store, so try some of these tips the next time you’re shopping and you’ll be pleasantly surprised! Even just saving a few cents can add up over time.
