6 Ways to Cut Down Your Grocery Bill
Have you ever looked at your credit card bill and said “Whoa! How did I spend that much money on food??”
Although inflation rates aren’t skyrocketing at the same pace they were a few years ago, we all feel the squeeze of high food prices.
In this article, I’m going to walk you through my favorite techniques to cut your grocery bill, leaving you more money at the end of the month for savings and fun money!
1. Meal planning
Meal planning is literally my least favorite chore ever. Give me a dirty bathroom and I’ll happily clean it before doing meal planning. BUT I know that planning my meals is the #1 way to save money on my groceries.
Here’s how you do it:
Take a look through your refrigerator, freezer and cabinets - do you have any extra food that could be used for a meal? Look particularly at fruits and vegetables. Can you do a veggie stir fry with some peppers that are about to go bad? Toss that leftover grilled chicken onto a salad?
Using food that you already have to plan meals is a great way to maximize your budget because it reduces the amount you need to spend at the store AND it reduces food waste. I love when something is good for my wallet and the environment 🙂.
2. Shop at discounted grocery stores
Yep, I’m talking about Costco. We all know it’s one of the best discount stores out there.
But if you don’t have a Costco near you, or don’t want to pay the membership fees there are other discount supermarkets. My favorite is Aldi. Produce, eggs, meat, and spices are significantly cheaper at Aldi than other supermarkets like Safeway, Giant, or Whole Foods.
I’m not the type to drive around to 4 different grocery stores because eggs are on sale, but doing your regular shopping at a discount supermarket will definitely save you money.
3. Buy in bulk OR don’t buy in bulk
Buying in bulk (especially at a place like Costco) is a great way to save on food when you have a large family to feed. When you buy in bulk, the total cost is usually more, but the cost per unit is less so you end up saving money over the long term.
BUT, don’t be deceived by the bulk prices, buying in bulk is more expensive if you are only buying for yourself and cannot finish everything before it goes bad. Buying only what you need and will realistically use will always be the cheaper option, no matter where you shop.
That being said, when items I use are on sale (especially non-perishables) I always buy extra. Sale on peanut butter? 4 please 🙂.
4. Buy generic.
Did you know that stores arrange aisles to put the name brand (and more expensive) items at eye level? The generic, cheaper brands are on the top or bottom shelves.
Next time you’re at the store, do a comparison of your favorite pasta brand with the generic counterpart. You’ll probably see on the nutrition labels that they are exactly the same product. What’s the price difference? Swap out a few name brand products for generic and watch your grocery bill drop!
5. Reconsider meat & alcohol
Meat and alcohol are the biggest portion of most people’s grocery bills. I’m not saying to cut out all the booze or go vegetarian, but can you reduce?
Instead of 2 glasses of wine every night, how about 1? That will cut your alcohol bill in half. Instead of chicken or beef every single night, can you plan one or two vegetarian meals during the week? Reducing your meat and alcohol can make a big difference on your grocery bill and it’s healthier for your body.
6. Reduce “convenience” foods
A box of 8 Quaker instant oatmeal packets costs about $4. A 1 lb canister of quick-cook oats costs about the same and easily gets me 2x as many meals. Cooking extra food at dinner to have leftovers for lunch is cheaper than a $3 Lean Cuisine that you microwave at the office.
Take a look at the food you have in your house. How many “convenience” foods do you have? What kind of changes could you make to reduce them?
Groceries are a big expense in most households, but by using a few easy techniques you can significantly cut down on your monthly bill.
Action Items:
Before your next trip to the grocery store, plan 5-6 meals that you can make for the week and make a list of everything you need at the store. Having the list handy will ensure you don’t forget any important ingredients, and help prevent you from randomly grabbing things off the shelves that you don’t need.
Do some research on the cheapest grocery stores in your area. You’ll feel like a superstar when you can buy the exact same strawberries $2 cheaper at another store.
Try out some generic items. If your family doesn’t even notice the difference - why bother with a name brand item? Generic products are usually exactly the same and half the price of name brand items.
Your life may not be perfect, but it is imperfectly yours. The only way to live it is your way.
