HOW TO SAVE MONEY GROCERY SHOPPING
Trying to save money grocery shopping without clipping coupons or wasting time looking at weekly ads? These 5 tips will help you save money and change the way you shop for groceries!
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Whether you have a large family or a just a family of one, we all would love to save money grocery shopping. Who doesn’t want more money in their pocket?
Over the last couple of years, I have created some grocery shopping rules to help me save the most money when I go grocery shopping.
These tips help me stay under my budget of $100 per person for the month. For our family of 4, we consistently stay under $400, even with inflation.
HOW TO SAVE MONEY GROCERY SHOPPING
I will describe each of these in detail, but here is the overview of the 5 grocery shopping rules I have created to consistently stay under budget.
1. Minimize trips to the grocery store.
2. Know yourself and how you shop best.
3. Plan your grocery trip.
4. Focus on basic grocery items.
5. Practice self-control.
1. MINIMIZE TRIPS TO THE GROCERY STORE.
Every single time you go to the grocery store, you spend money. Raise your hand if you ever went to the grocery store for one item and walked out with twenty. Ahem, we all have done it and probably consistently do it.
The best way to save money grocery shopping is to stop going grocery shopping, or at least cut back on your trips to the store.
One way to do this is by BUILDING A STOCKPILE and then using BACKWARDS MEAL PLANNING to plan what foods to make for your family based on what you already have in your freezer, fridge, and pantry.
Personally, I go to the grocery store once every 2 to 3 weeks and still eat TONS of fruits and vegetables each day.
Even though it sounds CRAZY and most people don’t meal plan this way, you CAN do it! It is actually much easier than you think!
I know we are focusing on how to save money grocery shopping, but just think of all of the time you will save too by not going to the store!
2. KNOW YOURSELF AND HOW YOU SHOP BEST.
For me and my personality, I have found it helpful to get the majority of my groceries inside the store instead of using grocery delivery and pickups.
It is hard for me to know if $2.66 for 64 oz of ketchup is a good deal. I need to physically see the size of the items to understand what a reasonable price is for the quantity.
I also like to walk down every isle and see if there is anything I need to add to my stockpile or if anything is on sale.
If you have found that grocery pickup helps you save money, go for it! Analyze how you shop best and stick to it!
Things to consider
- Who comes with you? Husband? Kids? or are you going solo?
- What store are you doing your grocery shopping?
- What time of day do you do best?
- Are you going into the store or are you using pickup?
If you are REALLY interested in saving money (and time) go grocery shopping 1-2 times a month and use backwards meal planning. You won’t regret it!
FIND A GOOD TIME TO GO SHOPPING
Time of day is something to think about when going grocery shopping. If you can go earlier in the morning and not on a weekend, the store will not be crowded, which can help you not feel overwhelmed.
Experiment to find out if going shopping after work works for you or if you need a clear mind.
I personally enjoy going grocery shopping with my two kids, but I know a lot of moms don’t like it. Remember, you have TONS of decisions to be making and you need good brain power.
Try to eliminate stress so you can focus on the decisions you are making.
3. PLAN YOUR GROCERY TRIP.
Now that you have a good idea of where you are going, who you are going with, and how you are going to shop, it is time to plan your trip.
DON’T JUST “RUN TO THE STORE”
Last minute trips to the store have a tendency to add up quickly. Instead, I recommend every time you go shopping you take a quick mental inventory of what you currently have in your kitchen and items that need restocked.
HAVE A GROCERY LIST
We have an ongoing grocery list on our fridge that we add to when we see an item is ALMOST out. Next time I am at the store, I will grab one and store in our pantry (or fridge) until it runs out. This eliminates running to the store because you run out of one item.
The second part of my grocery list is our kitchen basics that we get each time I go shopping, such as milk, eggs, yogurt, cheese, apples, etc.
Interested in seeing what’s on my monthly grocery list? Download my HEALTHY GROCERY LIST for free!
4. FOCUS ON BASIC GROCERY ITEMS.
If you are trying to follow a budget or eat healthy, don’t splurge on “extras”. Try to skip the alcohol, pop, ice cream, cookies, chips, etc. Focus on whole, healthy foods.
Limiting the extras will do WONDERS for your budget and waistline!
If you are thinking that I am stealing all joy and you think I am crazy, let’s compromise. Set a limit. Maybe you get $10 of “fun treats” and you can pick whatever you want. Another option would be is that you get to pick one “fun treat” for each shopping trip (remember, we are limiting our trips).
5. PRACTICE SELF CONTROL.
If you are serious about wanting to save money, you must have self control when grocery shopping.
You’ve probably heard the rule, “Never go grocery shopping when you’re hungry.” When you are hungry, you have less will power, you are tempted to buy any food you see, you come home with tons of junk food and a HUGE bill. It all could have been eliminated if you would have used more self-control.
Set yourself up for success by finding a good time for YOU to go, make wise decisions in the store and tell yourself NO when you see that overpriced bag of chips.
There are so many things at the grocery store that you WANT but don’t NEED, especially if you are trying to eat healthy.
Saying no one time at the store will save you 50 no’s at your house when you desperately want that bag of Oreos in your pantry.
Your waistline and wallet will thank me!
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