Are you looking for ways to save money on groceries? I think we can all agree on the fact that we don’t want to spend our entire paycheck on groceries. They seem to get more and more expensive!! It was also a long-standing joke in this house that we go spend our paycheck on groceries, then get home and have nothing to eat!
When I wrote my original post on saving money on groceries, it was obvious that it was a pain point for everyone! It still gets a ton of traffic. Since then, I’ve been brainstorming MORE WAYS TO SAVE us all more money.
Hacks to Save Money on Groceries!
Ebates Will Give You Cash Back on Groceries
I love Ebates and you can earn 2% cash back when you shop Walmart – even for groceries you are going to pick up!! I wrote about how much I love their free store pick up here!
Use a Grocery Pickup Service to Save Money
Speaking of free store grocery pick up, not only is that convenient, but it can save you money as well! When you order what you need online, you won’t be tempted to buy things you don’t really need when you go inside. No more last minute checkout aisle purchases! Kroger and Walmart both have pickup services. You can read my comparison of the two here.
Don’t Buy Prepared Foods to Save Cash
When I say prepared foods, I’m talking about things like the packages of pre-cut fruit. Those things are marked up like crazy! For example, today I was looking at pre-sliced watermelon sticks for $10.99. I could get a whole watermelon for $3. Sure, it may take a little extra time to cut up, but for that kind of savings, it is worth it!!
Use the Ibotta app to get Cash Back!
This app has been my mainstay grocery store app.
I love Ibotta, and I’ve already earned cash back from them several times. You basically see if anything you bought has a cash back option, scan your receipt, and earn money. Once you earn up to $20, you can have it redeemed in multiple ways from PayPal to various store gift cards.
Sign up for free and use my referral link and we will both earn!!!
Checkout 51 app will also give you cash back!
Checkout 51 also has a great app that will allow you to get cash back on the things you’ve purchased. It is very similar to Ibotta, except it actually doesn’t matter which store you have shopped at with this app! And the way it works is the same – you take a picture of your receipt, upload it, and you earn money! You also can cash out around $20 with it as well!
Coupons and Loyalty Cards
If you have been a long time reader or friend, you know I’m not the biggest fan of coupons. It usually isn’t worth the misery to try and hunt down newspapers and scour the ads matching coupons. However, some coupons are easily available, so don’t neglect using them!
Kroger sends me coupons based on what I buy, and I use those. It comes straight to my mailbox without any effort from me! They also have special click list shopper coupons you can download to your Kroger card. See if your local store has online coupons that you can download to your savings card or loyalty rewards card.
Sometimes, products have coupons stuck straight to their packaging. Don’t throw those away! Often, I am able to pull it right off in the grocery store checkout and use it at that moment.
So, don’t work harder than you need to for coupons, but don’t neglect the ones that fall right into your lap!
Buy Store Brand
Don’t be so loyal to name brands. Sure, there are some name brands that I like the taste of, but not for everything. (I’m just going to go on and tell you that I’m a name brand snob when it comes to cereal!) If you are cooking, though, and need ingredients, just buy the store brand to throw in there. You aren’t going to be able to tell a difference!
Save Money by Having a Meal Plan and a Grocery List
Meal planning definitely helps save money. If you plan ahead, know what you are going to make, then you know exactly what you need at the store.
When you go to the store prepared, you don’t end up with unnecessary, unpaired items. I’ve done it. I’ve had asparagus, then have no main items to go with it. I’ve had pasta with no sauce. Cereal and then no milk.
Also, plan the meals around what you have in your cabinets. Don’t let things expire or throw out good food. If you do have some dry pasta in the cabinet, and maybe some ground beef in the fridge – plan to add sauce and bread and have spaghetti.
I really like the $5 meal plan. For just $5 a month, they will send you a delicious meal plan where every meal will cost about $2 per person, and in most cases less. (Erin, the creator of the $5 meal plan, makes these meals for her family of 6 for $5 per meal!) If you avoid eating out once a month, this will pay for itself!
The $5 Meal Plan offers a 14-day trial that is absolutely free. This means you get forty different recipes during the trial to figure out if it’s right for you.
Buy What’s In Season and Buy in Bulk
It’s simple. What’s in season is cheaper!! Stock up on what is in season, and you can always freeze it later. I love my vacuum sealer for this very purpose!
I also use the vacuum sealer for buying in bulk. If chicken is on sale, I’ll buy a large quantity and then break it down into freezer bags that I seal.
Don’t Shop While Hungry
That is the kiss of death. Not only for your budget but for your waistline too. Don’t go in hungry. You’ll buy lots of things you don’t need, and often they are the processed, sugary instant gratification foods.
Go Shopping Alone
My brother and I used to love it when my dad went grocery shopping with my mom or for my mom. It meant little snack cakes, cookies, and all the things mom didn’t buy!
Go shopping alone. Else you will end up with a lot of junk food, and things you don’t need. Whether it’s your significant other or your kids, leave them behind when you shop if possible.
Use Cheap Recipes to make your grocery budget stretch!
Find recipes that allow you to cook for cheap! I love soups and stews because I can typically make those for pennies an ingredient.
I know I mentioned the $5 meal plan previously, but one of the added benefits of this meal plan is that it’s made to cost less than $2 per person. Is there anywhere you can eat for less than $2 a person?! No! Not even with fast food!
Grocery shopping doesn’t have to drain your whole bank account!!! What hacks do you use to save money on groceries? What have I left off? I’d love to hear it!
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