Let’s be real, we all want to save money on groceries! Groceries are expensive and with the rising cost of living in every single area, it’s tough to shop on a budget. Groceries are always that one household expense that tends to rise more rapidly than the family income. In all honestly, I’d love to lower my grocery bill without the hassle of constantly clipping coupons. No offense to you couponers out there, but it doesn’t come easy for me! (I’ve tried!)
I’ve learned that becoming a smart shopper at the grocery store takes a bit of time and practice, but in the long run, money will be saved.
These eight simple tips will get you well on your way to saving more money on groceries each month!
Get A Membership And Buy in Bulk
Signing up for a warehouse store membership can save you lots of money on your weekly grocery bills, and does not require coupon clipping. Bulk buying can be effective for families because you can freeze most bulk items.
Some staple bulk items we buy regularly are rice, beans, butter, pasta, and meat.
Over the years, our favorite membership has been Sam’s Club. But we’ve also enjoyed going to clubs that don’t require a membership like Gordon Food Service Store and Smart & Final.
Do Comparison Shopping
Some grocery stores offer one-stop shopping, like Walmart, but their prices may be higher on staple items. This is why comparison shopping is so important. Depending on your grocery needs, it might be beneficial for you to visit more than one grocery store when you are trying to figure out ways to lower your grocery bill.
We’ve found that breakfast cereals are cheaper at Walmart than at a regular grocery chain and meat is better quality and cheaper at a regular grocery chain than it is at Walmart.
Although that sounds like an inconvenience, it may benefit your pocketbook by going to a few different stores.
Make A Grocery List
We like to use the Cozi app for our grocery list, that way both Steven and I have it on hand on our cell phones. Making a list may seem simple, but it makes a big difference because it will help you to resist the temptation to impulse buy. Impulse purchases always drive the grocery bill higher.
Shopping blind is never a good idea because you will always buy more than you need. Make your list as detailed as possible so you’re prepared and have a plan. It’s best to prepare your list ahead of time after you have made a menu for the week that you plan on sticking with.
Having a list in hand while shopping for groceries will help you avoid senseless wandering which will save you money! Let’s be honest, if you’re wandering around the store without a plan, something will catch your eye that’s not on your list and you will put it in your shopping cart.
Be A Loyalty Shopper
When trying to lower your grocery bill without clipping coupons, remain loyal to a particular grocery store that carries all of your daily necessities, and sign up for their points reward program. My favorite store to accumulate points towards gasoline is Kroger and Food City. When I make purchases using my loyalty card, it adds points to my account which then saves me money on gas!
Shop Smart
Once you have become familiar with a grocery store, you may figure out their trends for having sales, and you can conveniently shop for certain items when that time comes. This does not involve you scouring the flyers looking for weekly deals, it is simply a matter of smart shopping.
Another way to shop smart is to be aware of where things are located in the store. The middle aisles and the middle shelves housed within these aisles tend to be filled with pre-packaged items that are typically expensive.
Shop Alone
Shopping alone can greatly help you to lower your grocery bill more efficiently. However, for most homeschool families, going alone is not practical. When shopping with our kids, I bring them a snack from home in a ziplock bag so they aren’t asking to buy everything they see as we’re shopping.
If I forget to bring a snack from home, I will sometimes go to the bakery and buy the kids a $.50 cent doughnut. Yes, I admit that it’s not the healthiest choice, but it helps keep them busy and it’s much better than putting a phone or tablet in their faces as I’m shopping.
Shop On A Full Stomach
This one is easier said than done, but it has proven to be effective. If you have just eaten, you will be less likely to buy excessive amounts of things that catch your eye. When we are hungry, our eyes are often a bit larger than our appetites, and this can lead to a large bill at the checkout stand. However, when you are full, you can think more logically and keep track of your purchases.
Resist Impulse Purchases
Usually, the worst place where this happens is the checkout lane but it could easily happen on every aisle. The impulsive items that are tossed into the grocery cart tend to be items that are expensive, loaded with calories, have poor nutritional value, and things that you don’t need. This brings it back to why having a list is important!
Grocery shopping is a constant in our lives, so it is essential to implement effective strategies to lower your grocery bill and reap the rewards of saving lots of your hard-earned money in the process.
What’s your favorite way to save money on groceries?
I’d love to hear your tips in the comments!
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