Whether feeding myself or my little family, groceries usually take a big chunk out of the budget.
“Food is the third-largest household expense, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. For a family of four, the average monthly tab runs between $568 for the super thrifty to $1,293 for those on a more liberal budget,” according to the USDA.
For some people, spending less and save more is as natural as breathing. For others, the most straightforward task could be very challenging. The trick: start with a small strategy and eventually build up.
Today, I would like to share some tips and tricks I have collected over the years about how to save money when doing grocery shopping. Hopefully, you can apply it right away and put more money in your bank.
1) USE UP LEFT OVER IN THE PANTRY
To prevent foods from turning into waste, I recommend doing an inventory of what you currently have. Sort out what food will expire first and try to use it. You might be surprised of how much items that got stuck in the back of the pantry.
2. PLAN AHEAD OF TIME:
My fiancé and I go grocery shopping once a week. The less we shop, the more we save. Our food choices are relatively healthy in my opinions. We often plan ahead by writing down our shopping list before we go to the store. The list reminds us of what we need to get, helps us stay on track, and keep us away from impulsive buying.
3. MEAL PREP:
We meal prep once a week and is usually on the weekend when we are both off. It is often something healthy and simple to make, so we are not wasting our time in the kitchen. I love baking because it is simple. All l has to do is chopping up the foods, add seasoning and put it in the oven. If you have the issue of not able to eat the same foods for 2 or more consecutive days, I would recommend planning out a few different types of meal, so you don’t get bored.
I have been meal prep for the past five years and it was challenging in the beginning as well. We plan out enough foods that will last us up to about five days. I don’t want to do the whole seven days because sometimes we go out with friends or we want to be spontaneous and eat out.
5. MOBILE APS
Use apps that help me get cash back or save money on the spots: Ibotta, Vons…
- IBOTTA: give me cash back.I start by picking the store you are going to shop. Once I already know what I need, I look through the categories to see which item allow cash back. For example, if chicken breast in on my list, I look under “Meat & Seafood”. When I get home, I scan all items and upload the receipt to get cash back
- VONS App: I pick Vons because we usually shop here. This apps allows us to make groceries shopping list, informs which items are on sale, good deals at the store. For example, I love yogurt so I would look under “Dairy, Egg & Cheese.” Chobani Greek Yogurt is currently on sale for $1, and the regular price is $1.69. Once I click that item, it will go into “My List” so I don’t forget to get it later at the store.
6) COUPONS:
I can’t leave this one out because coupons are always a great tool for saving money. I found coupons on local newspaper and adds.
7) BE FLEXIBLE WITH THE BRAND:
I am not a big fan of the branded item. For example, a jar of Jiff Creamy Peanut Butter, 16 oz. is $2.50 while Walmart brand 18 oz. is only $2.18. That is 32 cents in saving.
8) EATING OUT GOAL
Make a goal of how many times I allow myself to eat out for that week. Going out once a week is not that bad. Don’t restrict yourself because you need a break as well.
9) PLAN OUT WHAT TO EAT FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
- Breakfast: I always eat peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and a small cup of fruits. Here are some example of my breakfast fruits: An orange, 2 bananas, A hand full of strawberries, A hand full of blueberries
- Lunch: A sandwich and a cup of fruits. To make a small sandwich for lunch, I get the lunch meat at the Deli. I am not too fond of precut packages of lunch meat because they are not fresh. There is always a sale on Half a pound to a pound of the lunch meat. One pound usually costs $5.99 and that last me for about a week. Turkey and chicken are my favorite type of meat.
- Dinner: we eat the meal prep food.
10) BUDGET
Lastly, I keep track of how much I spend on groceries every week. It gives me an idea of what your budget will be. I typically spend about $80 to $100 a week for both of us.
Hope you enjoy this blog. Common below on what you find useful to help you grocery shop more effectively.
