If you’re like most people, you’ve likely felt the pain of skyrocketing food prices over the past year. Back in 2020-21, Americans were spending an already high amount of $600+ every month for food on average. To make matters worse according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices have increased nearly 11% over the past year, marking the biggest increase the country has seen since 1980. With the major increases in the cost of living it’s more important than ever to be a savvy grocery shopper. So what are the best tips for to save on groceries at the store?
1. Eat at Home
Easily the biggest money saver you can do is make your meals at home. You will spend a fraction of the cost to make similar if not identical dishes you get at restaurants and while fast food is certainly cheaper, it isn’t worth the long-term adverse effects on your health.
2. Buy Store Brand
Whatever the product you’re buying at the grocery store, always look to see if there is a store brand version available for a discounted price. The majority of store-brand items are identical to their more popular name-brand counterparts. Examples of store brands include “Great Value” at Walmart and “Kroger” at Fry’s.
3. Make a List and Eat Before You Go Shopping
Having a list of grocery items you need can help you stay focused and avoid wandering the isles searching for anything that looks good. Additionally, try going to the store soon after eating or have a snack before to help avoid your stomach making the buying decisions. If you want to avoid temptation completely, many stores including Walmart offer free pickup so you can order all your grocery essentials online and they will bring them to your car for you!
4. Look for “Markdown” Items
The majority of stores offer large discounts on items that are close to their sell-by date as well as for items that are overstocked. Kroger for example will discount items as much as 50-75% within 48 hours of the sell-by-date. Depending on the store these items may be in a separate section with a big sign labeled “markdowns” or “clearance” or they may have a large yellow sticker advertising the discounted price. Looking for marked-down times is especially helpful when shopping for meat since that will usually be the most expensive part of your grocery bill. Just be sure to freeze whatever you aren’t using right away so it doesn’t go bad.
If you can, try and find an employee that works in the meat, produce, and dairy departments and ask them what time they will do their markdowns and where they put them so you can make a calendar for different stores on when to shop.
5. Use Coupons
Coupons are still a great way to save money. Many websites/apps such as Coupons.com allow you to print off coupons for different grocery stores or specific brands. Many stores also have digital coupons you can find on their official app.
6. Shop on Double Coupon Days
Some stores have double coupon days where the dollar value of your coupon is worth double i.e., a $2 off coupon becomes $4 off. Ask a store clerk or front desk if their store participates in that or a similar program.
7. Use a Store Rewards Card
The majority of stores offer their own rewards card or loyalty program that you can sign up for free. In addition to instant savings on groceries, some of these store reward cards offer other benefits such as discounted gasoline.
8. Make Simple Recipes
Simple recipes that use only a few ingredients are great for saving time and money. The best news is, they can be just as nutritious as complicated recipes.
If you want to learn more about making simple and nutritious recipes or saving more on groceries please contact us!
