Grocery prices seem higher than ever, but saving money at the store doesn’t have to be complicated. With a few intentional habits, you can lower your grocery bill without sacrificing what your family needs.
How to Save Money While Grocery Shopping
1. Limit Your Trips to the Store
The less often you shop, the less money you’re likely to spend. So, limit how often you go to the grocery store; or if you do grocery pickup or delivery, limit how often the store comes to you. The frequency will look different depending on your family size and storage space.
If you shop for only yourself, consider going grocery shopping every other week or less. Every other week allows you to buy enough fresh fruits and vegetables that will last, while limiting your time in the store. If you go less than every other week, you may run the risk of having no fresh food in the end.
If you have a family, try keeping your grocery shopping to once a week. I have a family of five, and once a week works perfectly for us. If your kids are a little older, they may burn through your food a little faster. If that’s the case, find the maximum amount of time that works for your family to be away from the store.
2. Set a Consistent Shopping Time
Whether it’s weekly or every other week, choose a day and time you will go. This will limit the temptations that could otherwise come. Avoid mealtimes. Consider going after you’ve eaten. Never go hungry. The hungrier you are, the more delicious everything around you will look. If you’re trying to save money, those temptations will not help.
By setting a specific day and general time, you will help your body and mind get in the habit of what it means to grocery shop. It means sticking to a list and only buying the essentials. It means having a pattern of how you go through the store (e.g. left to right or front to back). It means leaving confident that you were prepared and accomplished your task.
3. Never Shop Without a List
In order to have a truly successful trip to the grocery store, a list is absolutely vital. A good list will help you avoid temptations, save money and save time in the store. Shopping with a list is like taking a multiple choice test. The best test takers are those who know the answer, and then go and find the answer among the list. You don’t want to waste time or risk getting confused by looking at other misleading options. Know what you need — then go in and get it.
I find it most convenient to organize my list based on how I go through the store. For example, if I go from the back to the front, milk is listed on the top of my list, and produce is on the bottom. Organizing your list will save you time because it decreases the chance of missing an item and having to backtrack, and it prepares your mind for what you will be looking for on the next aisle.
4. Have a Meal Plan
An essential part of building your perfect shopping list is creating a meal plan for your week. This is especially true if you have a family. Start by writing out a dinner plan for the week — Monday through Sunday.
Once you have your meals chosen, go through and find all the ingredients you will need for those meals. Hopefully, most of the ingredients will already be on hand, but fresh ingredients will almost always need to be added to the list. Once you’ve listed the ingredients, consider if there are any other food items you might need (e.g. breakfast items, snacking foods, etc.). Once all your food items have been identified and added to your list, consider any extra items you may need that week (e.g. dish detergent).
5. Let Your Meals Save for You
The meals you choose can stretch your money in their own ways. For more specific tips and tricks on this, a post will be coming about how you can save money while cooking. Consider decreasing the amount or changing the type of meat you use each meal. In many dishes, you can make a little bit of meat go a long way.
6. Look for Sales
The stores you shop at matter. In my area, I have seen a huge difference in prices in some stores and locations compared to others. Even if you already have a favorite store, it’s worth comparing prices. See which stores offer you the best deals, sales, and selections. In my area, I have found WinCo to be the best in regards to low prices and sales. In addition, consider buying the off-brand or the store’s brand. These are often much cheaper, but still offer good quality.
Since implementing these simple habits, our family has saved both time and money — and grocery shopping feels far less stressful. Which of these tips will you try first?
Recap
- Limit how often you shop.
- Set a day and time when you will shop. This allows your body and mind to get in a habit, limiting temptations.
- Always have a list.
- Create your list using a weekly meal plan.
- Find ways to let your meals save for you.
- Find those deals and discounts.
