While I’m sure there a ton more, here my favorite 12 Ways to Save Grocery Expenses.
We hate grocery shopping. It is one of those repetitive things that must be done in life and every time you feel that you are finally done, you need more food.
I don’t know if it’s the hustle and bustle of the store and parking lot, the repetitiveness of the actual action of buying groceries, the spending of the money, or the perpetual conundrum of figuring out what to make for meals. Either way, it is always a chore for us. The sad thing is that it happens way too often for us. I wrote a bit about that HERE, and it’s worth the chuckle if you’re interested.
I have put together 12 different ways of saving money while grocery shopping for your use. None of this is new because it’s not like I’m some internet genius on all things grocery shopping. It doesn’t have to be new and unique, it just has to be useful.
Ok, I’ll stop blabbing so you can see the list.
1. Keep a running tally of what you spend while you shop.
We do this. The best way is to use a calculator, if you don’t have one that you can stick in a pocket, you probably have one on your phone. We don’t seem to like to do things the easy way as you know. So, Dee calls out the cost of the item and I add it to the running total. We have a system, haha.
2. Round up your item costs while tallying.
This is important and we do this this. It’s Dee’s job to round up. This serves two purposes for us. First, it ensures that we don’t go over our budget due to cutting it too close. Second, doing this as you go gets your brain into the projection mode so that you can get an idea of how much more you need versus how much money you have left.
This can help curb the impulse purchases and keep you on the straight and narrow.
3. Get Creative with the Food You Have on Hand.
This one is cool. You may not think so when you are struggling to come up with dinner that will feed your family, but it has worked out great for us at times. Dee has come up with recipes that we insist get made again and again. We have had to come up with names of them but usually we just call them by what’s in them. Or we call it something like “Chicken Pasta Crap”, but we mean it in a good way.
Plus, once you start digging in the pantry you may find food that you forgot was there. Yeah, we have done that too.
4. Use the Envelope System
This is a suggestion commonly heard from Dave Ramsey. It works, and I believe in it. It takes a little more effort, especially if you are used to using debit cards for everything. Well, this is the cure for that.
Debit cards aren’t bad necessarily, at least in and of themselves. The problem with them, as compared to using cash, is that it is much easier to spend more “freely” when you are dealing with numbers versus dealing with cold, hard cash.
I prove this to myself almost every day. I never walk around without some form of cash on me. It may only be a dollar, but I always have something. Not sure why. Anywho, quite often when I find something that I may want to buy, if I have to spend the cash in my pocket, I think twice about it and usually don’t make the purchase. If I can use a debit card, I don’t even give it a second thought. Ok, maybe a second thought, but the purchase gets made anyway.
5. Make a List, BRING IT WITH YOU!
This a big one. I have seen the carnage from shopping without a list. Additionally, I have seen the list get created at the house, meticulously added to. Placing items in categories by store and department. Then prioritizing the items by importance.
Only to walk out of the house and leave the list on the counter.
Needless to say, it wasn’t a pleasant shopping experience, for anybody. We spent more money and forgot necessary items. We shopped ANGRY, haha.
Bringing the list and sticking to it ensures that you only buy what you need to complete your meals. It keeps you from blowing your budget, as long as you are budget conscious when you are creating the list.
6. Don’t Buy More Than You Need.
Just because the item is on sale at 2 for $5 doesn’t mean you need to buy two to get the discount. “They” want you to fall for that. That’s how “They” make a ton of profit.
We have a Costco and a Sam’s Club near us, but sometime we purposely won’t shop there because we know that we will end up spending more that we need to at the moment. Simply because the quantity/price of a product is higher because of the bulk packaging. That can be beneficial at times, but those times aren’t when money is tight.
7. Buy Generic When Possible
Most stores have a generic brand, “Their” brand so to speak. If you read the ingredients, they are usually the same as the big-name stuff, just listed in different order on the packaging. Often times, the store brand is just as good if not better than the big-name’s. I know, you’re asking how that can be if they are exactly the same. I dunno, may it just taste better because it didn’t cost me as much.
That said, some things we just refuse to buy generic. There are some things that you MUST buy the big-name to get anything that tastes the way it should. A good example of that is Ketchup. Yeah, now you get it.
8. Eat Leftovers for Lunch
I take one for the team on this topic. It’s pretty much me, for the most part, that eats up all the leftovers. It’s totally cool though as I take the leftovers to work with me and then I get a good home-cooked meal even though I’m not at home. Besides, if pasta is involved, my wife tends to make too much and we get to eat it for a few meals.
It sure beats buying another meal or for me, lunch out somewhere. It’s definitely cheaper.
9. Shop Online and Pick Up at the Store
We don’t do this one. Not that we couldn’t, not that we shouldn’t, but we don’t. I think it’s an awesome idea for those that have a difficult time focusing on what is needed versus what is wanted. It will also quell those impulse buys.
The only reason that we are not using this right now is because I am not seeing too much issue with our focus on what is needed and we’re pretty good right now about impulse buys. However, if things get out of hand, this will be my go-to.
10. Try Going Meatless for a Meal
This sounds crazy if you just read it for what it says. Carnivores like us wouldn’t dream of not eating some form of meat for a meal.
Or would we?
For example, Grilled Cheese, maybe even adding some soup with that. Quesadillas, go ahead and cook up some rice as a side. How about Breakfast for lunch? Eggs are always cool but you can have Pancakes, French Toast, or even just Cereal.
So, there are plenty of ways that you can have an inexpensive meal with no meat and still be tasty with plenty of variety.
11. Never Go Grocery Shopping Hungry
We are so very guilty of this one. We know it though. It’s no mystery to us that it’s taboo to grocery shop when you’re hungry so now we take action. If it’s a weekend and we are going to Sam’s Club, we will hit up the Free Samples that they give away. While this isn’t a ton of food, it usually is enough to keep us from going on a hunger-driven spending splurge.
The other and more effective thing that we have been doing lately is stopping to get a sandwich. We will buy a small sandwich from Subway or any other conveniently located shop like that and split it. It usually only costs us about $5.00 but it probably saves us $100.00, haha. I know that this isn’t the cheapest way to go, and we usually try not to spend any money out for food, but when you are already out and remember that you need groceries, this is an easy deterrence to being hungry while shopping.
Otherwise, make yourself a sandwich at home before you leave for the grocery store.
12. Leave the Over-Spenders at Home
This is a big one too. Both of my kids cause us to spend more money on food when they are with us. The girl child has recently discovered the “Bulk Candy Area”. He reasoning is that “It’s so cheap!”. That is, until you buy several pounds of it.
Each of them has their favorites though. While for the girl it may be the candy, for the boy it is typically the chips. None of which is a must-have and when things are getting a little tight monetarily, their presents in the store with you is a hindrance and certainly not conducive to saving money.
The bottom line, if they really want to be involved in the grocery shopping, they can stay home and help unload the car upon our arrival.
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There are several other things that didn’t make this list. The reason that they didn’t is mainly because they are obvious. For instance, buy meat when it’s on sale. For that you may have to go to where the deal is. This may be a big savings or not very cost-effective at all depending on the time and gas that it takes you to get somewhere else just to save a few dollars. These decisions become very personal for that reason. While they may save you money on your food budget, they may cost you money on your gas budget.
I plan on doing many more of these helpful lists on many more diverse topics. So stay tuned and check back often.
Dave
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