How to Save Money on Your Grocery Bill – Without Clipping Coupons

The grocery store can be a place of great disdain for many of us – it could be the long lines, the social interactions, or the time it takes out of our day to purchase them. Most likely though, it is the amount of money we spend in our budget on groceries each month. Many families spend over $1000 a month on groceries alone.

The recommended food and grocery budget should be between 10-15% of your take-home (net) pay. However, even if your grocery budget falls within this range, you may find that you want to reduce your overall grocery spending. This can be done, with a bit of determination and discipline in your grocery shopping and spending. Here are 10 tips to implement on your next shopping trip.

10 Ways to lower your grocery bill

1. Change Your Idea of Dinner. 

Dinner doesn’t have to be an elaborate meal – fit with vegetables, meat, sides, bread, and salads. It can be simple too. Add things like bacon and eggs or omelets, hearty salads, sandwiches, even soups. Dinner doesn’t have to be a feast every night. Your family can survive with simple meals, and it will save you time and money. If dinner doesn’t have to be a feast, plan simpler meals into your menu.

2. Plan Ahead with a Menu.

Before you go to the grocery store, set aside some time to plan out a menu for the week. Plan out what you will eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, and what you will need for each recipe. With a menu, you have a plan for the week. You’ll be less likely to head to the store multiple times during the week or to drive through a fast food restaurant on impulse since there’s food already in the fridge.

3. Shop with a List. 

Since you planned ahead with a menu, make a list of only the items that you need to fulfill that menu. Head to the store with that list, and don’t shop without one. With a list, you can avoid impulsive purchases and never find yourself wondering how you went into the store for milk and eggs but came out with a cart full of other things, but no milk and eggs.

4. Buy less – waste less.

With so much of your budget being spent on food, you should not waste any portion of it. Yet somehow, we often find ourselves throwing away portions of what we bought. We didn’t prepare it in time, didn’t freeze it, didn’t eat the produce, the list goes on. We can avoid this by buying only what you need for the week. By only purchasing what you need, you can reduce waste, because you will use all that you bought. Just like we have a plan for our money with a budget, you need to have a plan for your groceries. Try a simple meal planner with a weekly menu and groceries – you’ll spend less, and waste less, by buying only what you need.

5. Don’t shop hungry. 

If you only choose one tip, choose this one. Shopping hungry can be a huge hit to your grocery bill. On an empty stomach, everything will look appealing – candy bars, soda, snack foods, ice cream – but at the end of the day, it won’t satisfy. Fill up before you head to the store, to avoid impulsive buys and buyer remorse when you unload at home.

6. Choose the right grocery store.

Think about your current choice grocery store. Why did you choose that particular store? Convenient location? You’re comfortable with the layout? This may surprise you, but your store might not be the best grocery store option for you. Look at the circular ads in the mail, and evaluate them for the best prices. Don’t let your routine cost your money. If you’re unsure of the best store to find deals, ask around. People who are getting deals will gladly share where they found them.

7. Shop the sales and ads. 

Don’t be afraid to scour the weekly ads that come in the mail. (They’re available online most of the time too). Check them out to find which stores have the best deal on the food you need for that week. Even better – take the weekly ad for your store, and plan your meals around what is on sale that week. If you find a lower price at a competitor’s store, ask for a price match. Some stores now offer competitive price matching and coupon matching on sales prices lower than theirs.

8. Don’t be brand loyal.

Rather than buying the name brand cereal or snack crackers, consider buying the store-brand instead. You’ll often save 15-30% just by making the switch to a generic item, and the taste and ingredients are often the same.  Don’t spend more just for the name and logo. Save money instead!

9. Avoid bulk – only buy when it saves you money, buy only what you need. 

Although buying in bulk can be tempting, it often doesn’t save as much money as you think. Make sure you compare the price-per-unit on bulk items to standard size. As tempting as it is, think about practicality as well. Don’t buy more than you need or more than you can store. Even if it is a better deal to buy bulk than standard size, remember not to buy more than you need. Not wasting food is a better way to save than buying in bulk and throwing half away because it expired.

10. Shop with cash – on a limited grocery budget.

When you have a budget, you have a limited amount of money to spend per week and month on groceries. When first starting out, it’s best to stick with cash. You’ll have a visual limit to your spending. When it runs out, there is no extra. Paying with cash will allow you to stick to your list and your planned grocery budget.

Smarter shopping leads to a lower grocery bill

When you shop smarter, with a plan and a budget, your money will start to work with you to reach your goals, rather than working against you. Living on a budget isn’t a bad thing – it’s about having a plan for your money, so it doesn’t walk away from you. Grocery shopping is the same way. Have a plan for how you want to spend your money, and how you want to use your food, so it doesn’t disappear before you even know what happened.

If you want to learn more about starting a budget, check out this post – building a budget from scratch. Or download our free budget planner.