Easy Ways to Save at the Grocery Store

We’ve all been there – spending a fortune at the grocery store. You may have the best intentions to only buy what’s on your list but somehow end up with much more. This weekly shopping trip can be a money sucker if you’re not careful. The tips and tricks below will help save money while grocery shopping and can help protect your budget while keeping your taste buds happy.

6 Easy Ways to Save at the Grocery Store

Check the Ads
Meal Plan
Coupons
Buy Generic
Shop Within Your Budget
Shop Around for Meats

Check the Ads

It seems like common sense but many people don’t check their grocery store’s weekly ads. Checking to see what’s on sale will not only help you plan your meals, but save you money in the long run. You don’t even need a newspaper anymore; ads are all over the internet, so there is no excuse to check for sales.

Meal Plan

Meal planning has a variety of benefits; it can help you stick to your budget, saves you time and allows you to prepare healthy meals. While it may take some time and effort to get used to, it’s worth it.

Meal planning helps you stick to your budget by checking out what’s on sale for the week and incorporating it into your dinner plans. You’ll notice that after planning and prepping your meals for a few weeks, it’ll become much easier to stick with.

Coupons

There’s no excuse to shop without coupons these days. There are plenty of apps available to download and use at checkout to help save you money.

Spending 5 minutes clipping your coupons after you make your grocery list will ensure you’ve gotten all the ones you need. Don’t forget to check if your grocery store has special in-store coupons as well. Most of them can be loaded directly onto your club shopping card. Many times you can combine in-store coupons with manufacturers and save even more.

Buy Generic

Not every product you buy needs to be name brand. Most generic substitutes are cheaper and taste the same. You may be loyal to certain ketchup or coffee brands, but try generic for items like rice, pasta and canned goods. You probably won’t even notice the difference!

Shop within Your Budget

If you have a dollar amount to stay within during grocery shopping, the easiest way to do that is to calculate prices as you go along. This may mean using a calculator and adding up each item – luckily your smartphone is perfect for this!

Along with keeping track of price, if you’re serious about budgeting then pay in cash. This way you’ll be sure to stay within your budget and not add any extras into the cart.

Shop Around for Meats

Buying meat from a grocery store may not always be the cheapest or healthiest option. With so many recalls going on these days surrounding meat, checking with your local butcher or meat market is the better way to go.

Local butchers usually offer a wide range of meats and will cut to order. Not only that, but many offer better deals if you buy in bulk. Butchers also know exactly where their meat comes from and most try to choose farms where animals are raised humanely. It’s unlikely you’ll have a meat recall if you deal with your local butcher.

Shopping Your Way to Savings

Hopefully, these tips and tricks will help you succeed and meet your budgeting goals when you hit up the grocery store. While it may require a few extra minutes of your time, it’ll all be worth it when you start to see your bank account inflate. Happy shopping!