Wouldn’t it be great if you could slash your grocery bill? We’ve been living on a pretty tight budget for almost 2 years now and I can assure you I am excellent at getting the most nutrition for my money. The stores in our area don’t offer a double coupons and rarely have sales, so we really have to work at it to find ways to save money on groceries. These 18 tips are the key to stretching your dollar and maximizing your food budget.
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Get the Most Nutrition for your Dollar | 18 Ways to Save Money on Groceries
- Plan ahead. Make a meal plan and stick to it, otherwise you’ll find yourself throwing out food throwing out uneaten food. Throwing out food is like throwing out your money!
- Make a list before heading to the grocery store. And again, the key is to stick to it! A list keeps you from making impulse buys and extra trips to the store for forgotten items. Not sure what to put on the list? They actually make pre-printed lists so you can just check the items you’ll need!
- Check unit prices. This helps you compare brands and find the one that gives you the most product for your dollar.
- Consider buying the product in bulk. Some stores sell spices, grains and pastas in bulk bins at a much lower price than they are in the brand packaging.
- Buy Generic! People pay much more for the brands they trust, when there’s hardly any difference in quality or taste. You’re just paying for the name on the label!
- Save yourself some time and stretch out those groceries by making a double-sized meal once a week and freezing the leftovers or using them another night.
- Don’t go to the store hungry. You’re more likely to fall prey to impulse buys when your tummy is growling. The same goes for any children you bring along. We actually bring snacks and drinks on long store trips to keep the littles from getting grouchy.
- Check supplies before going to the store. Use a pantry or freezer inventory to keep track of what you have on hand.
- Avoid the cost of convenience. Single-serving packages for things like baby carrots, yogurt and cracker packs. Buy a large container instead and make your own snack sizes.
- When produce is in season in season, buy fresh. When not in season consider canned, dried or frozen.
- Buy day-old bread. Use this storefinder, and also check your local Big Lots and Dollar Tree as they are official day-old stores for Bob’s Red Mill and Bimbo.
- Choose whole-grain cereals instead of the sugar-coated ones. The whole-grain are better for your and usually cost less!
- Serve popcorn as a snack in place of processed crackers. Popcorn is cheaper per unit ounce than a box of snack crackers, and it’s healthier than the salty processed snacks.
- Make your meat dishes go farther by adding in beans, lentils, rice, or pasta.
- One night a week serve a vegetarian bean or egg dish for dinner.
- Chop up overly-ripe fruits to use in smoothies or add them to yogurt or oatmeal.
- Check the bottoms of packages of fruits and vegetables to make sure they’re not damaged or moldy. Also, check the expiration date on bagged salads to make sure you’ll use them before they go bad.
- Make small compromises as a family, like buying one less bag of chips, crackers or cookies a week.
I’m a busy working mom of four and I’ve tried every penny-pinching trick in the book. These are real things that I really do because I don’t have time to read every grocery store mailer and visit five different stores to get the best deal. If you’re really wanting to save money on groceries, you can do it! It just takes dedication. If you’re not budgeting, get my free budget plan here and start being accountable for your spending!
Got any great tips for feeding your family on a budget? Tell me what works for you!