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15 Tips for Saving Money at the Grocery Store

Groceries are a necessity. Unfortunately, though, food can be expensive. And the bigger your family, the more you’ll likely spend. 

The price adds up quickly whether you’re buying groceries for yourself or a family—but it doesn’t have to. Here’s a look at several easy ways to cut your food cost and save money on groceries.

1. Download rebate apps to save money on groceries. Apps such as Ibotta offer an easy way to save money on groceries without clipping coupons. You can get cash back from retailers like Target, Walmart, Publix, Kroger, and more. But the app isn’t only for groceries. It also gives cash back when shopping at other retailers, whether online or in-store. Simply choose your offers before shopping, upload the receipt, and get cash back. It’s really that easy. As a bonus, use code “renmwpo” at registration and Ibotta will give you $10 when you submit your first receipt.

2. Make a budget to save money on groceries. Decide how much to spend on your groceries and don’t go over budget.

3. Use food you already have at home. Be honest, how often have you looked in your pantry or refrigerator and said, we don’t have anything to eat? Chances are, though, you have canned goods and other non-perishables in the pantry, or maybe fresh or frozen vegetables. Take inventory of what you already have first, and use up these items before buying more food.

4. Plan dinners ahead of time. Set aside time to make freezer-friendly meals. When it’s time for dinner, go to your freezer and thaw out the food. This saves time and money.

5. Buy generic to save money on food. There’s no reason “not” to buy generic. Usually, generic products are just as good as the name brand products.

6. Buy frozen. It’s okay to buy frozen vegetables and frozen seafood. Buying frozen is often an easy way to cut costs. 

7. Buy in bulk to save money on groceries. Not only does buying in bulk provide the most bang for your buck—as long as you buy what you need—it also eliminates constantly going back and forth to the store.

8. Make a grocery list. Know exactly what you’re going to the store for, and only buy these items. Don’t deviate from your list. 

9. Think about where you shop. Shopping at low-cost big box stores such as Walmart, Aldi, Dollar Tree, and Sam’s Club will help you save money. These stores already have their grocery items on discount. Plus, Dollar Tree often sells many name brand items.

10. Coupon. Check newspapers and the Internet for store and manufacturer coupons. If you email a few of your favorite manufacturers or stores, they might send you free coupons. 

11. Buy items on sale. Be on the lookout for sale items, such as buy-one-get-one-free. Check websites and weekly circulars for information on upcoming or current sales.

12. Only pay with cash. Pay with cash, and not credit. Paying with credit may give the illusion that you have more money to spend, and it’s easy to overspend since you’re not exchanging physical cash. But when you pay with cash, you’re only able to spend the money in your pocket. 

13. Shop the top or lower shelves of aisles. The most affordable food items are usually located on the top or  bottom shelves. The items in the middle are designed to be eye-catching and draw us in. But these items are often more expensive. 

14. Eat before you go. Going grocery shopping while hungry is a bad idea. Everything you see will look appetizing and you’ll want to buy more. But if you eat before you go, your eyes won’t be bigger than your stomach.

15. Calculate the cost. When you’re in the grocery store, don’t mindlessly throw food into your cart. Take note of the price of each item, and then keep a running total of how much you’ve added to the cart—either mentally or with a calculator.

Saving money on grocery shopping has never been easier. Food is expensive, but simple steps like these can help you save on your next trip to the store. Every little bit counts, and the more you save on groceries and food, the more cash you’ll keep in the bank.