Here are 7 ways to reduce your grocery bill and extend your food budget.
We know that grocery prices are increasing every day, but whether we like it or not, everyone has to go grocery shopping.
We may not be able to control the price of groceries, but we can control how much we spend. Now I know that doesn’t seem right, but it is, and today, we’ll talk about 7 ways you can reduce your grocery bill.
7 Ways to Reduce Your Grocery Bill
Below are 7 ways you can reduce your grocery bill. Start with 1 or 2 of the ideas and then add more as those become routine.
1. Use Coupons
Coupons are an absolute lifesaver when it comes to saving at the grocery store. You can sometimes even get an item for free by using coupons and using them on top of sales.
Couponing isn’t the same as it used to be. You don’t have to spend hours clipping coupons. Now you can find them online and print them out or if you use your grocery store’s app, you can go through the coupons, click the ones you want to use, and they will be taken off when you check out.
Who knows how much you’ll save? If you’re not used to coupons, this can be daunting, but it’s not complicated. There are many guides out there to help get you started.
2. Make A List
The reason our grocery bill is often so high is that we don’t have a list. When we have to remember what we need, things often don’t end up in the cart, but items we don’t need do.
I know people who will walk through the store putting things in their cart and later find out they already have 3 of something they bought.
Making a list and sticking to it will help us keep from buying things we don’t need or impulse buys.
3. Follow A Meal Plan
A meal plan can significantly cut your grocery bill. By planning out your meals, you know exactly what you need and how much, a meal plan pretty much writes your grocery list for you.
Having a meal plan takes the stress out of walking through the store trying to figure out what you’re going to cook for dinner. It also helps us eat healthier because we have a plan, we don’t just walk into the store and buy what’s the easiest.
Bonus Tip: Scan the sales flyer from your local grocery store and try to make as much of your meal plan from the meats and produce that are on sale. This will greatly reduce your grocery bill even if you don’t use coupons or rebates.
4. Use Rebates
Rebates are where it’s at these days, for sure. You can earn cashback and rewards for your everyday purchases using rebate apps.
The best part is these apps don’t cost you anything, and to make things even better, all you have to do is scan your receipt. It’s that easy.
5. Leave the Kids At Home
If you have kids, you know the struggle of taking your kids to the store all too well. But did you know you’re more likely to spend more money shopping with them?
When you leave the kids at home, you’re more likely to stick to the list and get in and out of the store much quicker (and with fewer potty breaks).
Most of the time, when our kids are with us, we have to explain a million times why we aren’t going to buy something that magically ends up in the cart and is paid for anyway. Save yourself the time and money and head out to the store alone (because who are we kidding the spouse is often even worse…).
6. Think Before You Buy
Have you ever bought something just because it’s on sale? If so, don’t beat yourself up, we’ve all been there.
Just because an item is on sale doesn’t always mean it’s the best option. Sometimes the original brand you were going to buy may end up being the better deal.
If it’s not on the list, don’t buy it. If it’s something new that you might want, leave it for another day. Take a day or so to think about it, you may find you can live without it after all.
7. Shop Store Brands
Often store brands are cheaper and have the same quality as the name brand, the only difference is the name and packaging. Especially if an item isn’t on sale and you don’t have a coupon for it, it may just be better to find the store brand and give it a try.
Sometimes you might find that you actually prefer the store brand. There are times we have found that the store brand is exactly the same as the more expensive brand. Read your labels and see if the ingredients are the same.
We’re all in the same boat with rising grocery costs, but with the tips above you can get on top of it and reduce your grocery bill now. Don’t let the rising costs overwhelm you, take control of your grocery spending, you’ll be glad you did.