26 Ways to Save Money on Your Grocery Shopping
Are you looking for some practical and effective ways to save money when you next go to the grocery shop?
It is no secret that grocery bills account for a big part of many people’s living expenses. The current pandemic has made this even worse, with ongoing disruptions to the supply chain due to many workers on isolation and panic buying.
To add to this is inflation, making sure that everything becomes more expensive today than a few years ago.
However, you can adapt plenty of ways to save money on your grocery shopping which will help you stay on your budget. Here I outline 26 tips to cut down on your grocery bills.
Table of Contents
1. Plan Your Meals
List down the dishes you want to eat over the next week or two (depending on how often you shop). By doing this, you will know the ingredients you need before shopping which can also help you in making a grocery list.
When thinking about the specific meals, check the current specials or sales and consider what is currently in season (more on these later).
Another tip is to plan for at least 2 dishes that use similar ingredients. This will allow you to either buy bulk or maximise the use of certain items. For example, make stir fry chicken and grilled fish with steamed veggies on the same week, both of which use carrots and broccoli.
Try to avoid recipes that include special ingredients, goji berries and black seed oil for example. Think first if you are going to use the same items again. If not, either remove it or find a suitable substitute.
Need a meal planner? There are plenty of options to choose from. A minimalistic magnetic meal plan could be the one for you. Or perhaps, you may want to try a meal plan journal.
I also found a free printable meal planner for you.
2. Organise Your Food and Personal Care Storage
Organising your refrigerator, pantry, and toiletry cupboard is always a good idea.
When you have a place for everything and have everything in its place, you can easily do an inventory check. This will prevent you from doubling up or buying too much of the same item.
You can also easily see supplies that are about to expire and use them before then. This generates less waste.
Organised areas do not only save you money, but it also saves you time when you are looking for specific items.
3. Prepare a Grocery List
From your meal plan, you can build a grocery list simultaneously.
As mentioned, your organised storage areas will allow you to efficiently determine any items that ran out or will soon do, simply add these to your list.
It is best to categorise the list into fruits and vegetables, meat or deli and other groceries. If you ever need to visit the fruit and veggie shop, supermarket, butcher separately, it will be easier to sort out which items you’ll get from each store.
Follow your list and only pick items from it when shopping. Through this, you can minimise or eliminate thoughtless spending on things that are merely on special or on sale, but you wouldn’t buy otherwise.
4. Do not shop when hungry
So you are done with 1 to 3 and is all set going to the grocery except, you are hungry.
Please, do yourself a favour. Stop and eat first, both your tummy and wallet will be happy.
When people go to the shops hungry, they tend to act on this craving and buy unhealthy food to psychologically satisfy themselves. Moreover, hungry shoppers were shown to have more unplanned purchases of both food and non-food objects while in stores.
People with an empty stomach bought more junk food than those who were not hungry, studies claim. This of course can lead to higher bills, excess food waste and more non-food items that end up cluttering your home.
5. Shop online
Another way to save money on groceries is to shop online.
Sometimes, major supermarkets have ‘online only’ specials. They also regularly have discount and coupons codes that you cannot use in store.
Occasionally, you can stack this with cashback platforms like Shopback and Cashrewards, saving you extra bucks. If you are in the USA, Ibotta, Fetch Rewards, Checkout 51, and Receipt Hog are similar platforms.
Shopping online makes comparing brands, unit prices and sale items more straightforward. You can also readily dodge the many temptations grocery shops try to trap you in.
If you have a family with kids, you don’t have to take them with you while shopping. Unfortunately, as much as people love their children, they sometimes tend to attract unexpected purchases.
Often after spending a certain amount, click and collect services are free. Keep in mind that some smaller grocers may charge fees for this. Some would also add extra for plastic bags and other additional services they offer.
6. Time your shopping
A lot of us usually shop at a certain time or day. There is nothing wrong with this if it works for you, but you could be missing out on some savings.
If you go on the weekends, there are usually more shoppers which means there may be fewer deals around. Or there could be deals but stocks tend to finish quick.
When you come at around the closing time, you may be in luck to find good specials. This is particularly true for fresh produce and deli products. Major supermarkets do this as well as farmer’s markets, fruit and veggies shops and butchers.
7. Bring your own bags
In recent years, supermarkets stopped giving away single-use plastic bags to help decrease our non-biodegradable waste. The intentions are good for the environment, but the truth is we are now paying for the bags which adds to our bills.
Most stores will charge you anywhere from 10 cents to a dollar for a bag. You may think that this amount is nothing. However, if you buy say an average of 5 bags per week for 10 cents each, the total is $26 per year!
Reuse your bags repeatedly. Most importantly, don’t forget to bring them with you when you shop. Put them in your car or place some in your regular handbag or backpack.
Did you know that some shops offer an unlimited replacement of bags such as Woolworths’ Bag For Good? I’ve returned at least two of them. It was quick and no questions asked. What’s better is they sometimes go on ‘special’, from 99 cents down to 15 cents.
8. Buy markdown food
Getting food markdowns will save you heaps of money on your grocery shopping.
Usually, this happens at least a couple of days before the “best before” or “use by” date. Items nearing their “best before” date are technically not expired, you can still eat them. The food’s quality is only generally better before this date.
As mentioned earlier, some supermarkets also discount meat and other fresh produce at around their closing time. If you are not fussy and would want to save money, meat can be safely frozen for later use. Here’s a guide on cold food storage.
9. Stock up when half-price
Fifty per cent off items are one of the best deals. If your budget permits and you have sufficient storage at home, be sure to stock up on a couple of essentials when they are cheaper.
This is great for food with long expiry dates such as long-life milk, canned goods (corn kernels, mushrooms, condensed milk, tuna), flour, and oil.
The same applies to toiletry items and other non-perishable essentials like the following:
- shampoo
- conditioner
- soap – bar soap or liquid handwash
- body wash
- cotton tips
- makeup remover pads
- toothpaste
- toothbrush
- dental floss
- sanitary pads and tampons
- shavers
- skincare products
- laundry detergent
- dishwasher powder/pods
- dishwashing liquid
- fabric conditioner
- toilet paper
- paper towel
- household cleaning solutions
In Australia, Grocery stores release their weekly catalogue a few days before items go on sale. Coles and Woolworths publish their catalogues on Mondays at 5 PM while sales become live on Wednesday until the next Tuesday.
Sometimes, you will see bundled items, buy 1 take 1 OR 2 for 1 deal. It may look cheaper or good value to you but don’t fall for this except you need both or all the items offered. Most of the time, you won’t save money on your grocery shop, rather it will push you to spend more.
10. Purchase in bulk
The next tip to save money on your grocery trip is to purchase in bulk.
If you live near a warehouse store like Costco, then chances are, you’ve heard your friends or neighbours rave about the crazy deals.
Buying in bulk suits families the most. You may also find it beneficial even if you live on your own if you purchase items that you regularly use or eat. Some examples are cereals, flour, and sugar and all the others listed in tip number 8.
You will be spending a lot at one go but it is important to consider the long-term savings. Bulk items also normally have lower unit prices (if unit pricing is new to you, keep reading). But this is not always the case so be careful.
You do not need to buy a bulk of everything too, try to be selective. Usually, fresh food in bulk specifically fruits and vegetables are not worth it. Unless it is for a special occasion or a party, then they will likely rot.
Only buy food you can consume before it gets spoilt. Things like meat, cheeses, butter or anything you can freeze will be okay.
You also need to think if bulk purchases are for you. Of course, do not do this if it doesn’t suit your circumstances and would end up costing you more in the end!
11. Try home brand goods
Major supermarkets ordinarily have home brand items.
Generic products cost much less than branded stuff and are usually of the same, if not better quality. For some items, sometimes, you are just paying for the label.
I usually get some home brand items pantry staples and toiletries.
If you are unsure whether generic items suit you, try to buy one small pack, test it for a bit and see how you go. If you end up not liking or enjoying the product, that’s okay, just go back to tip 8 and tip 9.
12. Check the unit price
Unit pricing is a system that assists us to compare items of different brands, sizes, packaging where the retailer displays the item price based on a common unit (for example $2 per 1L or 100 grams).
It standardises the price, allows you to make informed decisions and to find the best value item. This eliminates any mathematical computations to compare which product is cheaper. In other words, it tells you which item gives more bang for your buck.
You may realise that the sale item, home brand item or bulk product may not be the best value one.
Let’s use flour for example:
- Brand X 8.5 kg, on half price, would set you back $13 – the unit price is $1.53 per kg
- Brand Z’s 6.5 kg, regular price, costs $9 – the unit price will display as $1.38 per kg
In this case, brand Z offers better value as the unit price is lower. Brand X, despite being half price isn’t cheaper than it looks at first glance.
Most items in supermarkets contain unit prices. But take note that unit pricing may not be practised in your country.
One of the things I learned using unit prices is to pay attention to the units used. Supermarkets may also mark their items using different units.
You may get misled when they use 100 grams for one brand, then 1 kg for the competitor brand of the same product type. After all, $2 per 100 grams is significantly more expensive than $2 for 1 kg.
For a deeper dive into this topic, visit the ACCC website.
13. Avoid female version of goods
Have you ever heard of the pink tax?
The pink tax is not an actual tax that governments charge you for. It merely refers to products targeted at women, usually pink in colour, which is priced higher than those marketed for men. For this reason, gender-based pricing is the other name for it.
Common examples are personal care products like razors, body wash, creams, and deodorant. It also extends to other things like earplugs, calculators, medications, sunglasses, and clothing.
It is surely a marketing ploy used by companies to target women, leading them to spend more.
If you are a woman, refuse to pay pink tax by getting the male version of products instead. Apart from the colour and feminine packaging design, there isn’t a real difference in the quality and purpose of the products.
14. Shop in-season
You can get better quality and more affordable fruits and vegetables when they are in season.
For example, a punnet of strawberries during wintertime may cost $5, and taste so-so.
Whereas in the summer months, you can easily grab one punnet for $2 and will taste the best. Since they taste good, you are less likely to waste them.
The reason why in-season produce is cheaper is the abundance of local supply. During other times of the year, these products are imported from overseas. Suppliers and retailers need to ship them and take measures to prolong the life of the produce. This results in extra costs which are passed onto consumers.
If you are unsure which produce is in season, visit the Seasonal Food Guide Australia.
15. Buy ugly looking produce
This is another trick I discovered during my desperate financial times.
I love cucumbers but for some reason, they cost heaps around where I live. One day I wandered into the grocery shop and found a group of cucumbers that looked weird in shape. They however are cheaper compared to the other ‘good’ lot.
Woolworths market them as the “Odd Bunch” range, while Coles named the brand “I’m Perfect“. Other retailers also have imperfect food brands. Try to have a look around your local grocer, you may be pleasantly surprised.
16. Shop around
Whatever you are buying, whether it is groceries or other commodities, it pays to shop around.
The major supermarkets like to compete. Because of this, they tend to mark down items to match competitor pricing, or they may run specials when the other store isn’t watching. Take advantage of these deals with the help of weekly catalogues, you will know where to grab a bargain.
Specialist stores like fruit and veggie shops often offer cheaper and fresher produce. Meat from butcher shops is generally of better quality. If you go to local markets, you will have the opportunity to barter prices and put those negotiation skills to test!
If you originally come from overseas or even if you are not, International and Asian grocers also sell ingredients and other products that you most likely crave.
One thing to be mindful of is that smaller shops may charge credit card fees, which again may not look a lot at first but adds up. To avoid this, pay cash if you can.
17. Use a smaller trolley
Pick a small trolley when shopping. When you get a bigger one, you are being psychologically tricked that you are not finished shopping yet.
Your mind thinks that you need to fill the space and so the tendency is for you to keep wandering around the store until the cart is full.
Large trolleys are commonly found in warehouse stores (think Costco again). Well, to be fair they offer products in bulk which needs a lot of space. At the same time, you are being conned to buy more than what you need.
18. Be mindful of item placement
Supermarkets and manufacturers are very smart. They employ numerous marketing ploys to increase their revenues.
If you look around store shelves, often at eye level, you’ll see the mid-range or more expensive products. The upper and lower shelves commonly have low-priced generic items.
Placing goods this way tends to sway customers to pick what they can readily see, especially if you are rushing to get your shopping done. It also encourages you to think that mid-range products are better valued than the generic range because there seems to be a ‘little’ price difference.
Additionally, avoid products at the check-out counter, which often comes in small or convenient sizes. They place them there to influence last-minute purchases or impulse buys. If you are aware of these tricks, then you’ll save yourself some cash when you next visit the grocery shop.
19. Tally your bill while shopping
While circling the grocery store, use a calculator, may it be a stand-alone one or via your phone. Add in the price of everything you put in your cart.
This helps you to be watchful of your total spending and keep you on track with your budget. You are then more likely to think twice to put anything that you may not need or can motivate you to choose an inexpensive brand.
Alternatively, you can make computations in your head.
You may find it tricky to add the exact figures especially when products are not priced in whole numbers. What you can do is to round up (and never round down) anything to the nearest dollar.
For example, $8.22 becomes $9, $3.76 is $4 and so on. Because you’ve computed each item more than what they cost, you quickly realise how big your bill is already. But of course, when you get to the counter, your total is lower which can even make you feel better!
20. Pay with gift cards
Insurance, banks, credit card providers, and even unions usually reward their members with discounted gift cards.
The discounts may range anywhere from 2% to 20%. Now you may think that 5% off your grocery bill is nothing until you compute the monthly/yearly savings.
Say your fortnightly grocery bill is $200, but with gift cards, you can save 5% or $10 per month. At the end of the year, you saved $260 in all. Like the saving tips mentioned above, it does add up.
The disadvantage is you are prepaying these gift cards, so you need a bit of money beforehand. It also takes time to deliver them to your door if they are physical cards.
Recently though, many providers offer digital gift cards being the more convenient option. You can get them within minutes into your e-mail or phone.
Be mindful as well that gift cards are treated as cash, so store them securely.
21. Sign up for loyalty and reward programs
Reward programs are free to join and let you accumulate points every time you shop.
Usually, the spend to points conversion is 1 point per $1 spend. The value of points varies per program but in Australia, it is typically $10 per 2000 points earned. You can then use this money in your next shop.
A lot of the time supermarkets also run bonus points promotions either via paper coupons or by activating the points boosts through their app. Examples are “spend $100 to get 5x points” or “buy XXX to get extra 1000 points”.
Be careful as these campaigns are lures you to spend more. Don’t let this influence you, just shop as you normally would without such points boost.
Having a loyalty card doesn’t mean you only shop at the same store. Get multiple loyalty cards from different stores, after all, we want to shop around, right?
A way to boost your reward points is to sign up for rewards credit cards that teamed up with supermarkets and allow you to earn higher points per dollar.
22. Watch the register, check your items and receipts
This is probably more of a general tip that aims to make sure you get charged the right amount.
Make it a habit to watch the prices as the cashier punch every single thing you are buying. We are all humans, so the person at the cashier can accidentally punch an extra packet of pasta.
Supermarket pricing is assisted by machines at the counter. Shelf prices are, to this date, mostly updated manually by staff. Similarly, both humans and technology make mistakes.
Watch any sale items as sometimes they are charged at full price.
If you are too busy minding other things while the cashier is sorting out your purchases, be sure to check your receipts. Ideally, before you go home so you can raise it to the staff’s attention.
For click and collect and delivery purchases, check the products you ordered. Sometimes, one or two items may be missing.
When these happen, it is up to the store to compensate for the inconvenience.
You may just receive a refund or rightly get the item you bought. Other times you will be given the product for free, add a discount to your basket or they may throw in other freebies as well.
I and my parents have experienced all these situations many times in the past. Some real-life stories to follow, feel free to move to tip 23 if you’d rather skip them.
One time, I bought some bananas which were advertised as $2.99 per kg but when I punched them at a self-serve counter, the price was $4.99 per kilo. I requested some assistance from the staff, and she gave them to me for free.
I think about a year ago, my parents were purchasing knives that were supposed to be 50% off as per the displayed shelf price. When they reached the counter, they were being charged full price. So, they told the store staff about the displayed price on the shelves. The end of this story was, they were given an extra 50% off the already 50% promotional price which means, a total of 75% discount!
23. Store your food properly
Correctly storing your food saves money. It prevents food spoilage and hence, throwing it out.
Put food into the right storage areas, the packaging will tell you this – at room temperature, in the refrigerator or the freezer.
There are things that you can store for a longer period if kept in a freezer. Here’s another guide on frozen food storage.
Use a FIFO (first in, first out) principle when stocking your pile. When you go home from your shopping, make sure that new stocks are stored at the back or bottom so that older products are used first before they expire.
In the same way, keep leftovers and any opened food at eye level in the front in the fridge. You may also want to use an organiser such as a basket, to put all food that needs to be eaten first to make it easy to see.
24. Improve your diet
Making changes to your diet is not only positive for your health but also your wallet.
In general, try to eat less. Many of us eat more than the recommended amount which in turn leads to costly grocery bills.
Controlling your portions will save you money. But let’s face it, it is easier said than done, so a portion planner may help.
To be more specific, eat less meat. You do not have to be vegetarian or vegan, just cut down on your meat intake. Maybe have a no-meat day once a week or increase your servings of vegetables while decreasing the weight of meat on your plate. If you need more protein in your diet, substitute it with cheaper high-protein food.
Stop buying junk food and snacks. Among these things are chocolates, potato chips, flavoured drinks (juices, cordial, soft drinks), and baked goodies. Try to break up with caffeine (coffee and tea) if you can.
Avoid pre-cooked or frozen food. It cost less to make dishes from scratch.
25. Cook in bulk (or Meal prep)
You can save more cash and time by preparing big meals, dividing extras into portions, and freezing them for later use.
It usually ends up having a cheaper cost per serve as you can buy bulk ingredients and maximise their use. It is also convenient to just reheat them especially when you are having a busy day.
Yes, it is frozen food, but is cheaper and tastes better than grocery bought ones.
Remember to cook at least 3 to 4 dishes and rotate different ones regularly (perhaps monthly or 6 weekly). This way, you won’t end up eating the same meals every week.
26. Grow herbs, veggies, and other produce
Have you noticed how overpriced fresh herbs are?
What’s worse is that can be a waste of money since you can’t buy just what you need. You usually must get a whole pack or bunch yet end up using a few stems or grams.
You do not need a huge land area to have plants. For herbs, it is easy to have tiny pots on the kitchen windowsill. With vegetables, it can sure be tricky if you have a little backyard but if there’s a will, there’s a way.
If you want to plant vegetables in small space, this will help.
Final Thoughts
We all regularly need to go to the grocery store for some of our basic needs. Whether you visit the shops for food, toiletries, household items or all of these, the cost can add up quickly.
Try to use some of the saving tips presented above. It may not be possible to do everything mentioned here, but there will easily be 5 to 10 methods you can save money on your grocery shopping. Always make sure though to adopt methods that fit your lifestyle and serve your best interest.
Saving money on your grocery shopping can make a huge difference in your finances. Even a small amount spared per week can help in paying for other necessities such as rent, mortgage or even minimising other outstanding debts.
Do you have any other grocery saving tips that I’ve missed? Or have you tried any that didn’t suit you? I would love to hear from you in the comments section.
Happy shopping! Happy saving!
Looking for an easy way to budget your money? I’ve written about this topic here.
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