According to a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 60% of Americans report feeling stressed over the cost of groceries, while another study highlights that about 55% find grocery shopping a significant burden on their budget.
With post-pandemic price hikes, soaring inflation, and increased tariffs on imported food, many consumers often express these challenges. Visits to the grocery store can feel overwhelming because by the time you pay, you’re left with only a few bags and a massive chunk of your monthly budget down.
Luckily, there are some clever shopping tricks that many people are unaware of. By applying these tips, you could slash your grocery bill by up to 30% in a month. Following these simple tricks can help you save significant money on groceries.
Buy Frozen Produce
You need your fruits and vegetables, and being on a tight budget should not mean compromising on your necessary nutrition. If you want the best value for your money with fruits and vegetables, then opting for frozen products instead of fresh ones can be a good idea. This is because these items are frozen right after being picked, preserving their peak quality. Moreover, buying frozen produce is cheaper than buying the same quantity of fresh produce.
Plan Your Meals In Advance
When you don’t have a clear plan in your head, it’s easy to keep picking things off the aisle. Instead, create a meal plan each week to streamline your grocery shopping and ensure you only buy items that are part of it.
Write Out A Grocery List – And Stick To It!
Never shop without a list in hand. Raid your kitchen first to identify what you really need. Make a list of those items and, as you walk down those aisles, shop only what’s on the list. Ignore those shiny new chocolates or that fancy sauce. Stay disciplined and focused!
Be Flexible With Ingredients
If you enjoy watching cooking shows and trying out new recipes, you’ve likely noticed how many of these call for specialty ingredients that are expensive and not really necessary. For example, a Romanesco broccoli sure sounds fancy, but a regular broccoli – or even cauliflower – can taste just as good.
Get inventive with your meals. Simple ingredients can become a culinary masterpiece when you let your creativity shine and cook with love.
Follow The 6 To 1 Rule
This simple but effective formula helps you shop for what you need within your budget. Shop for six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two spreads/sauces, and one fun food as a treat. When you limit your grocery list to accommodate this, you will understand that you now have a stunning variety to mix and match to create your own stunning dishes for the week. In doing so, you’re not just opting for healthier eating, but also sticking to a budget!
Shop In Season
Meal planning involves switching up your menu as the seasons change. Remember, buying fresh tomatoes in February is more expensive as they have to travel in from far-off places like Florida, Mexico, and California. The travel expenses are included in the final price. On the flip side, when you buy tomatoes in July, when they are abundant in the US, it’s far cheaper. If you love cooking with tomatoes, it’s a good idea to buy in bulk and preserve them for later use.
Go To The Farmer’s Market
There is a common misconception that buying from a farmer’s market is more expensive. The reality is that you’ll be surprised at how much cheaper items at the farmer’s market can be. Since the produce is brought in directly from the field, there are no intermediaries, and the savings are passed on to you, the customer! Plus, you’re also supporting the local economy directly when you buy from the farmer’s market.
Sign Up For Loyalty Programs
If you frequent a particular store, it’s wise to sign up for its loyalty card. This makes you eligible for in-store discounts by simply entering your phone number or swiping your card. Plus, you will be signed up for promotions and deals, such as discounts on products or a free item with your purchase.
Buy In Bulk And Freeze Extras
When you buy in bulk, you save a significant amount of money. For example, certain fruits are cheaper in season, so you can buy those in bulk and preserve them for later. Moreover, many grocery stores offer attractive prices for bulk purchases, so it’s definitely worth a shot. But first, consider a quick checklist to avoid waste: Will I use it? Can I store it? Is it truly cheaper? Asking these questions helps to ensure you purchase only what makes sense. For example, a massive container of lettuce at a bargain price seems like a deal, but if you’re only able to eat half of it before it goes bad, then it’s not just a waste of food, but money, too!
Make Your Own Snacks/Sweets
Craving a cookie? Well, buying a pack is convenient, but buying the ingredients to bake your own batch can be smarter. The ingredients may cost more than a pack of cookies, but remember that they last much longer and allow you to bake multiple batches. What’s more, homemade tastes much better anyway!
Shop Fast
Grocery stores play music that is generally targeted at 30-50-year-olds, with top songs from your teens or early 20s. Nostalgia can make you slow down, leading you to linger longer in stores. In fact, a study discovered that after 20 minutes of shopping, you go from a logical thinker to an emotional thinker. After 40 minutes, the brain gets tired, and you’re not forming rational thoughts, allowing impulse buying to sneak in. To counteract this, set a 20-minute timer on your phone before entering the store. This tangible time limit can help curb impulse buys by encouraging you to shop more efficiently and with purpose.
Don’t Take Your Kids Grocery Shopping
When a child accompanies you to the supermarket, you’re compelled to buy what they’re asking for to avoid a temper tantrum in public and forget what you wanted to buy in the first place. One way to control all that damage is to leave the littles at home and go grocery shopping on your own.
However, if it’s not possible to shop without your kids, consider involving them in the process. Create a pre-shop checklist with your child to engage them in what is needed and set expectations before entering the store.
