6 Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill Way Down
If you’re a one income family or if you’re on a budget, then chances are that you’re looking to save money wherever possible. Sometimes this is easy when we think about expenses and things that we can easily let go of. Sometimes it’s difficult and especially when it comes to groceries. We all need to eat, and often the grocery expense is one of the larger expenses in a household budget. That’s why I want to share easy ways to save on your grocery bill to help you save money.
Save on Groceries
Some of these you might already be familiar with, but let’s review them anyway. After all, who doesn’t like saving money and especially on every day things that we need?
- Plan your meals for the week before you go to the grocery store.
If you go in with no idea of what you will be eating, it’s hard to buy the right amount and types of food. You will either come out of the store with too much or not enough. Buying too much food means you’ll spend more than you should have, while not buying enough will make more trips to the store necessary. So write down what you will prepare for each meal, and make your list from that.
Another way to accomplish this is by looking through the ad for that week and meal planning from there.
- Add snacks to your list.
Make sure they are things that your family will actually eat, and realistically figure up how much of them you will need. If you fail to do this, you could end up buying a lot of unnecessary junk food.
- Stick to what’s on your list.
This is a rule with few exceptions. If you get to the store and see a great unadvertised sale on something that you use frequently, go ahead and stock up. Otherwise, buy only what you’ve written down. On a related note, always eat before you go to the store. If you’re hungry, you’re more likely to buy things you don’t need.
- Cook in bulk, and use the leftovers to make different dishes.
For example, if you roast a chicken, you could use what’s left after dinner is over to make soup, chicken and rice, or some other dish. Alternatively, you could cook meals in large batches and freeze them in individual portions to eat later. Either of these techniques will yield several meals at a low cost.
- Combine coupons with sales to get items you will use at very low prices.
When you get your hands on a valuable coupon, scour the papers to see if any local store has the item on sale. As long as it has a long shelf life, it doesn’t matter if you’ll use it right away or not. Many stores offer a loyalty program and e-coupons as well. Don’t forget to check out those as valuable resources to save money.
Simply shopping smarter can save you lots of money on food each week. Plan ahead, and keep your budget in mind. By following these simple guidelines, you can spend your money on the right things.
And, is it time to start a family piggy bank? This is a great teaching tool for children! I encourage you to look into it.
More Money Saving Resources:
21 Sites for Downloading Coupons
I completely agree with your tips! I have been doing all of this for years and people are amazed that we spend only a little on groceries for a family of 4!
We make it a game or challenge to see what percentage of our grocery bill we can save
Thanks for the awesome printables and the great tips! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you again soon.
Miz Helen