For many families, food is one of the biggest monthly expenses. But with a little strategy, you can eat well without overspending. Small changes can add up to hundreds of dollars saved every year.
Whether you’re looking to stretch a tight budget or simply reduce waste, these practical tips will help you cut grocery costs without sacrificing quality. Here are 20 proven ways to save money on groceries while still enjoying healthy, delicious meals.
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1. Make a Weekly Meal Plan
Planning your meals for the week is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to save money on groceries. By mapping out what you’ll cook and eat ahead of time, you avoid last-minute takeout and reduce food waste. You’ll know exactly what ingredients you need, which prevents overspending on items you might not use.
A meal plan also helps you take advantage of weekly sales, allowing you to build your meals around discounted items. Even planning just three or four dinners a week makes a difference.
Also, check out these hacks to save money at Whole Foods.
2. Shop with a List
Creating a list before you shop keeps you focused and helps you avoid impulse buys. It’s also a great way to check what you already have at home, so you don’t buy duplicates. Keep a running list on your phone or a notepad on the fridge so you can add items as you run out.
When you stick to your list, you’re more likely to stay within budget and avoid tossing unnecessary items into your cart.
3. Use Store Loyalty Programs
Many grocery stores offer loyalty cards or apps that unlock exclusive discounts, digital coupons, and rewards points. Signing up is usually free and can save you significant money over time. Some programs also track your purchases and give personalized coupons for the items you buy most. Others let you earn fuel rewards, essentially giving you double savings.
If you shop regularly at one store, loyalty programs can help you cut costs without changing your routine. Don’t forget to download the store’s app, where you may find extra deals or weekly specials not available in-store.
4. Buy Store Brands
Store-brand or generic products are often just as good as name brands, but at a fraction of the price. In many cases, they’re even made by the same manufacturers. Store brands deliver big savings without sacrificing quality.
Taste-test a few items to see where you can comfortably swap. You may not notice any difference except in your receipt total. Consistently choosing store brands over name brands can save you hundreds each year while still keeping your pantry well-stocked.
5. Compare Unit Prices
One of the easiest tricks to saving money is checking the unit price on shelf tags. Bigger packages aren’t always cheaper, and sometimes promotions can be misleading. By comparing unit prices, you’ll quickly see which product gives you the most value.
For example, a smaller jar of peanut butter might actually cost less per ounce than the large one. Paying attention to these details ensures you’re not overspending on packaging or marketing gimmicks. With practice, checking unit prices becomes second nature and helps you consistently get the best bang for your buck.
6. Buy in Bulk (Smartly)
Bulk buying can save you a fortune, but only if you’re strategic. Staples like rice, beans, pasta, and flour have long shelf lives, making them ideal for buying in large quantities. However, perishables like fresh produce, dairy, or bread can go bad quickly and end up wasted.
The key is knowing your household’s consumption habits and storage capacity. Investing in airtight containers or a deep freezer can make bulk buying more practical. Done right, bulk shopping reduces your cost per meal, minimizes store trips, and ensures you always have essentials on hand without paying inflated prices.
7. Shop Sales and Clearance
Weekly sales, manager’s specials, and clearance sections are treasure troves for budget-conscious shoppers. Stores often mark down items nearing their “sell by” date, but they’re still perfectly safe to use, especially if you freeze or cook them soon.
Checking flyers or apps before heading out helps you plan meals around sale items. Some stores also have dedicated clearance racks for pantry goods, household items, and even bakery products. By getting into the habit of scouting sales and markdowns, you’ll stretch your grocery budget further without compromising quality.
8. Use Coupons Strategically
Coupons can be powerful money-savers, but only if used wisely. Instead of buying something just because you have a coupon, use it to reduce the cost of items you already need. Combining coupons with sales, also known as “stacking,” can give you incredible deals. Digital coupons found in store apps or websites are often easier to manage than paper ones.
9. Limit Pre-Packaged Foods
Convenience costs money, and pre-packaged foods are proof. Pre-cut fruits, shredded cheese, and ready-made meals often cost much more per ounce than whole ingredients. While they save time, they drain your wallet over time.
For example, a block of cheese you shred yourself is cheaper and often fresher than a bag of shredded cheese. Washing and chopping your own produce takes minutes and can cut your grocery bill significantly. By cooking from scratch and preparing ingredients at home, you’ll save money and often enjoy healthier, fresher meals. A little extra effort equals big long-term savings.
10. Avoid Shopping Hungry
It sounds simple, but shopping on an empty stomach is a guaranteed way to overspend. Hunger makes everything look appetizing, leading to impulse buys. Even if you shop with a list, being hungry can weaken your resolve. Eating a meal or even a light snack before heading to the store helps you stay focused on necessities rather than cravings. This small habit shift can make a noticeable difference in your grocery spending.
11. Shop Less Frequently
The more often you step into a grocery store, the more chances you have to overspend. Quick trips for “just one thing” often lead to grabbing extra items you don’t need. By limiting grocery shopping to once a week, or even once every two weeks, you’ll cut down on impulse buys and force yourself to make better use of what’s already at home.
This habit also helps you stick to a meal plan and reduce food waste since you’ll be more intentional with what you buy. Fewer trips mean fewer temptations and more consistent savings over time.
12. Freeze Extras
Freezing is a powerful way to reduce waste and stretch your grocery dollars. Many foods can be frozen before they spoil. Buying items in bulk and freezing what you can’t immediately use ensures nothing goes to waste. Prepping freezer-friendly meals ahead of time also saves both money and time on busy days.
Labeling and dating items makes it easy to rotate your stock and avoid freezer burn. By treating your freezer as an extension of your pantry, you’ll always have affordable, ready-to-use ingredients on hand.
13. Buy Seasonal Produce
Out-of-season fruits and vegetables have to be imported, which drives up costs and sometimes lowers quality. Sticking with seasonal produce allows you to get better deals and enjoy food at its peak flavor. Many grocery stores also offer bulk discounts when seasonal items are abundant. To save even more, shop at local farmers’ markets, where fresh produce is often cheaper than supermarket prices.
14. Try Meatless Meals
Meat is often the most expensive item in a grocery cart, so swapping a few meals each week for vegetarian options can save you a bundle. Beans, lentils, eggs, and tofu are affordable protein sources that are also versatile and nutritious.
For example, a hearty bean chili or vegetable stir-fry can be just as satisfying as a meat-based dish. Going meatless even once or twice a week reduces your grocery bill without sacrificing taste or variety.
15. Shop at Discount Stores
Discount grocers like Aldi, Lidl, or regional chains often offer significantly lower prices compared to big-name supermarkets. They typically carry fewer brands, smaller selections, and a no-frills shopping experience, but the savings are worth it. Many shoppers find the quality of store-brand products at these stores equal to or better than mainstream stores.
Shopping at discount grocers for staples like dairy, produce, and pantry items can cut your grocery bill dramatically. Even if you don’t do all your shopping there, combining discount stores with your regular grocery runs is an easy way to save consistently.
16. Check the Top and Bottom Shelves
Supermarkets are designed to make you spend more. That’s why the most expensive brands are usually placed at eye level, while cheaper alternatives are often on the top or bottom shelves. Taking a few seconds to scan up and down the aisle can reveal more affordable options with little difference in quality. This small shift in awareness can save you money every single trip.
Don’t be fooled by marketing placement; sometimes the best deals are just a glance away. Over time, these small savings add up to significant cuts in your grocery spending.
17. Use Cashback and Rebate Apps
Cashback and rebate apps can turn everyday grocery shopping into a money-making opportunity. Apps like Ibotta, Fetch, or Rakuten let you earn money back on purchases you’re already making. Some require you to scan receipts, while others connect directly with store loyalty cards. The savings might seem small at first, but they add up quickly.
Over time, you could save hundreds of dollars a year just by uploading receipts or checking for rebates before you shop. It’s essentially free money for sticking to your usual grocery habits.
18. Grow Your Own Herbs or Veggies
Fresh herbs and vegetables can be surprisingly expensive at the grocery store, especially when you only need a small amount. Growing your own, whether in a backyard garden or a few pots on a windowsill, cuts costs dramatically.
Herbs like basil, parsley, or mint are easy to grow and can provide fresh flavor all season long. Tomatoes, lettuce, and peppers are also beginner-friendly vegetables that yield plenty of produce. Even a small home garden reduces grocery expenses, adds freshness to meals, and gives you the satisfaction of eating food you grew yourself.
19. Batch Cook and Use Leftovers
Cooking in larger quantities is a smart way to save both time and money. By batch cooking, you can buy ingredients in bulk, prepare meals ahead of time, and avoid the temptation of pricey takeout. Leftovers can be repurposed into entirely new meals. For example, roast chicken today can become soup or tacos tomorrow.
Freezing portions for later means nothing goes to waste. Batch cooking also ensures you always have affordable, ready-to-eat meals on hand, which keeps you from overspending during busy weeks.
20. Stick to a Grocery Budget
Setting a specific grocery budget each week or month is one of the best ways to control spending. Without a budget, it’s easy to overspend without realizing it. Track your expenses for a few weeks to get a realistic sense of what you’re spending, then set a target amount. Using cash or a debit card dedicated to groceries helps enforce discipline.
Budgeting apps can also help you stay accountable. When you have a firm spending cap, you’re forced to make smarter choices, prioritize essentials, and cut unnecessary purchases, resulting in meaningful, long-term savings.
Get started with one of these 7 budgeting tools.
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