If you feel like the price of groceries has gotten out of control, you’re not going crazy. Prices have indeed gone up in the last three months, by almost 11%. This is largely due to panic buying and factory shutdowns earlier in the year, but prices are still rising (albeit more slowly). In July, food prices increased by 1% from the month before. This makes saving money on groceries feel very difficult.
Shopping for groceries can sometimes be overwhelming, causing you to spend more money than you had planned. This may be because of the store's environment, such as the lighting or distracting labels. However, there are ways to save money on groceries.
How Much Do People Spend on Groceries Each Month?
According to the USDA, the average cost of groceries for one adult on the thrifty plan is $215 to $288.3. For a family of four, their monthly grocery bill averages $932.4.
The rising cost of groceries may be due to a lack of budgeting or the high prices of groceries. However, it is undeniable that grocery prices are increasing, so is there a way to save money on groceries in 2022? Yes, there is a way to save money on groceries.
How to Save Money on Groceries
The prices of groceries are becoming very expensive and it is tempting to spend a lot of money on them. However, there are ways to save money when grocery shopping. Here are 30 tips to help you save money.
1. Reach for the Store Brand Whenever Possible
In fact, the ingredients in some store-brand items may be more pure or better quality—and it may be organic—than their name-brand counterparts. You don't always have to buy from well-known, trusted brands to eat more healthfully. In fact, store-brand items may have more pure or better quality ingredients, and may be organic.
What Groves is saying is that it's cheaper to buy store brands for things like grains, crackers, dairy, and hummus.
2. Crunch some numbers while you shop.
Top tip: If you want to avoid any surprises at the checkout, keep a running total of how much money is in your cart as you shop. You can do this easily by pulling up the calculator on your phone and adding up the cost of all the items as you put them in your cart. This will also help you to question whether you really need items that are not on sale, like that $5 bottle of sparkling water.
3. Round up your grocery cost estimates.
If you want to save money on groceries, round up each item's price when you're walking around with your calculator. For example, if an item is $1.49, treat it as $2. This way, you'll still know what you're spending but you'll be pleasantly surprised when you're at the checkout counter and find out you've stayed within your budget.
4. Raid your pantry.
Why not challenge yourself to see what delicious meals you can make from the food you already have in your pantry or fridge, instead of stocking up on more groceries? You might need to buy a few additional items, but you'll save money by using what you have.
5. Think before you buy in bulk.
It's great to buy things in bulk, but only if it's actually cheaper that way. Just because something is offered in bulk at a discount store doesn't mean it's automatically a better deal. When you're grocery shopping and trying to save money, make sure to compare the price per unit or ounce for the item you want to buy.
It's tempting to buy in bulk, especially when it comes to items that go bad quickly. However, you should only buy what you need. For example, buying a 40-count of Greek yogurt might be a great investment for a family of four, but if you're single, you should probably skip it.
6. Know when to shop.
An important factor to consider when trying to get a good deal is timing. Many experts suggest that Wednesday is the best day to do your grocery shopping, as this is when stores restock their shelves and mark down items that didn't sell the previous week. However, because stores are in the process of changing their discounts, sometimes you can still get the price cuts from last week's sale. If going on a Wednesday is not possible, try to avoid the weekends, as there are usually more people shopping then and thus fewer deals.
The time of day affects how good the bargains are. If you shop early, you can get to the clearance shelves first. If you're not a morning person, another great time to get big sales is right before the store closes, when the deli and bakery counters are trying to sell off the rest of their stuff.
7. Start freezing and storing meals now.
Here are some tips for how to save money on food by making freezer meals: -Find a bunch of recipes online that look good to you. -Set aside a day to make a bunch of these meals. -Enjoy the benefits of not having to worry about ingredients going bad and also save time by not having to cook every day.
8. Pay with cash.
As we always say, cash is king! Paying cash is the best way to make sure you don't overspend at the store. When you have cash, you know exactly how much you can spend because you can't spend more than you have.
Picking meat and vegetables over cookies and ice cream will help you maintain a healthy weight. Though it's okay to indulge every now and then, treats should be planned for and not spontaneously bought.
If you're eating very well at the beginning of the month and then finding it hard to get by at the end, try taking out cash for groceries every week instead of once a month. That way you'll have a better idea of how much you can actually afford to spend on each grocery trip.
9. Make a plan and stick to the list.
If you're trying to save money on groceries, the best thing to do is make a meal plan and a grocery list before leaving the house. Once you're at the store, only buy items that are on the list. This will prevent you from overspending. If you go grocery shopping as a family, have your kids help with meal planning and finding items in the store. It's easier to stay on budget when you have a plan and when everyone is working together. Plus, it'll be easier to resist buying candy if you've already decided not to get it.
10. Order curbside pickup.
If saying no to candy is too hard for you (whether you have kids with you or you're talking to yourself – we don't judge), order your groceries for curbside pickup. It's a lot easier to avoid temptations when you can type everything you need into a search bar.
You can easily compare prices of different brands when you shop online, see what items are on sale, and keep track of the total cost without having to use a calculator. This way, you won't end up at the register only to find out that the item you wanted to buy isn't on sale after all. And, if you're worried about running out of something at home, you can simply check the pantry instead of buying more just in case.
One more benefit of grocery pickup is that you won't have to spend any time going to the store. That's right, no more dealing with annoying shopping carts! This can be a great way to save money if you don't mind someone else doing your shopping. Some grocery stores offer free curbside pickup, while others charge a small fee. Just make sure you account for any additional expenses in your budget.
11. Opt for Bulk Over Convenience Items When Possible
by cooking it this way If you're looking for a quick and easy meal, you might be tempted to buy microwaveable rice or pasta. However, this convenience comes at a price. Cooked in the microwave, these foods often cost more than if you prepared them in a different way.
You can save money by choosing foods that take longer to cook. Foods that are pre-prepared or easy to make, like precut fruit or instant rice, can cost more money than foods that require more time to make, like whole fruit or rice that takes over 30 minutes to prepare, says Samantha Harmon, RDN, who is based in Chicago.
An investigation from Vice found that pre-chopped produce could cost more than three times as much as whole produce. A study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that convenience foods often have lower nutritional value. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' EatRight.org says that most canned soups contain high levels of sodium. The American Heart Association says that sodium is linked to high blood pressure. Making your own soup allows you to control the amount of salt used.
It may be beneficial to spend a few extra minutes preparing your meal in order to save money and improve your health.
12. Don’t Be Afraid to Shop the Inner Aisles of the Grocery Store
It is often said that the healthiest foods are found on the perimeter of the grocery store, but if you avoid the inner aisles altogether, you could be missing out on some nutritious and affordable options. For example, canned vegetables with low or no sodium can be a healthy and inexpensive way to add more produce to your diet.
Elizabeth Ward, a Boston-based Registered Dietician Nutritionist, says that she keeps her kitchen stocked with canned foods in order to not waste any food, which saves money in the long run. Ward says that both canned and frozen produce are often picked at the peak of ripeness, which allows for people to enjoy nutrient-rich foods at a fraction of the cost of fresh varieties.
13. Be Open to Making More Than 1 Stop While Grocery Shopping
Although it may be more convenient to shop for groceries at the same store on a weekly basis, investigating different stores for different items can lead to significant savings. This is according to Zach Cordell, RDN, the founder of Cordell Nutrition in Daytona Beach, Florida, who believes that taking the time to explore other stores can be a worthwhile investment.
The speaker says that it is sometimes more important to choose the right store than to use coupons or take advantage of sales. He suggests that using a combination of warehouse clubs, co-op shares, farmers markets, and traditional stores may be the best way to save money.
“I try to buy as much organic produce as possible, within my budget. I supplement my organic produce share from a co-op with cheaper organic options from Walmart, BJ's, and Costco. These stores have organic options that are more affordable than supermarkets,” says Tina Marinaccio, RDN, the Morristown, New Jersey-based founder of Health Dynamics, which offers integrative nutrition therapy and cooking tips.
Msora-Kasago says that shopping at ethnic stores can save you money on groceries and also introduce you to new foods.
