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1) You’re shopping at the wrong store.
While you can find bargains at most any store, where you shop does have a huge affect on your grocery bill.
If you’re lucky enough to live in an area with multiple grocery stores, explore them all and figure out which one has the lowest prices overall.
It may seem small, but difference of $0.25-$0.50 on 100 weekly items really adds up!
(If you have an Aldi grocery store in your area, DO give it a try. Aldi has insanely good prices and their food is just as good as what’s carried in larger grocery stores.)
2) You’re buying more than you can use.
Americans throw away 40% of our food.
This means on average, each household is chucking $2, 275 of food in the trash each year. That’s $189 a month!
Want to keep that money in your pocket? Here are ten ways to stop wasting food.
3) You’re buying disposable goods.
I’m not going to suggest you give up toilet paper, but a lot of other disposable goods are pretty simple to give up.
Use real towels to dry your hands, use a washcloth to wipe your counters, and put leftovers into containers instead of bags.
(Here are some of my favorite reusable containers.)
If you have a dishwasher, using real dishes instead of plastic or paper plates is super easy.
And if your household is small, real dishes aren’t even that hard to wash by hand.
4) You’re buying not-so-convenient convenience foods.
Honestly, most of what’s in the grocery store today is a convenience food in some senses. We’re not buying chickens with feathers on them, after all, and that saves us a lot of time and mess.
But some convenience foods shave mere minutes off of food prep time while costing 2-3 times more.
For instance, a frozen smoothie mix consists of frozen berries with frozen yogurt chunks. You can just as easily pick up a container of yogurt and a bag of frozen fruit, and you’ll get a lot more bang for your buck.
Or consider pancake batter that comes in a squeeze bottle. Even from scratch, pancake batter takes about 5 minutes to put together and the cost is pennies on the dollar.
5) You’re buying non-grocery items at the grocery store.
Grocery stores have a high mark-up on items like seasonal furniture, toys, and other non-grocery items, so it’s usually cheaper to pick them up somewhere else.
6) You’re buying too many beverages.
While food is necessary for survival, the beverages we buy at the grocery store generally are not.
After all, water is really the only thing you need to drink, and you can get that out of your tap.
(If your tap water is nasty, try a pitcher with a filter. It’ll be way cheaper than bottled water.)
If you can’t give up your lemonade, juice, soda, iced tea, kool-aid, at least consider cutting back. These drinks are eating up part of your grocery budget and all you’re getting are (mostly) empty calories.
Drink more water and save your money for food!
7) You’re not buying private label products.
Store-brand items have come a long way, and if you only buy name brands, you’re missing out on a big opportunity to save.
(Aldi Parmesan)
Many store-brand products are actually made by brand-name companies, and most come with a money-back guarantee so you can try the product risk-free.
You’ll probably find a few instances where you really do prefer the name brand, but you’ll also discover plenty of cases where the store-brand works out just fine.
What would you add to my list?
Erik Wessing says
You’re probably paying too much attention to expiration dates. Most food has a “sell by” date or a “best by” date. These are not “you’ll die if you eat this after this date” dates.
“Sell by” means just that: the date the store will stop selling the thing. If that was the date it will kill you if you eat it, a lot of people would die. It’s usually good for quite a while after that, so you have time to consume it if you buy it on the last day.
“Best by” doesn’t mean it’s going bad on that day. Just that it’s not going to be at it’s best after that. Those crackers that expired last week may start to taste a little tired. But they’re still OK.
Em says
A couple of good sites to reference if you’re not sure if your food is still good are http://www.eatbydate.com (for understanding use by, best by dates for specific foods – even canned items) and http://www.stilltasty.com (best for whole foods like raw carrots vs cooked carrots or frozen, fresh, or cooked ground beef).
Lily | The Frugal Gene says
Really good point Em! I had people complain to me about 2 month old expired (but sealed and all good otherwise) potato chips and I was honestly a bit ticked off some people can come off so princess-y and demanding being in my house, eating my free snacks. Not enough people know about the best buy date hack.
Kristyna says
This whole “death by” date idea is both hilarious and intriguing.
As for chip snobs, next time serve them in a bowl and they’ll be none the wiser.
Jennie says
And these “best by” and “sell by” dates are not regulated by the FDA, which most people don’t realize.
Laurie says
Thanks for the tip!
kddomingue says
I’m imagining items in stores carrying a “death by date” stamp on them, lol! For the most part, the sell by and best by stamps are pretty meaningless.
Profesora H-B says
YES! YES! YES! I play VERY fast and loose with all of those dates. I have a very sensitive nose, so I trust sniff tests and appearance tests. Obviously I’m not going to eat my grandma’s canned goods from the 60s, but milk that is a week past its sell-by date is rarely bad in my refrigerator.
Jen says
My addition would be “You’re not planning ahead.” When I go to the grocery store with no meal plan and no list, I’m in a world of trouble. I buy a bunch of stuff with no direction and usually end up having to go back at least once which, of course, costs me more money!
Brooke says
Exactly what I was going to say. Meal plan!
WilliamB says
This! (Jen beat me to it.) Going without a plan/list.
The other I add is – shopping while hungry.
If you’re hungry, buy a snack. You’re in a store full of food – they’ll sell you some! That $2 spent on a couple pieces of fruit, or some lunchmeat, or a bag of chips, will be far cheaper than overbuying junk or food you can’t use.
Kaitlin says
I have better success getting enough to last a whole week when I shop slightly hungry. When I’m not hungry at all when I go shopping, nothing looks good. Consequently, practically nothing ends up in my cart, and I have to go shopping 2 days later. But it sounds like I’m the odd man out on this issue
WilliamB says
Thought of one more: buy in season. Apples in November, strawberries in June, ham at Easter. In-season food (especially produce) is fresher, tastier, and cheaper.
I have a hundred other ways to save money on food but FG seems to be focusing on the straightfoward ones.
Ashley says
Yes! Making a list and checking the sales ads before going out help our family spend $225 each month on groveries!
JD says
A great list! I’m interested to see what others add to it. I can always use more ideas.
Of course, the big one, that is always obvious, is don’t shop when you are hungry, but I sometimes find myself doing just that — you know, just a quick trip after work… when I’m so ready for my evening meal.
This is impossible to do, sometimes, but if you can, don’t shop with kids or spouse if those people tend to make you purchase more. My husband is worse than my kids ever were to urge me to buy things.
In The Tightwad Gazette, Amy Dacyczyn said her husband worked in a pickle factory for a while, and they would simply halt the conveyors at some point of the day, change out the brand-name labels for store-brand labels in the label machine, and restart the labeling process on exactly the same pickles, just with the new labels. While I’m sure it’s not this way for all store brands, it makes one consider. Besides, if your kids grow up with the store brand, they think that is how “it” is supposed to taste.
Jennifer@thefrugaldribble says
You are right about not shopping while hungry! I had a post last week about not grooming your kids to only like certain brands. My kids don’t prefer any brand over another. After seeing my friend’s kids declare that they can only eat a certain brand of peanut butter, I think we are on to something. What happens when they eat Jiff instead of Peter Pan…do they self-destruct? One may never know..lol.
Kris says
I love your comment about not teaching your kids to be picky about brand preferences. You have to start that kind of thing when they are young. And the parents who ask their kids what food they want while grocery shopping???? I just shake my head and wonder who is in charge in that household.
Lindsey says
Maybe it is growing up the child of impoverished immigrants, but in our household there was no such thing as brand preference or not liking something. “Eat this or nothing” was the rule. Although I have to say that the nights we had beans I had no dinner because I loathe the taste and smell of beans. I married a bean lover and my father was amazed when he learned that I make two pots of chili at the same time, one with beans and one without. In his thick Russian accent he would tell my husband, “I would let you go to bed hungry before I’d make you a separate meal.” My husband and I, married many years now, can still make each other giggle by using a fake Russian accent and quoting that saying when one or the other of us does not like a meal.
Jenny says
That’s really funny and one of the perks of a long marriage! Anyway, “real” chili doesn’t even have beans in it! They’re served on the side so “beaners” can add a spoonful to their bowls!
Karen says
My husband worked in a plant that produced french fries. Yes, those really good ones were the same as the ones with the store brand packaging. And other plants produced the same products, too. It depends on who has the contract.
Ms. Frugal Asian Finance says
These are great reasons! I think we’re most guilty of #1 and #2. Sometimes we run out of milk or eggs before we can go to Costco, so Mr. FAF will stop by Safeway or Giant on his way back from work, and their eggs and milk are overpriced!
We don’t buy toys from the grocery store and almost never buy drinks, except for special occasions like dinner with friends, so that saves us money too.
P.S. I like your Pinterest image!
Em says
My addition would be “You’re buying certain items at the wrong time.” Some items like meat and seasonal produce are much cheaper at some times than others. If you see a good price on a meat you commonly used and it can be frozen, stock up and freeze in meal sized portions if you have the freezer space. Or if not, try to mostly go with meat or produce that is on the lower side that week. That was one of the main ways I stayed on budget when things were really tight several years ago. I would end up with a much higher bill when I didn’t do this.
Annie says
Shop more from the perimeter of the store instead of the inner aisles. The inner aisles are where most of the prepared/packaged food is and that is usually more expensive, (and often less healthy), than the fresh fruits, veggies, etc…
Also, look at the per unit prices carefully, sometimes a larger container is not always the best bargain, especially if smaller sizes are on sale.
If something is at a really great price, buy extra if you can freeze or store the rest without worry it will go bad. When our local store has beautiful wild caught Alaskan salmon at $9.00 a pound, (I live in NYC so that may still seem high to some people but it regularly sells for at least $18.00), we buy two or three pounds, portion it and freeze it.
Kaitlin says
As a former resident of Alaska, $9/lb for wild caught Alaskan Salmon isn’t bad. During summer, when the salmon was fresh we paid $9-$12/lb at the grocery store. Of course, anyone in Alaska that knows how to fish and is somewhat competent goes fishing, and that’s the freshest salmon you’ll ever get!
Lindsey says
Kaitlin, this week in Fairbanks it is selling for $4.99 a pound for wild caught Alaska salmon. Can’t imagine the fishing fleets are in love with that price.
Kaitlin says
That’s insane! I never saw prices that low. And it’s not even prime fishing season yet!
Jen @ Bookish Family says
Not everyone has these in their area, but I would suggest finding discount grocery stores and visiting them when you are nearby. We are able to get things like natural pb for $1.50, huge cannisters of name brand old-fashioned oats for $1.79. And higher quality cheese for less than $2/lb just to name a few items.
This is one way we can afford higher end natural and organic products on a tight budget. Sometimes they are at or near the expiration date but it is almost never a problem.
Michelle says
I’ve tired shopping at Aldi’s twice. When I saw them putting one in I was super excited having read you blog for years however I was hugely disappointed. I probably could have gotten over them not having everything on my list Target is in the same shopping center and the Walmart market is across the street. But the reason I won’t go back is they threw all my groceries from the belt into the cart including my eggs and fruit.
Kristen says
I’m bummed you had a bad experience! My cashiers aren’t usually too rough with my food, but I generally try to put my sturdiest, heaviest items on the belt first, and then my more fragile stuff at the end. That way they’re not having to put a watermelon on top of a package of hamburger buns.
But I do get that Aldi isn’t for everyone!
Jenny says
I’ve never had that problem at any Aldi (or Sav-A-Lot, which is similar), but I do what Kristen does and put my groceries on the belt in the order I want them in the cart. Fruit and eggs should be OK- they are pretty sturdy the way Mother Nature makes them!
Pam Lay says
grab a few free boxes, I kinda Box my stuff as the cashier rings to avoid that problem. It also allows me to sort refrigerated into 1 box (easier to unpack) freezer (another box) shelf staples 3rd box. Then I just empty the boxes in order of what I feel should be on the bottom. The boxes also make great boxes to keep IN the pantry to store items, for instance we use alot of kidney beans, so I put a kidney bean box on my self if its full I definitely do NOT need more. 1/2 full (time to look for the deals) by the time it is near empty I have gotten my best deal AND it allows me easier access to rotation to avoid expired foods
Michelle says
This is what I do at every other store (I live in CA where we have to pay for bags) so I did this the second time and was told by the cashier “we aren’t allowed to box your groceries for you”. There isn’t a belt or anything at the end they just put in straight in the cart.
Ruth says
I also try to think about how the food will go in my cart when I’m putting things on the belt (bread at the end!) But there was one time I had a yogurt lid get punctured by something else in my cart and they just got me a new one. No big deal. My Aldi has always been gracious about stuff like that even when it’s our fault, like when my kid hugged the bag of chips or my other kid got into the eggs and smashed one.
Donna says
I was slow to like Aldi, at first it annoyed me that I didn’t recognise any brands, I had to pack my groceries and I still had to go to a Big supermarket to buy some items as we had a lactose intolerant child. But the more I went the easier it became. When they started stocking lactose free milk and nutlex $1 less than the supermarket, I was truley converted. The savings are there, but try and stay away from the middle where the sale items are unless you actual need it.
kristin @ going country says
I definitely shop at the wrong store. However, my choice is to either drive 20 miles round-trip to the small grocery store in the village with the higher prices, or 50 miles round-trip to the bigger store in the bigger village with lower prices. Not sure if the gas savings is worth it, but I almost always opt for the smaller store unless I have to go to the bigger village for a doctor’s appointment or something. It just takes too long and I have too many little kids.
Nancy says
Your time and sanity have a value also. While shopping closer to home may cost more, you’ll save if it keeps you from eating out and being unhappy with your life. I’m a firm believer in working within our limitations. Yours, for now, is distance and little ones.
Jody says
Another plus to avoiding too many extra drinks (juice, soda, etc.) is that you save money later– in health problems. Fewer sugary drinks will lead to lower dentist bills, less obesity, etc. That’s long-term money saving.
Lily | The Frugal Gene says
Yes that was basically my entire comment haha. You have to think about long-term money as in how just is that fryer really going to cost. Etc. It’s not easy!
Jenny says
How about–avoiding canned and frozen fruits and veggies without trying them. Sometimes fresh is the only thing that will work. And yes, canned beans are more expensive than dried. But canned beans are super quick and way cheaper and healthier than fast food or a restaurant! The NY Times food critic taste tested fresh vs. frozen brussels sprouts and couldn’t tell the difference in many recipes.
Also, assuming that coupons are useless. I’m in a hyper-competitive grocery market (esp with Amazon getting into the business) so my store gives away coupons like $3 off produce or free items on a pretty regular basis. I just got a free pineapple last week, and I need to stop acquiring dish soap for a while because I have so many free bottles accumulated.
Sara says
I collect anything ‘free’, like soap, set them aside and donate when I have a box full. Big hit around here especially during the holiday food drives.
Jenny says
Brussels sprouts are one of the few things that are totally different after freezing. I’m so surprised about the food critic not being able to tell the difference.
Alysia says
Spices can be very expensive so we buy ours by ounce as we need it. Most grocery stores have an area where items such as spices and grains are sold out of large containers. The consumer puts the amount they want into a small bag, marks it with an item number and/or weights it. A couple tablespoons of cumin costs around 15 cents. It saves space in our cupboard and spices don’t go bad. The spices I use frequently I buy in larger quantities then store them in glass spice jars which you can buy at a kitchen store or online for less than dollar.
Also growing vegetables and herbs adds a lot of savings. If you don’t have a yard or time to weed, try growing them in containers or pots. Herbs can also be grown year round indoors.
Finally, many grocers will give 5 cents off your bill per reusable bag used or 5 points which can be added to thier fuel program. That saves can add up quickly throughout the month.
Pam Lay says
you can also find spice jars at the Dollar tree each one is just $1, clear with a black lid & shaker insert.
Jenny says
Baby food jars are free, if you know anyone with a baby! Garage sales are a good source of storage or canning jars, which can be pretty expensive if bought new. Try a local “Buy Nothing” group!
Jennifer@thefrugaldribble says
I can’t think of much to add here other than I get certain things at certain stores. For instance,the grocery store near my kids school has the best sale on chicken thighs every couple weeks. Kroger has weekly deals that sometimes have things my family can use, for instance this week they have real butter for $1.99, plus the freebies. They also have good mark down produce bin variety. Walmart has good prices on reduced ground beef and turkey. I go to several different stores throughout the month to get the best prices when I am already in the area to save on gas. I have tried Aldi and have so far been underwhelmed. I think it’s because they have fair prices overall, if I am only planning to go to one store. Also, mine doesn’t have much of a deal on meats for some reason. Their produce section is reasonable and quite often has a good price for organics.
Pam Lay says
Only thing about Aldi produce for me is the bananas are stored in nitrogen, so when they do get the chance to ripen they brown & go bad really fast. Many of their potatoes in a bag I’ve bought are bad in the center, but the outside looks fine. However, if that happens I go back with the receipt & they give me double my money back. So I still take that chance, after all I’ll be there again soon anyways
Mrs. Picky Pincher says
I’ve found that switching to cloth over paper really does save money.
We started separating household purchases out of our grocery bill, though, so we can see just our cost for food. Agreed about the convenience and pre-packaged items.
Unfortunately, buying organic is often more expensive, which is one (of the many) reason that it’s so high.
Gina says
My best tips are: stop using coupons, menu plan, and cut waaaay back buying loads of snack foods. Another good thing is to look for whole chicken you cut up yourself, or cook in the crockpot and shred for meals or buying cheaper cuts of meat to cook in the crockpot, making a pot of coffee instead of relying on K-cups daily (a bad habit, though we still do K-cups when we have very busy mornings), buying tubs of yogurt rather that those tiny containers, and creating your own salads instead of buying the bagged ones. I know you and yours don’t love beans, but we do, and coming home to a big crockpot of them seasoned up with a couple of pork ribs and served with corn muffins is so comforting at the end of a long day – super frugal, too.
Pam Lay says
Hamilton Beech has a great coffee maker, you can brew a pot, OR use k-cups, OR if you want to use your regular coffee it has a mini coffee filter for the single cup side. The best of all 3 worlds & it’s not really that large of a machine. It was a decent price when I bought mine about 5 yrs back
Angela R says
I stock pile on the grocery store’s loss leaders. Whole chickens at $0.79/pound, I buy at least 6 chickens. Canned garbanzo beans at “buy 1, get 1”, I get 20 cans. I make my own hummus and falafel, so I know these will get used. I try to keep a stocked freezer and pantry, and only buy meat when its on sale. It seems like my grocery store has an 8 week cycle, so I buy enough of the sale item to last me until the next big sale.
I also buy the gourmet cheeses when they are a day away from their sell by date and are 50% off. I have a wicked Brie habit that I just can’t/won’t give up.
My grocery store does a “Free Friday” giveaway. Many times its something that I don’t want or don’t like but I take it anyway and at the end of the month donate it to the food pantry. I’m giving back and its not costing me. Win-win…
Katrina says
I’ve had to stop strict weekly meal plans. I find even with consulting flyers prior, I’m more likely to buy expensive ingredients when I do. But this only works because I’ve been cooking for a family long enough that I have a pretty good mental list of meals I can make with our standard inexpensive ingredients that we always have on hand.
The other thing is trying to buy most staples at their rock bottom prices. E.g. butter, coffee, chicken breast, peanut butter etc. all goes on super sale approx. every 6-8 weeks, and when it does, I stock up as much as possible to last until the next likely super sale. Again, this is easier to do after you’ve spent some years shopping for the same items at the same store – you recognize patterns.
Sara says
I watch for combo meat sales and mark-down discounts. I finally figured out one store I shop at does the meat mark-downs Tuesday morning. Everything is still in date for at least a couple more days. I catch major bargains every few months. Last month I went in to buy fresh chicken thighs on sale for $1.49lb. Fair but not great price but we had no meat at all. Ended up with 28lbs fresh chicken legs for $0.25-$0.29lb. Legs were on sale plus there were $3 and $4 coupons on the packages. Skipped the thighs and bought all the legs. Not our favorite but we aren’t very picky. Produce they mark down after 5pm as needed.
Staying out of the store is a huge savings for us. I keep a very well stocked pantry plus deep freeze. If we run out of something, we do without. I just choose a different meal. I never, ever, go to the store for one or two missing items.
CTMOM says
A few thoughts:
-EAT those leftovers and don’t allow them to become science experiments only to be tossed. Store at eye level in clear containers in the fridge
-menu plan based around what is already on hand, complete with what is on sale
-keep a look out for marked downs. Planned on buying ground beef for spaghetti but 4 pkgs of Ital sausage just get marked down? buy the sausage, and freeze 3 1/2 of them. Yes, three and a half which leads me to
-cut down on meat consumption. 1/2 of a lb of Italian sausage, as an example, browned off as crumbles adds a lot of flavor, plenty of protein
-incorporate homemade soup once a week and use up left overs in the process
-buy cheaper and tastier cuts of meat and slow cook them
-always have an “emergency meal” on the shelf: box of pasta and jar of sauce, can of veg=done.
-keep a pantry and follow the pantry principal for both the pantry shelves and freezer
Cecilia says
I love your tips that you added. I do most of these already. I’ve recently started to keep an “emergency meal” and it has been such a lifesaver on super busy/late nights that my husband can do in my abscence.
Can you elaborate on the pantry principal please?
CTMOM says
The pantry principal is filling your pantry with commonly eaten ingredients for your family, always stocking up within reason until the next sale. If you only buy 1 jar of X a year, no don’t stock up just because it’s on sale. If you often use tomato paste-buy enough when on sale to get you to the next sale (they are cyclical). Currently, this is BBQ condiment season. Add coupons to sale prices and often they are free or pretty close to it. I stock up for the year. Ditto hot dogs, I buy for the year. I menu plan around the 15th of the current month for the upcoming month, creating 30-31 days worth of dinner plans. I NEED to buy little to complete my menus, and cull from food stuffs on hand (freezer, pantry) for the bulk of the meals, knowing that the ingredients were bought at rock bottom prices. I also choose to eat seasonally, domestically.
Deidre says
I love the emergency meal idea too
K D says
1. You can save a lot by being willing to cut up fruit. You can end up with many pounds of fruit if you buy pineapples, cantaloupes, and watermelons.
2. Don’t be so fussy about what you eat. Learn to cook and substitute. Kristen does that with her vegetables.
3. Learn to like soup. It’s a great way to use vegetables and grains that you have and stretch meat.
Kris says
Everyone has great suggestions! We almost always eat at home but I don’t have a super heavy duty weekly meal plan. Instead, I keep on hand items which I can make a meal out of whatever protein source I use …. rice, potatoes, pasta, buns for starches (you can do brown rice/whole grain pasta) …. I keep frozen fruit/veggies on hand in our extra freezer … a variety of canned beans (tried cooking the dried beans once–sorry, too putzy of a process for me–I get why people do it but that’s a convenience item that I love) and I can throw together a healthy meal in a half an hour or less. Of course I add in fresh veggies/fruits but having frozen ones on hand makes a no-brainer fast option for those days when I need that!
My other suggestion? Try to get all your shopping for the week done in one day. Every time you go into a store, chances are you will pick up a convenience item, so it stands to reason that you save money if you shop less frequently.
WilliamB says
For me, shopping twice a week for produce leads to a lot less food waste. My choice for foods such as bananas and strawberries is to buy too much (1-1.5 weeks’ worth) and risk some going bad, or buying too little and running out. My preferred store is 1.5 mi from work, so going 2x/week works for me.
In comparison, I buy storables (such as meat, toilet paper, and canned soup) mostly when on sale. I can go months between purchases of these things.
Kristen says
So true about the strawberries especially.
Bananas are unpredictable too! I try to buy one very green bunch and one slightly less green bunch so that the ripening comes in waves, but sometimes that doesn’t work out like I want it to.
Karen B. says
Having the wrong person do the shopping! My husband is a walking budget breaker once he’s in the store. He is also newly retired so venturing in the grocery store is like a visit to Disneyland! We live within walking distance from a Wegmans! Oh my word! It’s nice he wants to take over this chore since it’s getting difficult for me and I think the talk we just had will help. Keep to the list hon!
Emily says
Oh goodness yes. My husband wants every package of cookies and every bag of chips he lays his eyes on. $20 block of fancy cheese? We can’t live without THAT!
Jenny says
We would be “in the poorhouse” if my husband shopped! Good thing we identified this pattern early.
ADRIENNE LORENZEN says
Hi Karen B.
Wegman’s is budget anathema. The aromas emminating from the bakery should be analyzed for control substances. Pavlovian is the only way that I can describe my reactions there. By the time a man is retired, many of his more juvenile obsessions are safely closeted away…however the interstate to his heart is still gastronomic. I too, am a man and addicted to the lure of comestible Disneyland…even if it means a lecture when I get home. Land Sharks unite!
Jenny says
Hilarious!
april says
Take a good hard honest look at how much you actually eat….trim amount and shop accordingly
When you do have left overs remember that leftovers for lunch are better than vending machines….
And this won’t be for everyone but I’ve cut back on our meat consumption….it’s more likely to be added to something instead of the star of the show…and when it is, think portion size
What helped me was reading up on portion control (just as a guide…some people need more, some less) veggies, fruit and meat get a lot less expensive per meal due to this…
Also…not being soda or juice (except when sick) drinkers helps…instead I make iced tea with very little sugar
Convenient items are great but I set time aside to prep and cook our food…not always easy but id rather do that and sock money saved away for something more near and dear…like a weekend at the coast!
Hugs to all…great post!
CTMOM says
For 30 years, as a teacher, I toted leftovers or home made soup to my work lunches. Colleagues were jealous! I’ve never been much of a sandwich person, so this worked really well for me.
Emily says
I agree with those above who said meal plan. It saves us a bundle.
Personally, we drink milk or orange juice for breakfast and then water all the rest of the time.
Also we don’t snack! I have 5 kids and if they’re hungry between meals they are always welcome to have an apple or carrot sticks. None of this eating a granola bar at 4 pm and then refusing to eat your dinner at 5:30 business. Saves so much money that is spent on packaged food like chips, crackers, etc. People always comment on what good eaters my kids are and I attribute a lot of it to the fact that they are hungry at meal times.
Jody says
This! 100 %! No snacking between meals other than fruit or veggies. Not only has this helped the budget, it has done wonders in helping with weight loss.
This is a great post-great ideas by all!
Renee Yeates says
Things I’ve noticed, in addition to making a list and sticking to it, as well as planning meals around what you already have on hand in the pantry/fridge:
1. Buying directly from the source. Even if you have to pay more sometimes, you are helping a farmer/neighbor who will invest the profits into the expansion of his/her farm/garden. I have found that the meat and eggs sold by the people around me, are cheaper than the stores (and I’d be willing to pay more).
2. I have found that buying and eating whole grain foods keeps me more full during the day. I love white rice, but have switched to brown.
3. Set aside a day (or two) to cook, then aim for cooking and refrigerating/freezing enough to last the whole week.
4. Substitute cheaper products on hand that you use on a routine basis (or want to use up), for buying a more expensive product for which otherwise you would have no use (ex. apple cider vinegar for white wine). If you can, make the same meal many times to use up the products.
This also helps in learning recipes quickly, and remembering what you need for that recipe when you go to the grocery store. You’ll get out sooner & spend less.
5. Dried beans and a slow cooker. With meat. Thumbs up.
Madeline Kasian says
I would add:
1. Eat some meatless meals every week if you can. Find some good recipes for lentils or brown rice stir fry and add it to your rotation. Even a stuffed baked potato and a veggie and a salad= a nutritious cheap meatless meal!
2. MEAL PLAN..most of the frugalistas here already mentioned, but it is IMPERATIVE! No plan= wasted food and wasted time.
3. Have your own recipe file of repeatable simple meals. Things that are easy and reliable.
4. Try a soup and bread meal one night a week.We love lentil stew, vegetable soup, bean soups , or a tortellini soup, made in crock pot with a loaf of homemade bread once a week.Plenty for lunches on other days.
5. Avoid fancy appliances! I’be been cooking 45 years without an instant pot, a pressure cooker or other fancy items.My crock pot does so much and the rest I use my stove and my oven and my barbecue grill.
6. If you don’t feel confident in cooking skills: LEARN THEM! Find someone to teach you or watch youtubes. Am amazed at how many of younger generation can’t cook. A home-roasted chicken is a beautiful thing!
EcoCatLady says
Hmmm… I love all of these suggestions. I would add:
You’re shopping from your list, and not by what’s on sale. I know people who are really into meal planning will disagree with me on this one, but other than a few “must have” items, when I go to the store I generally go with only a vague idea of what I need – like my list will say “vegetables” rather than “broccoli” – then I plan my meals around what’s on sale, in the discount bin, or in season. I suppose this approach requires a bit of “fly by the seat of your pants” meal planning – but if that’s too much to handle, you can get a good chunk of the way there by checking the weekly circulars before you make your meal plan, or at least knowing what’s in season so you don’t plan to use asparagus in the dead of winter or something like that.
The other thing I’d add is to be diligent about using what’s in your fridge. Give yourself at least a few days a week where dinner is planned around what needs to be used up rather than what sounds good.
Lacy says
Yay, there’s at least one other person that believes flexibility is far better than rigid meal planning! I find being flexible is far superior to making out a list for ingredients for meals for a week, month, whatever. Being able to put a meal together with available ingredients and not from a recipe is a great skill that too few people have.
I’ll add my own tip by saying leftovers aren’t evil. One doesn’t have to have a new entree every night for dinner. Making larger dishes and eating it over 2 or 3 nights can save a lot of money and time.
Kristen says
Yes, you have to know yourself, and do what works for you. When I don’t have a meal plan, I’m a disaster. But not meal planning works really well for some people, like yourself.
EcoCatLady says
Such a good point. I’m starting to think there are 2 kinds of cooks out there – folks who love recipes and folks who would rather “wing it.” I’m definitely in the latter category!
EcoCatLady says
Hahaha! I remember the first time I heard of someone who didn’t like leftovers. I was dumbfounded. I always consider them a wonderful gift… food, already made, and I didn’t have to do anything other than heat it up!
Lacy says
Amen to that! I actually know people who are disappointed when the leftovers are gone and they aren’t the ones preparing the food! However some people seem to find the idea of leftovers for dinner repulsive, as hard as that is for us on the other side of the aisle to understand.
Deidre says
Some things like curries and casseroles are actually better the next day but I have always loved leftovers.
Deidre says
…and soups too
CTMOM says
one day a week is leftover night, if we have enough. Weekly pots of soup are often containing leftovers.My at home (I no longer work outside the home) lunch is 99% of the time, leftovers-see a trend?
EcoCatLady says
Have you tried “leftover salad?” I know it sounds a bit crazy, and it certainly won’t work with everything, but I’ve had remarkable success with it. You just heat up the leftovers and serve them atop a bed of your favorite greens – with a bit of olive oil and vinegar. I’ve had lasagna salad, stir fry salad, and pretty much any casserole works. Sorta crazy, but it works for me!
Heidi Louise says
I occasionally make leftover soup from the large portions at the local Mexican restaurant. Cut up the chicken flauta, dump in the mess of rice, beans, sauce, chips, lettuce– whatever was in the take-home box, heat up with chicken broth and maybe extra cheese or vegetables from the refrigerator. As you say, making up recipes can be great fun!
Kris says
Haha, like Ecocatlady, I also tend to generalize “fruit” or “veggies” and make my decision once I go to the store. I try to check circulars beforehand but sometimes I’m too busy. And for me, rigid meal planning would backfire–I would feel stifled–I think I get a kick out of the “hmm, what’s in the pantry and how can I make this for dinner?” mindset. I usually have 2 or 3 meals planned and then wing the rest.
EcoCatLady says
Recipes… love ’em or hate ’em! Maybe it’s my rebellious tendencies, or perhaps it’s just that with all of the dietary restrictions I’m working with it’s almost impossible to find a recipe that I don’t have to alter. Whatever the reason, I find cooking from a recipe to be drudgery, but making it up as I go along is great fun.
Katie says
We can only buy fresh fruits and vegetables at our nearby market held 2 days a week, and I always have to keep an open mind about what I need for recipes. Some days, none of the marketing ladies have broccoli, so I’ll buy green beans instead. Or there might not be cabbage, but there’s plenty of people selling bok choy. Lately, you have to get there early if you want a pineapple because there won’t be many for sale, but it’s guava season, so there’s a lot of those! I just wish we had sales on food!
EcoCatLady says
Oh… and the obvious one. Plant a garden! Seriously, even a poorly tended messy garden will give back way more than it takes!
nicoleandmaggie says
Of all of those suggestions, the one we’ve found that has the biggest benefit is the not wasting food one. You can shop only at Whole Foods and only buy name brand products and lots of meat and pre-prepared frozen goods (maybe not their pre-prepared fresh meals though– those are more like restaurant expensive) and still have a reasonable grocery bill so long as you eat everything that you purchase. If you’re truly broke there’s a lot of stuff you can do to get the budget to the bone (buying clearance produce, keeping to legumes and carbs, etc.) but that won’t save as many dollars as just not throwing stuff out will.
Isabelle says
* I don’t know if you guys have that in the US, but here we can price match. So I can bring a proof of price from another store and my grocery store will match it. I save at least 5$ each week doing this.
* Always check for prices mistakes on the bill and get a refund if you find one, yay free food!
* Use (wisely!) a credit card that give you a reward. We use PC points MasterCard, paid in full each month, an it gives us about 500$ of free grocery at no cost every year.
* Use coupons (only for things you need anyways).
* Look at the marked down section (a freezer is your best friend here) – better to go first thing in the morning, or 30 minutes after the store opens, then you get the best stuff.
annette says
I was going to say the same, as a fellow Canadian! Superstore and No Frills have the best prices here, and when I price match between the two it is a win!
Janknitz says
1. Make up a week’s menu and make your list from that. Stick to your list.
2. Buy ingredients and cook from scratch–it’s almost always cheaper.
3. Look in the store for an area where items are about to reach their “sell by” date like meat and produce. They are usually heavily discounted.
4. Buy in bulk when you can–no need to pay for packaging.
5. Stock up when things are in season or on sale and freeze or dehydrate (or can if you are into that).
6. Invest in a few large silicone ice cube trays (they hold 1/3 to 1/2 cup). Freeze leftovers in those, then store the cubes in marked bags. It’s easy to pull out 1/3 or 1/2 c of pumpkin puree for a recipe, or a cube of homemade broth. Nothing goes to waste.
7. We buy roasted whole chickens from the store. Often this is cheaper than a whole raw chicken and doesn’t mess up the oven to roast it or heat up the house. We can get 3 meals from one–we eat our favorite parts (dark meat!) for one meal, pull the white meat off for other meals (chicken salad, stir fry, homemade pot pie, chicken in tomato sauce with veggies for pasta, etc.), and make broth from the carcass (easy and quick in my electric pressure cooker).
Lindsey says
I know people swear by going store to store, depending on prices. Perhaps because there are fewer competitors in interior Alaska, there are not that many price differentials so going place to place is worth it only for a huge loss leader (like butter for $1.99 a pound would induce me to shop in the other major store that week.). What I have found that helps is getting to know the butcher and produce managers. More times than I can count I have been alerted to wait until next week to buy such and such because there is going to be a big sale, or I have been asked if I wanted to try a new product for free, or had something marked down when the sell-by date was tomorrow.
An example: yesterday I was checking over the cabbage, when the manager and I were chatting as he piled carrots up in the space next to me. I told him I was going to make cole slaw and he said that he had bagged cole slaw that had gone out of date that day if I wanted them—I never buy bagged cabbage because of the price but yesterday I came home with nine bags of free cole slaw mix. It was in perfect condition, just could not be sold. I used two bags for the slaw for a potluck. The rest I put into hot chicken stock and then froze the now cooked cabbage and stock in smaller containers. Next time I make soup, I’ll have the soup started—add some other vegetables and a leftover protein and dinner is on in 20 minutes. I have found these employees want to help if I need a smaller package of meat or a cheaper alternative. Sometimes they tip me off to the fact that there is an unannounced manager’s sale on something like eggs because they are over-stocked.
Karen. says
Most people have covered everything, so my only addition is the fridge-door list. If I’m close to out of something, I list it, and that list goes with me to the store, period (along with any other list, such as one I make from a circular). I won’t buy all or even most of the stuff on the fridge-door list, but if I run across a listed item for a price I like, I’ll buy it.
As far as stuff not on lists, I’m lucky to be able to control impulse shopping; it is really restricted to stuff in close-dated bins.
I’m far, far from a meal planner, and have fairly well come to terms with that particular failing, lol, so being out of something just means I make something different.
Kristen says
I definitely don’t think that’s a failing! If you are making a no-planning life work for you, then why change it? Go with what fits your style.
Karen. says
Glad you approve! It’s like I have a blind spot where planning is concerned. We even have a family joke acronym: NPIA, for No Plans In Advance.
And yeah, it’s not just meals. Sometimes just meals, but mostly not. Thank goodness for lists or I’d never accomplish anything.
Kristyna says
Do many great tips!! I’m not sure if I have anything that different to add:
1. You pick expensive meals to make. Fresh fish and steak might be delicious, but buying frozen fillets and cutting a roast into steaks is less expensive.
Also those special ingredients that you only use once or twice may not be worth it.
I may get in trouble for this one:
2. You buy organic everything by default. Not to say that organic is bad or wrong, but it’s not always necessary. Know which veggies and fruit are more likely to be sprayed heavily and buy the organic alternatives for those items only.
3. You buy too many snacks. Most snacks are processed and full of salt or sugar (yes, even those organic granola bars).
Try making your own muffins or simply putting some nut butter on celery, or apple slices.
Snacks can be healthy AND convenient. *hands you an apple*
4. You don’t check the cost per unit. Packages come in different shapes and weights and although one may be a cheaper price, buying the different brand or size will save you money in the long run.
Karen. says
As the wife of a conventional farmer and the relative of an organic farmer, I was going to talk about organic, too, but I chickened out. The key thing is to get your people fed nutritiously. If you want to support your friendly neighborhood organic grower, that’s good; they have to eat, too, and can’t consume only what they themselves produce. But if you can’t afford organic, don’t feel bad that you’re buying conventional, because conventional farmers have families to feed too. And we eat what we grow so I’m pretty sure it’s safe.
Alica says
Going to the grocery store hungry is a money waster for me…every time! But that aside, I’m still trying to figure out how to waste less. With both of our kids in college most of the year, cooking for two is just hard. We don’t mind leftovers, but we eventually get tired of them and end up wasting some.
EcoCatLady says
Have you tried freezing the leftovers in meal-sized containers? It doesn’t work for everything, but it really helps me – especially if I’ve got more than will get eaten in a few days. Plus, it’s super convenient to be able to just grab something and heat it up when you’re having one of “those” days!
WilliamB says
Everything that EcoCatLady wrote and an addition: remember to label your containers. Sharpie and blue tape will do it.
EcoCatLady says
Ha! Good point! Freezer mysteries won’t help anything or anyone!
Deidre says
I use masking tape & biro; comes off easy with no residue; we keep a roll in a dispenser on the kitchen bench
Liza says
I love to buy pantry staples when they are on sale, even if they aren’t part of my food plan for the next few weeks. Things like pasta, broth, canned tomatoes, baking supplies, even meat (which I would obviously freeze) I will buy when they are running a special and I have a coupon.
Also, enroll in whatever rewards program they offer. I shop at Food Lion in NC and you get $3-5 off your order when you hit certain goals each month. For example, if you spend $40 in meats you get $3 off, $20 on produce gets you $2, etc. and there’s no limit. They also accept store & manufacturer coupons, as well as coupons you can only access when you sign in to their website. Our weekly grocery bill is almost $20 less than it was back home in CT.
Emily says
I would add “You’re buying fresh herbs instead of growing them.†Last summer I kept basil, cilantro, thyme, and oregano in my kitchen sill. Over the winter I left the oregano, lavender, thyme, and chives in my garden and they thrived! Now I have only to buy a potted basil and cilantro for the summer and I’m back to cheap herbs.
Heidi Louise says
This is on track to be one of your most-replied-to-ever posts, isn’t it?
I suggest learning to do math in your head– I tell myself this is how I keep mentally sharp– or know how to use the calculator on your phone. For instance, I will stand and study Cheerios on sale to figure out the best price per ounce with coupon good on any size. Even though I’ve read studies that say that the longer you stay in the grocery store, the more you buy, I allow myself time to shop and figure out the specific costs.
Several people commented on knowing and trusting how they shop, with or without a list or coupons. I clip coupons as a hobby, not saving much money after paying for the Sunday papers, but because it forces me to make lists and keep track of sale cycles. I congratulate myself on making a good bargain, and if I miss one, I don’t fret and look for another one next time.
Rebecca says
We have a grand total of …. drum roll …. one grocery store. We live up on a hill about an hour away from a big city (there is a co-op but that’s not where I go to save money) … so we enrolled in the rewards program, which also earns discounts on gas, and I exclusively shop store brands and sales. For household items Amazon is where it’s at:)
Kristen says
Well, I guess that makes store choice simple for you! I live in an area with a plethora of grocery stores. Like, I sometimes cannot even believe that the population here can support this many. And tons of them are within 10 minutes of my house. Mostly I shop at Aldi, though!
Rae says
The number one thing my husband and I have done to save on groceries is meal planning. At the beginning of each week we decide what we’re going to have for each meal (with some days for leftovers mixed in), and then ONLY buy what we need to make those meals, plus staple items like milk and bread. We’ve saved a ton of money this way, and also produce less food waste!
Kate says
My biggest savings come from meal planning at least two weeks in advance.
I shop weekly, at a time I know I’m most likely to find good markdowns. If there are no markdowns, it’s not a big problem, thanks to my huge freezer.
The other half of my shop is to get whatever is needed for last week’s markdowns/this week’s meals.
Then, of course, watch the sales along with any loyalty card deals. I’ve found with the one I use most at the moment, deals tend to last about two weeks, and while the products aren’t on sale for the first week of the offer, they are almost always on sale the second week. Of course, it’s never a good deal if it’s a product I won’t use, but I will always consider deals on products I will use.
Lisa says
Not sure if this was already mentioned, but try making Garbage Soup. Sometimes you may have leftover meat, chicken and vegetables, etc ( not enough for another meal) but you don’t want to throw them away. Store them in a container in your freezer. Add to the container whenever you can. In a few weeks, when the container is full, make soup out of it. It always tastes different but it is always good. Kids used to love it.
Also, I only buy steak when it’s on sale. I’ll buy several of them and freeze them. Since it is only me and my husband at home now, 1 steak between the two of us is enough!!! We don’t need a whole steak to ourselves. I subsidize the meal with lots of vegies.
Nora says
Late to the party, but two things I would add:
1. I allot some of my budget each week for buying in bulk. For example it makes no sense to pay $1.19 for a single can of corn if I can get 12 for $0.39 each. I will eventually use them, well before they go bad. They’re never going to go on sale that low either.
2. We have many grocery stores. Some of them double coupons up to $0.99. So, it often makes more sense to buy Cheerios on sale at one of the pricier stores that double coupons than the store brand at a generally cheaper store.
Deidre says
I always spend a lot less when I meal plan but I also eat better too because I can plan to use all of the fresh fruit/veg/herbs & get variety in to my diet.
I mainly cook just for me so my tips will not suit everyone but they are:
– I realised I was buying more food than I could eat & eating more than I needed so I cut my portions
– I make an egg based meal about once a week; super nutritious & cheap
– I do not buy in bulk as I would never get through it & once lost a lot with a power outage
– I buy spinach/salad leaves loose; they are about 30% cheaper than the bagged kind
– I only buy a lettuce if I know I can eat it all
– I grew up having soft drink only at parties & never buy it, I drink water & tea
– I freeze grated cheeses which can be spooned out from frozen
– I cook meals/meal bases & freeze in portions
– I freeze curry paste, lemon juice in covered icecube trays
– I shop twice weekly or stuff goes bad but I plan the trip with other errands
– I will cook a roast & use up the leftovers in the next 2 o 3 meals & freeze the rest sliced up in sandwiches & when I defrost them I add tomato/salad/ etc
I buy only good quality on-site bakery made wholemeal multigrain bread & freeze it sliced or in rolls & get a stamp every $5 and 5 stamps gets me a free loaf or 6 rolls, good bread is much better for my health & keeps me going longer so I eat less.
– I’m learning cheap meals from around the world that are highly nutritious
– I eat a number of vegetarian meals a week
– I only buy the exact number of serves of fruit I need during the week ie I try for 2 serves per day
– I regularly cook with cheap cuts or mince
Vy says
I make “Fried Rice” a lot, which is basically every type of veggie we have that’s just about to go bad, chopped up and fried in a big pan in a bit of your favorite oil. Sometimes I’ll add leftover meat. As it’s cooking stir in a bunch of cooked rice, sizzle it all up with spices (curry, yum! but almost anything works, experiment!). I make a hole in the middle and crack in 4+ eggs, scramble them up and then stir everything together, serve with soy sauce. You’ve just saved all your veggies from the compost and fed a ton for cheap (and this freezes well).
Shop local farmer’s markets, the freshest, sweetest, best stuff is what’s cheapest.
Grow what you can! It’s easier than you think, stuff wants to live. Keep trying, you’ll get the hang of it. Get a basil plant from in front of your local grocery or hardware store, put it in the sun and keep it moist, you’ll have fresh basil all summer long, yummm.
Susan says
An elderly neighbor and i go to yoga twice a week geared to sr citizens. She likes to eat frozen yogurt so she picks up tons of it when it goes on sale at publix and keeps it in a small freezer. I went along shopping and got the 2 for 1 deals on pasta and sauce