10 Tips For Saving Money At The Grocery Store

Grocery shopping can be expensive, especially if you have a lot of mouths to feed. Here are ten tips you can follow to save money at the grocery store.

Americans spend an average of  $7,332 a year, or roughly $611  a month, on groceries, according to the latest spending data available from KPMG. This is already a significant increase from a mere $400 per month in 2020. With an already added $200 to each month, we are already feeling the pull and I’m sure you’re feeling the pull to tighten those grocery budget strings, without feeling like you also need to shrink your pate.

Since the onset of the pandemic in February 2020, the cost of food staples, like meat and eggs, rose the fastest in over a decade. I know you are feeling that increase!

Of course, the amount you spend on groceries depends on where you shop, what you buy and the number of people in your household. But regardless of how much you spend, there are simple actions you can take to save money — whether it’s using the right form of payment or clipping coupons. The savings can add up each trip and help offset the increased cost of groceries.

Here are 10 tips you can follow to save money on your next grocery run.

How to save money on groceries

1. Sign up for the loyalty program
2. Clip coupons
3. Join a wholesale club
4. Go with a list, stick to it
5. Buy items on sale
6. Avoid pre-packaged items
7. Compare prices between stores
8. Buy Generic
9. Bring your own bags
10. Use a rebate app
11. Pay with a grocery rewards card

1. Sign up for the loyalty program

Most grocery stores offer loyalty programs that are free to join. By signing up, you can benefit from member-only discounts that automatically deduct at checkout — without the need to clip coupons. Many of these programs give points you can use to put towards future purchases like cash. This is especially helpful when you tend to shop at the same store or only have that specific store in your area.

2. Clip coupons

After you’ve signed up for your favorite grocery store’s loyalty program, maximize your savings by clipping coupons for additional discounts. Look out for the weekly flyer in the mail and sift through the pages for deals that matter to you. Cut out any coupons and save them for your next grocery run.

There are also now digital flyers that are just as easy to use. Download your favorite grocery store’s mobile app, browse available discounts and click to load coupons onto your digital loyalty card. Then when you checkout in-store, the discounts will automatically be applied.

3. Join a wholesale club

Wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club can help you rack up savings for buying in bulk. If you have a large family, joining a wholesale club can be a good idea. But remember that buying in bulk isn’t for everyone since you’ll have to spend more money upfront, even though you’re saving overall. This may not be an option depending on your cash flow.

Also note that clubs come with membership fees. Currently, the cost for Costco membership starts at $60 for Gold Star and doubles to $120 for Gold Star Executive.

Currently the cost for a Sam’s Club Membership starts at $45 for Club membership and $100 for Plus membership

The cost for a membership can be worthwhile if you frequently stock up on items or prefer to buy in bulk.

4. Go in with a list and stick to it

If you go to the supermarket without a list, it can be easy to grab things that aren’t needed. What’s more, if you bring your kids or shop on an empty stomach, sticking to that list can be a challenge. The next time you go to the grocery store, plan ahead. Make sure you have a list and stick to it so you don’t wind up raising your bill. You may also want to consider eating first or leaving the kids at home to avoid spur-of-the-moment items.

To add even another level of stick-to-the-list strength, plan out your meals for the week you’re shopping for. If you shop every week, write down and plan out an entire week of what each meal will be. This includes snacks and all three meals. Don’t forget drinks, if your family enjoys those too. Get every morsel to be ingested written down. Then look over your your current food and see what actually needs to be topped up.

5. Buy items on sale

Grocery stores are always running promotions that can help you save on everything from staples, like milk and eggs, to sweets, like ice cream and cookies. Consider buying items on sale whenever possible, especially if the cost is normally high. Sale items are often displayed in prominent locations throughout the store, such as at the entrance and ends of aisles. 

Keep in mind as well, food items can be seasonal too. For example, Christmas time, baking goods tend to go on sale and is always a good time to stock up or refill the pantry staples like butter and flour.

6. Avoid pre-packaged items

While buying pre-cut veggies or pre-shredded cheese can save you time while cooking, stores often charge more for the convenience. Opt for whole items, like fresh or frozen veggies and block cheese, to save money.

That said, sometimes these items can, in fact, be cheaper. Always keep an eye on that cost per measurement. Cheese, for example, will have a cost of say $0.23/gram but the shredded could be $0.20/gram. Make sure you’re keeping an eye on the cost of the item and it’s time saving it may or may not give you.

Same goes for foods that come already made, like cakes and cookies. While the first out put of purchasing flour, sugar, etc is more, the cost per gram is significantly less with homemade cookies, no matter which way you slice them.

***Looking for some homemade recipes – check out our Recipe Page***

7. Compare prices between stores

If you live near a selection of grocery stores, consider checking out a few and comparing prices. You can learn which store has the items you need for less and also look at the sales they run. If it’s not too much of a hassle, you may want to grocery shop at two stores to optimize savings.

This can be a huge help if you have a discount grocery store nearby, like Aldi, and a bulk store like Sam’s Club, to spread out the benefits. Shopping at both for specific items they have specialized pricing for, will really help that budget.

8. Buy generic brands

Grocery stores put the costly, name brand items at eye-level, which can tempt you to spend more money on high-cost items. But if you look at the top or bottom of the shelves, you’ll often find generic brands, like the store’s own brand, that are cheaper and often taste just as good.

Many stores have generic items that actually have really stepped up their game! Big Time! Costco’s Kirkland brand has really gained a name in the market for their better than brand name items.

Next time you go shopping, opt for a generic brand to save money… and maybe it becomes a new favorite!

9. Bring your own bag

If you bring reusable shopping bags to the store, you can often receive a discount on your order total. Stores like Whole Foods Market can give you a 10 cent discount per bag you bring.

Many stores are trying to turn green, by charging extra for using the stores’ plastic bags. Even just that 5 cents per bag, can really add up over the month, and year. Just don’t forget them in the car again (or bag at your car, like I do sometimes).

10. Use a rebate app

There are a handful of rebate apps, such as Fetch and Rakuten, that give you cash back for buying groceries. You can register for free with one of these services to save more on top of loyalty benefits and credit card rewards. Depending on the app, you may need to link a loyalty card or submit receipts to receive a rebate. More specifically, Fetch, you simply take a photo of your receipts from anything and everything to get points. Every receipt will give you points! These points can be cashed out into gift cards from Amazon to Airbnb and more.

*BONUS* 11. Pay with a grocery rewards card

While we don’t personally use this option as we pay for everything with cash, it is a viable option for many who like to maximize reward points. Using a rewards credit card for specific grocery stores (or bulk stores), can give you a pretty decent percentage in cash back. These percentages can range anywhere from 1% all the way to 6%! Some give rewards from many places you shop, verses just the grocery store (gas stations and restaurants too).

Rewards and cash back can definitely go back into that budget to expand just how much you buy or, for that special occasion you’ve been saving for.

Are you trying to save money on your grocery budget with these ever inflating prices? We love to hear your feedback and would love to share with the community what’s been working for you. Let us know below in the comments, what’s your best grocery store budget hack?