How to save on groceries in 6 different ways

While food prices are high, your grocery bill doesn’t have to be. Here are a few tips for saving money on groceries to keep in mind during your next trip to the store.

1. Plan and prepare

Crafting a weekly meal plan is a great first step to make for saving money on groceries. At the beginning of each week, consider planning a variety of meals with some of your favorite foods. With increasing prices at the store, the last thing you’ll want to do is spend money from your grocery budget on foods that’ll get abandoned and expire because they were never used.

Making a shopping list with your meal plan in mind. It can help you stay organized and focused on what you need at the store. With so many products and new things to buy, a list can help you resist temptation and stay in budget.

Checking your pantry and fridge to see what you have before heading to the store will help decrease the number of items you purchase. When it comes to foods with short shelf lives, re-buying things you already have leads to wasted food and wasted money.

2. Look out for discounts and deals

Taking advantage of grocery discounts like buy-one-get-one and other special deals could help you save on what you need. It’s very easy to approach the shelf and grab the first item that catches your eye, but paying attention to groceries deals and seeing which products are on sale will help you save.

Using grocery store coupons is a traditional yet effective way of decreasing your bill. Nowadays, many stores offer digital coupons that you can find online and scan at the register. Paper coupons are equally as convenient. Many local grocery stores still send them directly to you in the mail.

Signing up for loyalty programs and memberships can help you get exclusive promotions and grocery deals added directly to your bill. Most stores offer loyalty programs and memberships that are free and simple to join.

3. Shop strategically

Buying non-perishable items in bulk is another useful money saving strategy. Buying in bulk usually helps you get a lower price per item. To get the best bulk deals, consider signing up for a membership at your local wholesale store.

Purchasing store brand items over name brand items can be a simple way to save money too. Store brand products are generally cheaper than name brands, and often times they use the same ingredients.

Getting cashback on your groceries is a helpful way to save. If your credit card gets low cashback returns, consider switching to a card with a better rewards program. Similar to how coupons work, your grocery store may also promote cashback deals that’ll help you earn as you spend.

4. Avoid impulse purchases

Sticking to your shopping list is key to smart grocery shopping after doing all the work of meal planning, writing a grocery list and searching for deals.

Avoiding shopping while hungry is a practical strategy to help you stick to your list. Being hungry can cause cravings, tiredness and grumpiness. All of these symptoms can lead to impulse purchases. When it comes to your grocery savings, eating a snack at home before heading to the store could help your wallet.

Ignoring flashy packaging when shopping can help you avoid distraction and spontaneous purchases. Flashy packaging is a trick companies use to catch your eye and cause you to overspend on items you may not need.

5. Shop seasonally, locally or from your own home

Buying fruits and vegetables in season is a simple way to get reasonable deals on delicious produce.

Shopping at farmer’s markets is not only a great community-based activity, it also gets you fresh fruits and vegetables directly from local businesses. When you get the chance to buy from the source, you could walk away with a better deal.

Taking inventory of your fridge, freezer and pantry can remind you of ingredients you may have forgotten about and inspire new recipes to try. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up cooking a new family favorite.

6. Save on groceries by reducing food waste

Properly storing and preserving your food is one of the best ways to save money on groceries. Taking a moment to read the storage instruction on food containers—especially for easily perishable items—can help keep your food fresh for longer.

Saving your leftovers for lunch or dinner later in the week will help you get the most out of the groceries you buy and meals you cook.

Getting creative with leftovers to avoid waste can be an exciting way to combine flavors and invent new cuisine. If that’s not your thing, a lot of your food—including meat, fruit, breads, baked goods and soups—can be frozen for later.

There’s a lot of great ways to save money on groceries, but in the end, planning for your next shopping trip is key. Start by trying out a couple strategies that feel easiest and ease into it. Later on, add more grocery shopping tips to your routine and reap more of the benefits.

1. U.S. Government Accountability Office. (2023, March 28). Food Prices: Information on Trends, Factors, and Federal Roles. GAO. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-23-105846

2. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. (2024, October 25). Food Price Outlook: Summary Findings. USDA Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings