10 Ways to Slash Your Grocery Bill

With the price of food and everything else going up, I’m doing all I can to stretch every dollar.  My mom wrote a wonderful article about creative ways to live on a budget for our next MOPS newsletter, and I wrote my own list of ways to cut costs.  Many of us are in the same boat, so I thought I’d share it:

10 WAYS TO SLASH YOUR GROCERY BILL

1. Clear out your cupboards.  Start with trying to make meals out of what you already have lurking in your cupboards, even if it means dusting off your old cookbooks or looking for recipe ideas online.  Don’t let anything go to waste! That alone could save you a whole week’s worth of groceries. 

2. Do a little research.  Look at your favorite grocer’s weekly mailer, or check their website for specials, before you head to the store.  This way, you won’t be tempted to deviate from your list for an unexpected bargain, and blow your budget.  Knowing in advance, for instance, what meat you can get on special, can also help you plan your meals better.

3. Try outlets, discount retailers and dollar stores.  From shampoo and cleaning supplies to canned veggies and diapers, these can be the places for great bargains.  Brand name, high quality items can end up there for reasons as simple as a packaging change, odd size, or overstock. 

4. Make a menu plan for each week. You’d be surprised how much shorter your grocery list gets when you’re only shopping for what you specifically need to make this week’s menu, instead of piling your cart high with ingredients to have “on hand” for last minute meal decisions (many of which end up forgotten and spoiled). 

5. Don’t immediately restock on items (i.e. BBQ sauce) after you’ve used them.  Why pay to keep something on hand that you’re not going to use for weeks?  Instead, write down a list of your favorite meal ideas on a separate paper, and don’t shop for those ingredients until you’ve put that meal on your weekly menu.  

6. Establish a weekly grocery budget.  You’ll have to establish a monthly household budget first, but once you know exactly what you’re working with, it’s easier to plan ahead. 

7. Make one big trip per week.  With a menu plan, this shouldn’t be too difficult.  Not only will you save on gas, but you’ll save on all the unnecessary “extra” spending you tend to do with every trip to the grocery store: an average of $10 per visit. 

8. Divide your list into two parts:  “Must Haves/Needs” (bread, milk, eggs), and “Optional/Wants” (cookies, yogurt, juice).  Keeping a running tally of your total as you go, get everything on your first list first.  Then figure out how much you have left in your budget for your “Optional” items, and add those to your cart in order of priority.  The key to success is twofold: Stick to the list, and when you reach the end of your budget for the week, STOP!! 

9. Pay attention to the “Price Per Ounce” to make sure you’re getting the best bargain, and buy in the bulk aisle.  If you’re willing to trade in colorful packaging for a plastic bag and a zip tie, you can save several cents an ounce on everything from cereal to baking mix, from rice to pasta.  Every little bit adds up! 

10. Do it yourself.  Instead of paying extra for veggies or meats that are already cut and prepared for you, buy it in the original form and prepare it when you get home.  If you need quick and easy ingredients for meals during the week, do your shopping on the weekend and then skin, chop, and divide up all the ingredients you need for your menu plan before the week begins.