I think it comes as no surprise that the cost of groceries is increasing, as with everything else. No matter how you look at it, we need food to eat. However, if you are on a tight budget, you may be interested in ways to decrease costs at the register. If you are, then follow along.

Today I will share some ways to decrease your grocery bill. Some ways will work better than others. It really depends on your lifestyle, how much time you want to dedicate, and your willingness to try something you may not have tried before. Let’s get right to it.

Meal Planning

I personally think this is the easiest and most convenient way to cut back cost. This involves planning your meals for the week or month, depending on how adventurous you are. When planning your meals you include Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks.

How Do I meal Plan?

1. Shop my pantry- I look through the pantry and fridge to see what I already have on hand.
2. I consider what I can make with what I have on hand.
3. I plan my meals for the week, this is pretty easy because we mostly have theme days.
   • Leftover Monday
   • Taco Tuesday
   • Wing Wednesday or Thursday
   • Leftover Wednesday or Thursday
   • Pizza or fast food Friday
   • Fend for yourself Saturday
   • Nice meal Sunday
4. I make my grocery list based off the meal plan, to include ingredients we need.
5. I go grocery shopping and I do not deter from my list unless I get a call from home or there is something good in the clearance section.

Shop Store Brands

Did you know that sometime store brands are made by the same big brands we know? In my experience there are some store brands that are better than brand names. Let me mention though, this may come with some trial and error. Meaning, all products are not created equally. I will explain in a bit.

Shopping store brands also includes shopping at discount stores. My recent discovery and love is Aldi. Where has this store been my entire life?!? So far my only disappointment is with their coffee creamer. Remember I said trial and error. Well yeah, the coffee creamer is a no for me.

But I digress…

Compare the price and quality of some of your favorite products. You may find you can get a cheaper version with the same quality.

Buy Bulk

Depending on how many you are shopping for and your needs, buying in bulk may be a good option for you. Why… Because you can vacuum seal smaller portions, store, and use later. This decreases how often you go to the grocery store and ensures you have food on hand. I like to buy in bulk because I do not like going out too often, especially for things we use on a regular basis. Rice, beans, and meats for example.

Let me tell you though, buying in bulk can be a bit of an upfront cost. Also, if you do not use the item on a regular basis, buying it in bulk probably is not worth it. And of course if you buy in bulk, you will need somewhere to store all of the goodness. I would consider those things before buying in bulk.

I do not recommend buying perishable items in bulk…

I once bought five dozen eggs from Costco. Do you have any idea how many eggs we ate? How many goodies I baked? I will never do that again!

Shop Sales and Coupons

I want to focus on sales really. Shop what your local grocer has on sale for the week. If it is a good sale, buy plenty for later. Have a coupon for something you need, use it. Before I go grocery shopping I always look at the ads for a deal. I have even planned my meals around what is on sale.

Most grocers have apps now which make it easier to see what is available an on sale. If you shop at a store on a regular basis, sign up for their rewards program. Sometimes this results in an added discount, gas bucks, or special deals.

Finally, check out the clearance rack. I have found items I can use within a few days or some items I can even freeze. There is nothing wrong with checking out the clearance section of a grocery store. I have not been harmed by it yet.

Order Online

Want to make sure you only get what you need? Order online, simple as that. Choose curbside pickup so you do not have to go in, wait for the clerk to bring it out, and go on your merry way. I love curbside pickup. Not just for groceries, but everyday shopping.

What if they do not shop like me? Look at your purchase, tell them what you do not like, return it.

I know this is hit or miss for some, but I have not been disappointed yet.

I hope you found these tips useful and give some of them a try. If you have any suggestions or ideas that have worked for you, please let me know in the comments!