Day 9: Slash Your Grocery Bill

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This post is part of the 31 Days to Radically Reduce Your Expenses series. Visit this page for even more ways to slash costs and eliminate unnecessary spending! 

Next time you're struggling with a sky-high grocery bill, try one of these 6 methods to see immediate savings!

When I asked at the beginning of this series what your biggest financial pain point was, the majority of you hands down said it was groceries. That’s not surprising…at all.

With food prices constantly rising, more hungry mouths to feed, and less time than ever before to scout around for the best savings, we have to make grocery shopping on a budget work. And that can seem like an impossible feat sometimes!

While I wish we could dive a bit deeper into all the ways we can slash your grocery bill, the fact is, there’s just not enough room to tackle it in one comprehensive post. So let me know in the comments if this is something you would like to explore further in a possible future series, and I’ll file it away in my Idea List.

But for now, let’s discuss some creative ways to slash your grocery bill that will make the biggest difference in your budget right away!

How to Slash Your Grocery Bill:

1. Make Budget-Friendly Meals – Whenever you work on your weekly or monthly meal plan, focus on making meals that cost less than $1/serving. This stretches the food you do buy so you don’t have to run to the store as often, and you can make more meals, for less money. Don’t create meals that require oddball or expensive ingredients {like meat} either. It’s always best to stick to the basics when budgets are tight! If you want a ready made meal plan that matches up recipes with grocery store sales, I highly recommend giving eMeals a try. 

2. Use Coupons – I am not an extreme couponer, as sometimes I will go weeks without clipping a single one. However, when I do take the time to put together a strategic shopping list and match it up with store sales and coupons, I notice a pretty big difference in my grocery bill for weeks to come. Here is a list of my favorite sites to find the best printable coupons online!

3. Shop Your Pantry – Last year, when our grocery budget was super tight, and I mean SUPER, I tried to see what we already had in our pantry to create meals rather than head to the grocery store. I came up with 7 extra dinners by creating a food inventory and pairing ingredients I already had. Click here to download my worksheet so you can try this method yourself!

4. Shop Discount Food Stores – Discount grocery stores, such as Aldi or Save-A-Lot offer brands that are priced much less than products sold at regular grocers. Try switching over most of your shopping to one of these stores, and you’ll see a big difference in your budget! Not every brand is over-the-top amazing, so you’ll want to do some trial and error before you get a hang of what’s good and what’s not. Be sure to visit a discounted bread store too if you’re lucky to have one in your area. These stores sell bread products that expire in a day or so, and bread always freezes well.

5. Shop in Bulk – I keep going back and forth about buying a warehouse club membership from Sam’s, BJ’s, or Costco, because I know they can be worth it if you can take the time to check out each store’s prices before making a commitment. Just be sure to do some math regarding unit prices to determine whether or not each item is indeed cheaper, and consider going in with a friend to share the yearly cost.

6. Eat Leftovers – I’m not a huge fan of leftovers, but both Joseph and I have done much better in this department to eliminate food waste. If we have quite a bit left over from a meal, say extra biscuits or soup, I will often freeze the leftovers rather than just sticking them in the fridge until they mold. This helps us manageably eat what we can, plus we gain extra meals in the freezer for busy nights!

Today’s Challenge:

Give me a peek at how much you’re spending on groceries right now, and leave your number in the comments below, or tweet @KalynBrooke using the hashtag #ReduceYourExpenses. Then commit to lowering that amount by $25/month to start, using one or two of the methods above to make it work!

{Go to Day 10: Eat Out For Less}

If monthly payments are taking control of your budget, you don't want to miss this 31 Days Series to Radically Reduce Your Expenses.

 

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8 Comments

  1. I’m consistently teased by my wife for it, but I swear by Costco.
    I go in frequently, but sometimes only spend 20 or 30 dollars. I scout out deals
    and pick them up as needed. Great spot for Christmas gifts, and some great clothes at great prices.
    By the end of the year, we have spent enough to get our membership free.
    works for us.

    1. You have to do what works, right? 🙂 I would love to shop at Costco, but we just don’t live close enough for the membership to be worth it right now. Glad you found some great savings there!

  2. Overall, I agree with these, but I think it is really important with the “discount” stores to know when they are really a deal and when they aren’t. I recently compared our local Big Lots to the four grocery stores I usually visit. Big Lots was far MORE expensive for all food items than any of the regular chain grocery stores. However, Big Lot was far LESS expensive for certain other items, notably DVDs and Anchor Hocking glass food storage containers.

    Also, never ever go to the grocery store hungry! It almost always results in some impulse buys even if you have a list with every intention of sticking to that list.

    1. Very true. Big Lots can be hit or miss for groceries, but you’re right, they are great for household items!

  3. Good tips! I currently spend $180 a month on groceries, toiletries & household supplies for my husband, myself & my 6 month old. With rising food prices, and my baby starting to eat solids that I’ cooking, that frugal number may be increasing soon!

  4. #1 is key for me. I like to have fun when I cook, and being tied to few inexpensive ingredients is decidedly boring… but I could probably cut back on the “fun” ingredients I buy at least a little!

    1. I have noticed how bored I’ve been getting with the same old recipes. I’m definitely going to start trying to spice it up a little, while still trying to be frugal too! Hmmm…maybe that’s another post! 🙂

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