10 Simple Ways to Save BIG Money on Groceries

I know you have seen tons of posts like this on Pinterest about how to save money on groceries. Most of the posts I have seen share the same information over and over. Yeah, they are great ideas but doesn’t anyone do something other than clip coupons?

Today I want to share 10 ways we save money on groceries. Now I’m not perfect so sometimes I do spend more than I should on groceries, thank you impulse buys! But for the most part, I use these hacks to save my family money.

10 Smart Grocery hacks to Save Money this year. By following these surprising tips you will be able to save money on groceries, reduce your waste and cut back your grocery budget.

This post shares only real ways we try to save money on groceries. But life happens so not every time I go shopping do all of these things happen. That’s ok I try to budget and save the best I can and I’m always trying to improve.

1. Have a Grocery list

I try to always have a grocery list, this doesn’t always happen because life gets crazy! And half the time I realize I left my list on the counter at home! When I do have a list and stick to the list I always spend less.

Pro Tip: Grocery Pickup

I just started doing grocery pickup at Walmart and it’s a game-changer. I don’t have to worry about a list since I can check my pantry and fridge while filling out the order. I also don’t make as many impulse buys because I don’t see all the tempting things I don’t need!

Use this Walmart Grocery $10 Referral Link to get a $10 discount code toward your first purchase of $50 or more from Walmart Grocery.

2. Shop Seasonally

I try to purchase the fruits and veggies that are in season. Partially because it is so much better for you and as a bonus, I can save so much money by purchasing what is readily available.

3. Buy Groceries You Will Eat

For a little while, I was trying really hard not to spend very much money on groceries so I would only buy something if it was on sale or cheap.
This plan totally backfired.

Yeah, we had food at home but it wasn’t anything we really wanted to eat so we would end up going out to eat. When I buy food that sounds good and we can use to make meals we like eating, even if it’s not always on sale we tend to eat more meals at home.

Related Post: How to Pick the Perfect Pineapple

4. Learn Your Stores

Figure out where you can get the best deals on specific types of foods.

For example, I can get awesome deals on fruits and vegetables at Aldi and the best price we have found on Frozen Chicken is at Costco. The items I don’t want in bulk and I can’t get at Aldi I order with my Walmart Grocery Order.

Learning where you can get the best deals on the foods you eat all the time can save you a lot of money.

5. Stock up

When something we use all the time goes on sale I try to stock up so I have at least one month’s worth of the item. If I can fit it in my budget I try to stock up for a couple of months of nonperishable items.

For my family, this is typically frozen or canned items including vegetables and beans. Also, pasta and pasta sauce are great to get when they are on sale and have in your pantry for a quick and easy meal.

6. Wash and Prep Fruits and Veggies

I have found that if I wash and prep fruits and veggies after I purchase them we eat them a lot more often.

For example, when I purchase grapes if I wash them and have them ready to eat. We are much more likely to eat them as a snack instead of going for an easy prepackaged snack.

Washing and preparing fruits and veggies can also help them last longer. Find the Best (Proven) Way to Wash and Store Fruit to Make it Last Longer at Homegrown Traditions.

7. Freeze!

Freezing leftovers before they go bad can save tons of money. When my fresh fruits and veggies start to get older I toss them in the freezer. Then I can pull them out later for smoothies, soups, baking, etc.

Bread is also a great item to buy in bulk or on sale and freeze.

8. Grocery Apps

Receipt Hog, Ibotta, and Checkout51 are the Grocery receipt apps I use the most.

I use Receipt Hog for all of my receipts because it’s so fast and easy and it works for all grocery items. It’s seriously my favorite cash back grocery app.

I use Ibotta once in a while, especially when they have rebates for items that are any brand. For Example $0.25 cashback on One Gallon Milk any brand. Ibotta will also sometimes have $0.25 cashback on any item! (Join Ibotta Free use my link and get a $10 bonus after you redeem your first rebate.)

Fetch is another app that works with any receipt and I use it all the time. If you buy Huggies diapers you definitely want to make sure to use this app because you get extra points for buying Huggies diapers. Join using my referral link to get a bonus when you sign up.

Related Post: The #1 Way I save Money on Baby Clothes

9. Make it at home

Making food at home saves our family so much money. Yes, making meals at home is obvious but also making dressings, cookies, bread, and other similar type things at home saves our family money each month.

10. Fast and easy meals

Fast and easy meals make such a big difference for our family. If we have fast and easy meals ready to go then when we have a crazy day it makes it easier to eat at home and resist the temptation to just stop and grab something.

We like to have pasta and pasta sauce on hand because that’s a fast and easy meal that is really inexpensive. We also try to keep a few meals in the freezer that can be heated quickly or thrown in the crock-pot earlier in the day.

Yes, I could spend time couponing but with 2 kids I have a really hard time being consistent. So instead I use these 10 tips and it’s an added bonus if I end up finding a coupon that works with what my family eats.