Groceries is now one of my family’s largest budget categories thanks to inflation. It’s more important than ever to be a savvy shopper and find a few ways to save. My husband leaves the shopping to me- which for our sake, works great. I married a very practical man who wouldn’t ever come back with anything “fun” from the grocery store!
Here are some savvy tips to stretch those grocery dollars a little further to score some goodies 😊:
- Shop around (if feasible depending on your location): I am fortunate enough to live within a 10-mile radius of 7 different grocery stores and 3 warehouse clubs, so for me, shopping around is easily attenable without negating my savings on gas. In today’s digital age, I “shop around” on my computer. I have a list of things I need and have several tabs open on my computer to see where the deals are at. I review sales ads, and just from experience of doing all the household shopping, I know which stores have the items I use on a regular basis and their prices. Plus, some of this comes down to just preference alone. I prefer Member’s Mark individually wrapped paper towels at Sam’s Club vs Sparkle or Scotts brand.
- Digital and paper coupons are your friend. I shop at a few stores that offer digital coupons, Publix and Kroger. Before my shopping trips, I download any coupons for things I would need to buy anyway. Paper coupons are harder for me to keep up with, but I do use the paper coupons Kroger sends in the mail each quarter! Bonus tip: some Publix locations accept Kroger coupons!
- Rebate apps: I scan my Ibotta app for any items that I need and match the offers for the stores that I shop at. The savings can add up fast, and you can redeem your points for gift cards or deposit in your bank account. I also upload receipts to Fetch Rewards and save my points to exchange for a gift card. Normally, with these rebate apps—I cash in for either a fancy coffee drink for myself or a special treat for my kids.
- Shop online for curbside pickup: With two kids in tow in a grocery store, staying sane and on budget is hard to do. My shopping trips are more successful when I shop online at night. Shopping in my home from my laptop allows me quiet time so I can actually think and it’s convenient for me to see what I already have in my fridge, freezer & pantry to avoid buying unnecessary duplicates. Personally, I only shop online at places that don’t charge a fee for this convenience. Kroger has a free pickup option for orders over $35, they charge same price for pickup as in store, and they even accept paper coupons at pickup. This is my favorite place for online grocery pickups—such a time and sanity saver without having to shop with the kids. Walmart also offers this service; they do not accept coupons though. However, it’s extremely helpful because they offer a wide variety of goods, pet care, vitamins, baby items, etc.
- Take inventory of food on hand: I have a list hanging on my fridge of the ingredients I have on hand and any recipes I could easily make. That solves my daily question at 4pm of what I’m cooking. I also have a list of items that aren’t healthy, but convenient for hectic or busy days—think: taquitos, frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, etc.
With a little focused effort and intentionality, hopefully these tips can make your grocery budget go a little further in today’s times.