In this blog, we shall tell you the top ways through which you can save money on groceries - from smart apps to strategic meal planning.
The pressures of increasing food inflation and rocketing prices in 2024 make it more crucial than ever to squeeze out every penny from buying groceries. Families challenge the balancing act of necessities in grocery shopping while making an extreme effort to save.
Here, with a few smart plays in your grocery shopping, you can bring down your grocery bill substantially without having to compromise on quality.
Shop Smarter with These Grocery Saving Strategies
The most elementary step to saving on groceries is to shop smarter. The one below will help you squeeze the most out of your grocery trips.
Make the Most Out of Your Groceries: Utilize Coupons and Cashback Apps
Though clipping coupons sounds a bit old-fashioned nowadays, modern digital coupon applications can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Apps such as Ibotta, Rakuten, or Fetch Rewards help you shop cash back or get a discount on some purchases.
Check which deals and promotions are available beforehand when heading to the store. If you do most of your shopping online, you can also use browser extensions, like Honey, to automatically apply the coupons once you reach the checkout point.
Compare Prices Across Stores and Save Money
Using apps like Flipp, you can compare weekly ads of various grocery stores. That way, you'll likely avoid overpaying since you will know where to find better offers. Most grocery stores, including Walmart and Aldi, have a price match, which can work to your advantage.
Shop Store Brands and Buy in Bulk
Store brands frequently offer the same quality as name-brand items, yet at a fraction of the cost. Costco and Sam's Club are famous for selling bulk items at lower prices per unit. When you buy non-perishable items in bulk, you will save a lot in the long run.
Plan Your Meals and Stick to a Grocery List
Healthy planning will make you stay on your budget and avoid unnecessary purchases.
Plan Your Meals Around Things on Sale
Buy a copy of the weekly sales circulars before you go to the store. Plan your meals around what's on sale, particularly protein items like meat and fish. Those things can add up very quickly with grocery bills.
Stick to Your Grocery List
Impulse buying is one of the main budget-busters. The best way to avoid this is making a grocery list and sticking to it. Use apps such as AnyList or Out of Milk for grocery list organization and avoid last-minute, unplanned purchases.
Adopt Smart Storage and Cooking Habits
Proper storage and cooking habits can help avoid wastage of food and save money.
Store Food Properly to Minimize Waste
Veggies such as carrots and celery, as well as most greens, should be stored in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator, but potatoes and onions prefer a cool, dark location. Freeze as much as you can't consume within a few days. Freeze bread, meats, milk, and much more once you've cooked it and it's gone bad.
Batch Cook Meals and Freeze
Batch cooking is a superb way to stretch the grocery budget. Cook large portions of meals and freeze the leftovers in individual portions. This would save you time and money on busy weeknights. Recipes such as soups, stews, and casseroles are perfect for batch cooking.
Clearance and Discount Sections
Many grocery stores sell food when its time approaches or is nearing expiration. Such deals are very good for saving a lot of cash.
Check the Deli and Bakery Clearance Sections
Many of the deli meat, cheese and bakery products at supermarkets are nearing their sell-by date, so most of them go on sale then. You can buy these items and consume them before they expire or freeze them for later use. For example, you can freeze marked-down bread for later use.
Visit Discount Retailers and Grocery Outlets
General Strategies Most everyday staples are cheaper at Aldi, Dollar Tree, and Grocery Outlet. The dollar stores have the best buys on cheap pantry staples, such as rice, pasta, and canned vegetables. Avoid these stores for smaller package sizes-often not the best buy.
Read Also : Comprehensive Year-End Tax Planning Strategies for 2024
Save Big by Making Smart Decisions at the Grocery Store in 2024
Apply these cost-cutting methods and can entirely control your grocery budget in 2024. Implement digital tools such as cashback apps, planning meals using sales items, and buying in bulk to save money in the long term. Better storage habits and browsing of clearance sections will also reduce more waste and lower the grocery bill.
Remember, saving money on groceries is all about planning ahead and being strategic. Start incorporating these tips into your life today, and you will be amazed at how the savings will just start rolling in!
