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12) Plan for and then USE leftovers
Making 2x something in one go is very often cheaper than making something TWICE. You can stretch a meal in a 2x version of itself by adding more of the CHEAPER ingredients and making the more expensive ingredients go a little farther.
Making chili? Double everything but the meat.
Chicken casserole? Everything but the chicken.
You’ll hardly notice the difference when you’re eating it, but your budget will thank you.
Also, I find leftovers only get used when I can SEE them. Ditching my colored Tupperware and getting clear glass storage containers like these has made a HUGE difference. They also don’t stain or hang onto smells… bonus.
13) Find a very budget-friendly meal your family enjoys and plan that EVERY week
For us, that’s soup or stew. (Another one that is SO EASY to double for less money.)
We’d get sick of having stew every other day, but it’s on the menu at least once per week – because it’s cheap (its also fast, so mostly I plan it for nights I know we’re busy).
Here’s a list of cheap meals your family will love!
14) Replace expensive (not to mention unhealthy) snacks with cheap ones
Eat air-popped popcorn instead of chips, apples instead of processed fruit cups or apple sauce, cheese you cut up yourself instead of processed cheese strings etc.
It’s not HARD to find replacements once you start looking.
15) Banish juices + soda from your diet
If you stick to water, you’ll not only be healthier but you’ll be leaving room in your grocery budget for things that matter more – and go farther.
We’re moving to town (away from our beautiful well water – sigh – ) and this water cooler is one of our first purchases for our new home. We’re a water drinking family, but I have no desire to drink chlorinated water! I was surprised at how great this little home water cooler is, and it will definitely make it easier for me to keep drinking water instead of anything else.
I’ve also found that a Soda Stream takes away my craving for carbonated drinks – and it costs a fraction to make your own carbonated drinks at home vs buying them.
16) DO NOT take your kids grocery shopping with you
You totally already understand why. Honestly, it might save money on groceries to baby sitter LOL.
17) DO NOT shop when you’re hungry
I always thought this was a little ridiculous until I actually did it. It works!
It works even BETTER when you are OVER FULL. Have a snack before you go shopping! I SWEAR, you will buy less – and be less likely to feel “deprived”.
(Also bad = shopping when stressed or angry or sad. For many people at least!)
18) Shop around for the best grocery prices
I’m from a small town… and there aren’t many options for shopping here. I 100% understand that shopping local is good for the town, but the rock and the hard place here is that if you can’t AFFORD to shop local, then that’s that.
So I drive to a bigger city to shop for groceries because it saves me a ton of money. Sure, I spend a little on gas, but I save so much on food at the grocery store that it actually more than makes up for what I spend to get there.
There are fare more stores available to me, and I can be a member at a bigger wholesaler (like Costco or Wholesale club.)
19) Use a rewards app like Fetch to save money on groceries
I don’t love using coupons – partly because I put them in my wallet and then forget about them – and feel frustrated when I throw them away 6 months later.
The Fetch Rewards app lets you earn points (which you can exchange for gift cards) at ANY store, so it’s currently my top choice.
Try Fetch Rewards here (and get 3000 points just for signing up)!
These tips to save money on groceries sound pretty basic…
Because they ARE.
But that makes them super easy to put to use. It doesn’t take complicated budgets or spreadsheets to reduce your monthly grocery spending. You can add hundreds – or even thousands of dollars back into your budget with just a few little intentional tweaks to the way you shop!
What are your favorite tips for how to save on groceries?
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