I think we can all relate to going to the store for one thing and instead walking out with everything we didn’t need and a bag of Twizzlers–or maybe going into the store hungry and leaving with the whole store in your cart… Either way, we’ve all been there. Here’s some tips and tricks to avoid that and save money while doing so!
- Prepare a Shopping List & Set a Budget
This one is something that I swear by nowadays. Ever since I started making a list and a budget before going to the store, I’ve gotten way better at being more conscious of what I’m putting into my basket. It has also saved me a lot of time to know exactly what I’m planning to get beforehand. To do this, I usually just give myself a set amount of money I can spend and use my phone as a calculator to add it all up! Plus, I can’t be the only one who finds it extra satisfying to be able to cross something off a list!
- Go Generic
Now, I’m not saying you have to throw away your loyalty to that one name brand of butter that you love, but it never hurts to try something new by going for the cheaper store brand options every once in a while. You might be surprised by how similar they are! While the outside branding may look different, the inside product is often times the same thing! A great example of this is Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter–both are manufactured by ConAgra Foods. So while they may look different on the outside, their inner contents are almost identical! So next time you’re choosing between products, make sure to compare more than just the outside label–you may be spending more on the same product.
- Try Store Hopping
This one is great if you’re not on a time crunch. Most stores will have lower prices in some things and higher in others. A good example of this is Winco compared to Walmart. Winco’s bulk and produce sections are often times cheaper than Walmart; but Walmart’s granola bars and snack items are usually cheaper than Winco’s. Getting to know what is cheapest at each store is a great way to save money! Another thing you can do is look online for the deals going on at the different stores, and plan which stores to hit based on that.
- Plan Meals Based on What’s Already in Your Pantry
One of the problems I have is that I always forget to look in my pantry before I head to the store. Then I’m kicking myself when I do get there and realize I don’t know what I have and what I don’t. By looking up recipes that coincide with things you already have, you can save by buying less ingredients for what you’re making. It also helps to eliminate extra spending by not buying something you already have at home. So when you look in your pantry and find those five cans of green beans, get ready to spend smart and plan for some green bean casserole this week!
- Cash in those receipts!
This one isn’t necessarily saving money on groceries, but you can get some cash back on food you were going to buy anyway! With the Ibotta app, all you have to do is upload your receipts onto the app, and it will give you some cash back on the items that apply. This won’t give you tons of money right off, but it’s a good thing to keep up on because those dollars add up, and you can get paid directly through PayPal once you hit $20! And some more good news: you can use the referral code, “uvsvhux” to get an $10 sign up bonus!
I hope these tips were helpful! If you have any other good ideas for saving money on groceries, let me know in the comments! I would love to hear them.
Mind & Body 