Everyone has been impacted by inflation and price hikes recently. And I think we are all still trying to keep our values as consumers for as long as we can and that means we need to try to stretch our dollars wherever we can. The grocery store is certainly a place we can do that if we are savvy.
Tips for saving money at the grocery store:
This first tip needs to be applied before you ever enter the store and it is by far the most important. Without it, none of the others make sense or add up to real savings.
#1 Plan what you will be eating for the period of time you will be shopping for.
If you are buying more than you need, no matter how inexpensive it is, it is still waste and money down the drain. What is worse than paying a little more for something you actually want and need? Paying any amount on something that ends up in the trash. So plan out what you will need before heading in to the store.
Bonus tip: Careful with indulgences. We all want to try new things but this can really add up. Limit the number of exceptions you allow yourself to make and buy what you need. Focus especially on whole, nutritious foods.
#2 Buy what you can in bulk – get to know the unit price!
Compare prices always to make sure what you are getting is a good deal. When comparing, make sure the unit prices are actually in the same units. Sometimes it can happen that the same type of product will have unit prices for different unit sizes (ex, one olive oil will show the unit price per gallon and another per quart).
#3 Prioritize buying organics based on the dirty dozen and clean 15 lists.
The Clean 15 is the list of produce items with the least amount of pesticide residue on it. The Dirty Dozen is the list of produce that has the highest amount of pesticide residue on it. The EWG updates these on a yearly basis so make sure to look back yearly. This helps you be more efficient with your organic produce dollars.
Bonus tip: You can also choose organic for any produce you eat with the skin on and conventional for produce that you peel.
#4 Frozen and canned options can be good too!
Foods that are canned and frozen are generally picked during peak season and so they can have just as much if not more nutritional value than fresh produce. (This does depend on the processing the foods go through but this is true most of the time.)
My tip when choosing between fresh and frozen or canned is to consider what you like and what you are making. Example, maybe you use blueberries for smoothies or to have with yogurt and frozen blueberries can be great for those preparations. But, if you want to eat steamed broccoli and you prefer it on the firm side, then it is best to get it fresh. Having a couple frozen options also helps to guarantee that you always have fruits and veggies on hand.
#5 Shop the sales and if possible, shop around for the best deals.
Ex. Aldi’s offers some great deals on Organics – yogurt, milk, meat, snacks, bread, and some veggies but they don’t always have all the fresh fruits and veggies or all the other items on your list. It may be a good idea to rotate the markets you go to. Buy extra of the items that are cheaper at the store you go to this week so you don’t have to get that item at a higher price at the store you go to next week. This also helps to keep your fridge and pantry always stocked.
Bonus tip: you can save a lot by buying non-perishables online. Places like Thrive Market and Vitacost have great prices and even store and manufacturer coupons you can use.
Was this helpful? Please share with a friend and help me spread this nutrition tidbit! Comment below if you have other tips for saving money at the grocery store.