Do you feel your grocery bill consumes a large portion of your budget? You’re not alone. We’ve compiled the best tips for saving money on your grocery bill straight from the mouths of budget-conscious shoppers. From shopping innovative to cooking creatively, these tips will help you reduce your grocery bill without sacrificing quality or flavor.
1. Join Large Organizations
For our readers in the U.K., one suggested that those who work in large organizations could benefit from discount rates provided by benefits packages, such as 3% off ASDA, 4% off Tesco’s and Sainsbury’s, and 7% off M&S, which can add up to savings of $300-$360 within 18 months. These discounts can be used in other retailers like Argos.
2. Asian Food & Ethnic Markets
Others shared that their main tip for eating cheap food is to eat Asian food, mainly Chinese, Indian, and Thai cuisine, as they are inexpensive to make per portion, healthy, and vegetable-heavy.
They also mentioned shopping at their local Indian/Bangladesh/Pakistani supermarket for lower prices on oil, rice, veggies, and spices.
3. Eat Lentils
Lentils for the win! Many noted that lentils had become their new favorite food ingredient as they are tasty, healthy, and a suitable replacement for meat in many recipes, which has helped them reduce their grocery bill.
4. Bulk Buying in Rural Areas
A person living in a rural area can get a 25kg sack of potatoes for $10, which can last for months of meals such as chips (fries), sausage and mash, roasties, and Shepherd’s Pies, among others.
5. Saving Money while Shopping with Technology
Many shoppers have saved a few hundred dollars monthly using “too good to go” bags through the TooGoodToGo app. Another tip for saving 40% while in the supermarket is to use the “scan and go” option, which helps to keep track of the running total and make smarter purchase decisions.
6. Use a Slow Cooker
A slow cooker is a perfect way to save money on groceries as it makes low-cost meals in large quantities that can be frozen for future consumption, completing one set of ingredients enough for 5-10 meals depending on what is being cooked.
7. Avoid Buying Extra Items
Avoid wasting food and money by buying only the exact ingredients you need for your planned meals is essential. Planning your meals and sticking to your shopping list can help you avoid impulse purchases that may go to waste.
By buying what you need, you’ll know what to buy in bulk, things like meat and vegetables that can be used in multiple meals throughout the week, reducing the overall cost of your grocery bill.
8. Buy With a Full Stomach & Prepared List
Grocery shopping on an empty stomach is the worst! One elaborated that cutting costs on your grocery bill means ensuring you go to the market with a full stomach.
Also, prepare your list of items to buy in advance, as being even slightly hungry can lead to purchasing extra things that you wouldn’t have otherwise, and having a list helps keep you disciplined about what you need to purchase.
9. Pack Lunches
Packing lunches is an obvious way to save money on food and avoid living off meal deals or fast food options. In addition to food, make your coffee at home and invest in a tumbler or thermos, pending your coffee-drinking habits.
10. Dried Beans Instead of Canned
Finally, many users agreed you would save money on your grocery bill by ditching canned beans and buying them dry instead. Chickpeas too! Bonus if you buy them and eat them in bulk. What do you think? Are you already using these tips? Do you have any to add to the list?
This thread inspired this article.
