Affordable grocery savings -
Think about what you spend the most on and prioritize finding the best price for those items. The next step is to follow that quintessential shopping advice: Don't go to the grocery store hungry.
You're much more likely to make impulse and unhealthy purchases if you do, so shop after a meal or grab a healthy snack before heading to the store. And remember: The cheapest groceries are not always the most nutritious; consider spending slightly more for foods that are filling and nutrient-dense.
For tips and recommendations for a more economical shopping experience, see below for advice from the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab. Fruit and vegetables are among the groceries with the largest price jumps lately , but you can still find affordable produce by buying seasonally.
Purchasing when produce is abundant helps lower the cost and will all but assure the best taste and highest levels of nutrition. Seasonal Fruits. Seasonal Vegetables. Another way to save money on produce is to opt for fruit and vegetables that have a longer shelf-life.
For example, to help extend your grocery dollars, choose apples over berries or carrots or celery over leafy greens. Generally, some of the cheapest fruit and vegetables year-round tend to be bananas, apples, oranges, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and sweet potatoes.
Meat can be the most expensive category for most food budgets, and can account for a large portion of the overall grocery bill. To save money, opt for the ground variety of your favorite protein. Ground beef, chicken or turkey are super versatile, easily frozen and can be used in many different recipes.
Larger cuts of meat will usually cost less per pound, but they may require marinating, braising and slow cooking to bring out the tenderness. If you do prefer to include cheaper cuts of meat, consider including:. Buying a whole chicken instead of pre-portioned cuts can also save money and the leftovers, including the bones, are great for making chicken soup or bone broth.
Consider cutting costs even further by implementing Meatless Monday or meatless dinners a few nights a week.
Swap out meat for healthy plant-based meat alternatives such as tofu, tempeh, beans and legumes, as your protein source. The cost of fresh seafood may also vary seasonally. According to the Seafood Nutrition Partnership , fresh Alaskan salmon is less expensive during the summer when the fish are more abundant.
Other popular choices that may be worth buying seasonally include Albacore tuna in season July-October and halibut in season March-November.
Other ways to save money on seafood:. Whether you prefer dairy or non-dairy, you can find competitive prices due to the sheer number of products on the market.
While non-dairy milks may be more expensive than dairy, some non-dairy brands offer shelf stable options that can be bought in bulk when they're on sale. Just note that many dairy and non- dairy milks and yogurts contain added sugars and sometimes saturated fats.
Always check the label before purchasing. More ways to save:. When it comes to cheap groceries, pantry staples are the big winners. This category includes dry and canned goods such as flour, oatmeal, chicken stock, nuts, nut butters and seeds.
Among the cheapest staples are dried and canned beans — they're also easy to prepare and provide a great source of plant-based protein and fiber, two very important nutrients that are often only available in more costly foods. Grains like brown rice and oatmeal also score high in cost-effectiveness and nutrition.
Frozen foods can be stored in your freezer for months. Again, consider buying in bulk when frozen products are on sale. Items worth stocking up on include:.
Buying fresh mangos in January will cost you way more than average—and they might not even taste good! Have you ever noticed that the most expensive items on the grocery shelves are right at your eye level? Grocery stores are smart.
They want you to see those items and splurge. Instead of falling for those marketing tricks, look up and down as you shop. The more affordable brands tend to be higher or lower on the shelves.
Now that you know what those clever stores are up to, you can literally keep your eye out for grocery savings. You guys, it may be time to break up with your go-to grocery store. Find the cheapest grocery store in your area. Go where the sales are! The more times you pop into the store, the more opportunities you have to overspend.
By the way, remember how I said to meal plan and stick to your grocery list? I love a deal. Plant your own garden! You can start small by planting herbs like parsley, cilantro and rosemary right on your kitchen windowsill.
Ibotta, Receipt Hog, Checkout 51 and Target Circle are just a few of the great apps that can help you save. So instead, find some meatless recipes to whip up on Meatless Monday—or whenever!
Also, look for cuts of meat that are cheaper alternatives to what you usually buy. Skip the sirloin and grab ground chuck. Pass on the pork chops and pick the pork loin. That way you can have your meat and save money too! Technically this is a way to save on your overall food budget because restaurants are not groceries.
I repeat: Restaurants are not groceries. Pro tip: Check out these cheap lunch ideas for even more ways to save on your midday meal.
Are generic brands really as good as the name brands? Buy some generic groceries , even if you just start small. Get this: When it comes to staples like salt, sugar and baking soda, a lot of chefs buy generic too. So, listen to the pros when it comes to how to save money on groceries. Every rotten cucumber and moldy peach is like a little stack of cash going right into the trash.
Remember: If you buy the bananas, have the kids eat the bananas. Waste less and save more every month by being super intentional here. But if you like supporting local farmers and buying fresh foods, shop at the end of the day.
When ingredients are overflowing at the farmers market or in your garden , buy in bulk and preserve them for the winter. You might spend more during the summer with the extra produce and canning jars.
But think of it as an investment for a meal a few months ahead. In the winter, you can buy a box of pasta for a couple of bucks and pull a container of your homemade tomato sauce off the shelf.
Mix it all up and you have a super cheap, homemade dinner on your hands. Shop the outer edges of the store to find fresh fruits and vegetables, grains and beans.
Your food budget will thank you later. A prepackaged bag of lettuce with a dressing packet and fixings will cost double what a head of lettuce with some simple homemade dressing would. Go for the unpackaged fruits and veggies whenever you can. A word to the wise—if you find that your kids are the culprits of adding all those not-on-the-list items to your cart, you might want to leave them at home.
Or you! Everyone else—Stay. A few new habits can help you lower your monthly grocery bill, stick to your budget, and meet your money goals faster.
By the way, I keep talking about having a budget. You should really check out EveryDollar. This is the budgeting app my family uses to plan our spending for groceries and everything else in life. And you can download EveryDollar today for free! Okay, now you know how to save money on groceries.
Making a few changes can add up to big savings, so start going through this list. Like, now! Get EveryDollar: the free app that makes creating—and keeping—a budget simple. Yes, please. Rachel Cruze is a 1 New York Times bestselling author, financial expert, and host of The Rachel Cruze Show.
Rachel writes and speaks on personal finances, budgeting, investing and money trends. Through her shows, books, syndicated columns and speaking events, Rachel shares fun, practical ways to take control of your money and create a life you love. Learn More.
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