Save Money On Groceries- 29 Ways To Drastically Lower Your Bill

I hate buying groceries. There I finally said it.

Having to drive to the store and wait in long lines and be bombarded with ten million brands of cereal to try isn’t exactly my idea of fun. It also doesn’t help me save money on groceries.

But the cherry on top is having to shell out a pretty penny if you want to eat decently (and watch your health).

It’s no wonder we’re always looking for ways to save money on groceries.

And the thing is, we know we could be saving plenty more on groceries. To do it, it really comes down to adopting certain shopping tips and habits to make it a reality (and redirect the extra money into your savings).

So, besides becoming the crazy coupon lady in your neighborhood, here are some legit ways to save money on groceries (and beyond).

Exactly How to Save Money on Groceries: 29 Tips to Drastically Lower Your Bill

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How To Save Money On Groceries: Set The Stage

You have to figure out the exact amount you have open to spending on groceries. Too many of us make the mistake of walking into a grocery store empty-headed as to how much we can spend and the other important part, what it is we went for.

Because if you have no idea about either, then your grocery buying trip is bound to leave a bigger hole in your pocket than you first thought.

So two things: Budget an exact amount and make a list of the exact things you need (down to how many snacks you’re buying for the week/month).

You should be intentional about it because preplanning makes for less unplanned purchases once you get to the grocery store. Learning how to save money on groceries involves a few crucial steps.

For some that’s a no brainer. Budgeting and grocery list, got it.

What’s next?

Take advantage of rebates

One of the easiest ways to save money on groceries is to take advantage of rebates from different rebate apps.

Ebates is the go-to rebate apps for getting cash back on items you’re already buying.

You simply create an account, and if you buy at one of their affiliated stores (they’re affiliated with tons) they put a percentage cash back into your account

You can start your Ebates account here and earn $10 bucks when you make your first purchase over $25 dollars.

Other rebate apps that are just as useful are:

Ibotta: You might have already heard of Ibotta but the gist is this: when you go shopping, you can keep your receipt, take a picture, and upload it to your Ibotta account.

It’ll look for any cash back you can get on items on your list and add it to your account.

It’s easy to use and can be worth it if you’re willing to spare the few minutes to upload your receipts.

If you want to try out Ibotta, you get a $10 welcome bonus for joining.

Don’t be afraid to order bulk online (it’s free if you’re smart about it)

Membership places like Costco are great for buying in bulk and finding great deals on household items. But you can likely avoid the $60 membership fee and buy in bulk with Amazon’s Bulk Food Supply section.

It has anything and everything you might ever have on your grocery list.

Eggs, bread, soup, razors…you name it, you know they’ll have it.

And with the shipping being FREE on most orders (or just having to go over a certain amount to qualify for free) then you save yourself a gas guzzling trip to the store and long waits in line.

Try shopping at the Amazon Bulk Food Supply Section and see how cheap and convenient it can be (like getting a TON of these easy mac and cheese cups for just $10 bucks).

How To Save Money On Groceries Without Coupons

Admittedly, sometimes things become easier when they’re done for you. Especially when you want to learn how to save money on groceries without coupons.

And that’s where the $5 meal plan comes in handy to help lower your grocery bill. It’s a savvy (and genius) service that does all the meal planning for you.

They come up with delicious meal plans that cost about $2 per person. All for $5 a month.

If it’s to save you all the time and money that goes into planning meals that don’t cost you an arm and a leg and are actually good, then an extra $5 a month can be worth it (especially for big families).

Sign up here for a 14-day trial and see if you like it.

Take Note: They also offer a gluten-free version of their meal planning, which is a great option for people on stringent diets or gluten allergies.

Here’s one way to save on meat

One great way to save money on groceries, especially if you’re a meat eater, is if you sign up for a meat subscription box.

Butcher Box is a great option for people who are wanting to save on meat but aren’t wanting to compromise on quality. They offer grass fed, antibiotic and hormone free, free range meats, all for about $6 a meal. Not bad at all.

Use paper + microfiber towels together (it works)

If you have kids, this is an especially real money saver. Kids tend to mindlessly grab a wad of towels for the most unnecessary things. And honestly, sometimes adults too!

Try keeping a set of high absorption microfiber towels in plain view so the paper towels aren’t the first thing you fly to.

They’re great for spill cleanups, drying dishes, and the biggest paper towel waster: drying your hands!

It’ll help you not go through so many roles at once and will make your paper towels last longer.

Pay attention to special deal days
SAVE IT
Certain stores have dates when their sales go up or they mark down a bulk of their items.

This might take some asking around in your local grocery store that will be worth it.

For instance, I love shopping at Target, and according to different sources, their best sale dates to shop for different items are:

Monday: Electronics, Accessories, Kids Clothing, Books, Baby, and Stationery

Tuesday: Domestics, Women’s Clothing, Pets and, Market food items

Wednesday: Men’s Clothing, Health and Beauty, Diapers, Lawn/Garden items, and Furniture

Thursday: Housewares, Lingerie, Shoes, Toys, Sporting Goods, Decor and Luggage

Friday: Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, and Jewelry

Designate a rewards card for household expenses

Taking advantage of a designated rewards card for food expenses can be a great idea to add up points and get awesome rewards in the process (though, it’s definitely not advisable if you aren’t good with credit cards).

Nerdwallet has a detailed report with the best current cash-back and rewards credit cards in the market.

Having a designated card for food expenses can also help you keep track of exactly how much you’re spending each month, and if you’re keeping in check with your budget projections.

Buy canned instead of frozen

If you pay attention, canned foods will cost you less than frozen foods. For example, diced veggies are a lot pricier when sold frozen than when sold canned.

Always opt for the canned items when you can (no pun intended).

Use apps to find the best prices

Did you know you can use apps for comparing grocery prices?

They can be such time savers when you’re trying to make quick comparisons.

Here’s a list of some free shopping apps you should try to get the best deals (some even offer rewards for using them):

Amazon Price Tracker: This one is probably my favorite. With the Amazon app, it’ll check prices on items for you and give you the best price even if it’s not on Amazon. It’s also integrated with your account so you can easily place an order for your items right through Amazon. Get it here.

Shop Savvy: This app also comes as a browser extension and website you can use to find the best deals online. Download it here.

Purchxapp: This one has a rewards program if you use it and accumulate points. Best of all it compares pieces on a wide range of items, not just food items. Get it here.

Price Grabber: It checks for prices on different items across the states and gives you bottom dollar pricing. It also comes with a price alert feature.

Spending the extra time to compare prices on more expensive items can be worth it in the long run. Trying out an app might just help you save more grocery money.

Fixed grocery list vs. variable grocery list

I’ve often noticed compiling a list of groceries is kind of like creating a budget.

There are fixed things what will always show up on your list, like eggs, bread, and milk, and there are others that you don’t always decide you need on a particular week.

Try separating your fixed groceries vs. your variable groceries to be clearer on how much you’re spending.

Chances are, when you’re looking at your variable groceries you’ll be able to pick out things you don’t really need to buy after all.

And you’ll still make sure you get the essentials.