If you feel like groceries are more expensive than ever, you’re not alone—and you’re not wrong.
In just 4 years, grocery costs have increased by a whopping 25%!
While this is unfortunate and not likely to change in the very near future, there are still plenty of ways to save money on your weekly grocery run.
Check out our top 7 tips to save money on your supermarket trips this year.
1) Prioritize generic and store brands.
Brand loyalty can end up costing you a lot.
A better way to use your money at the grocery store is to choose store brands and generic options whenever possible. Store brands may even be made by the same manufacturers as your favorites, just with a different name.
You’ll likely find the same taste and quality you’re used to, but without the hefty price tag.
2) Stop buying prepared food.
It’s true that buying ingredients that have already been prepped will save you time – but that won’t save you any money.
It will actually cost you more money!
Instead, you can invest in kitchen tools that can help speed up tasks or plan to meal prep on the weekends to save time during the week.
3) Check your freezer and pantry first.
Before you head to the grocery store, take an inventory of what you already have in your freezer and pantry and use it as a foundation for your weekly meal planning.
Maybe it’s time to use those pie crusts you threw in the freezer a couple of months ago, or perhaps you can whip up some soup using a few cans of beans.
It’s easy to forget about the staples that sit around waiting to be used for months.
Planning your meals around using all of those up can help you save money at the store.
4) Eat seasonally.
Technology has advanced far enough that most produce is available throughout the year, but it’s much cheaper to rely on whatever is in season for your area. (Extra points for shopping local!)
Winter is the best time for cabbage, citrus, and broccoli.
Spring is great for carrots, spinach, and peas.
Summer is great for most berries, zucchini, and peppers
And apples, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes rule autumn.
5) Implement “meatless Monday.”
By skipping meat just one day a week, you can significantly reduce your grocery expenses.
Plant-based proteins like beans, lentils, and tofu tend to be much cheaper per serving compared to meat, and it can be a fun adventure to create meat-free meals once per week.
Incorporating more affordable ingredients like grains, legumes, and vegetables into your meals can stretch your food budget further while still providing essential nutrients.
6) Don’t shop hungry.
This might be one of the oldest tricks in the grocery shopping handbook, but it works!
Shopping while you’re hungry often means that you end up with a cart full of impulse purchases that sounded great in the store but won’t reliably feed you and your family throughout the week.
Eat a balanced meal, or at least a hearty snack, before you head to the grocery store.
And on that note…
7) Stick to your list.
Another oldie but a goodie.
It’s easiest to save money if you make a plan ahead for your shopping trip and do everything you can to stick to that plan.
This is the easiest way to avoid sinking money into food you won’t eat or to fight off the call of those delicious-looking last-minute treats.
If you’re on a strict budget, consider ordering groceries online for free pickup.
You can watch the total add up as you put things in your cart, and it’s easier to prioritize and remove items when the cost gets too high.
Saving With SIG
If you’re already working hard to cut expenses and still need to trim some spending, consider re-evaluating your insurance coverage and needs.
Get in touch with Signature Insurance today to learn how we can help you save.