Whether you’re in college or a mom of 5 we all need one thing: food. And theres no better feeling than being able to save money on the one thing you need while spending more on the things that you want. Here are some tips I follow for me to save money grocery shopping.
1. Take Notice Of What You Need
Before you hit the store or browse your favorite online grocery store, slow down and take a moment to assess what you need and actually use. As simple as it sounds, its a real tool to help you avoid impulse buys and unnecessary purchases. The more thoughtful you are, the less likely you are to to fall into the trap of overspending on groceries.
Pro Tips:
- Go grocery shopping right after a meal to avoid buying things you want to eat in the moment
- Keep track of the things you buy more often
- Even though you’re planning to go on that diet always have your staples in the fridge to avoid waste
2. Take Advantage Of Cash Back
I was AMAZED to know how much I could be earning with cash back not only on credit cards that reward for groceries, but also through programs like Fetch and Ibotta. Signing up for these programs costs nothing, and you can get gift cards as you rack up points. This hack has saved me over $200 last year, purchasing groceries like I typically would. There are even rewards for specific brands that can lead to even more savings on the brands you already shop for!
Pro Tips:
- Before you go grocery shopping check your chosen cash back program to see what bonuses are being offered for the items you like
- Save your receipts to take full advantage through multiple cash back apps
3. Buying In Bulk
Buying in bulk is one of the smartest ways to save money grocery shopping. Staples like rice, pasta and canned goods often have much lower unit prices when purchased in larger quantities. It’s a great way to save money grocery shopping in the long run, especially for items you use regularly.
Pro Tips:
- Get that Costco or BJ’s membership!
- Buy in bulk with your friends or neighbor and split the cost!
4. Use Chat GPT Prompts To Save Money Grocery Shopping (Get Specific!)
I personally have gotten in the habit of using ChatGPT to help me with organization of my life and it has been a lifesaver! You can ask for budget-friendly meal plans or specific recipies based on whats in your pantry when its getting close to have to go grocery shopping again. Its a great tool to avoid overspending and ensuring you’re using ingredients efficiently. This can also help with your save money challenge, by keeping you focused on what you truly need and making the most out of what you already got.
Chat GPT for me has been a lifesaver for me to actually make reasonable lists to grocery shop. One of my go to prompts are:
“I have $100 to shop at Walmart and my go to meals during the week are pizza, chicken and rice, and salad. I want to make lunch and dinner with this and my go to snacks are bananas and chips. I want this to last for 2 weeks.”
“Help me create a week’s worth of meals using only chicken, rice and veggies.”
5. Utilize Your Freezer
Your freezer isn’t just for ice cream and frozen pizza it’s a secret weapon when it comes to saving money grocery shopping. Freeze leftovers, produce thats nearing its expiration date, or bulk purchases like meat, bread, and vegetables. Not only will this prevent waste, but it will also ensure you have a stash of food on hand when grocery prices rise.
Pro Tips:
- Label items with the date they were frozen to avoid forgotten items
- After you buy in bulk put the rest in the freezer
As grocery prices continue to inflate I hope you keep these tips in mind!