HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON GROCERIES (2024)

Ways to save money on groceries even on a low income!

When it comes to grocery shopping this expense can take up a lot of your budget! However, it is also the easiest to cut back on and save money.

Grocery shopping on a budget was always something I struggled with, I always had issues with how to stick to a budget at the grocery store. My family was very simple, we enjoyed meat and potatoes, and/or pasta most of the time.

I wasn’t very creative when it came to cooking in the kitchen, I would research cheap meals but they all seemed like food we would not enjoy.

That’s when I decided I wouldn’t try to change the way we ate, I would just have to figure out ways to save money on food.

How To Save on Groceries Every Month

[ReviewDisclaimer]

1. It’s All In The List!

Making a list is very important when it comes to saving at the grocery store. Whenever I go in there blind I always spend way too much and end up missing certain items to create meals.

If you do not have time to make a list and meal plan get the $5 meal plan, seriously a life saver! You get a 14 day free trial to test it out!

Once I started making a list, grocery shopping on a budget became so much less stressful.

My list sits on my fridge and I add to it everyday, when I run out of something I always make sure to add it.

2. Flyers Are Your Friend

Make sure you check the flyers every single week, choose one store you notice has the most items you normally purchase on sale and plan to go there that week.

*Driving to a bunch of different stores doesn’t seem like much fun and would probably stress you out even more.*

If you don’t currently receive flyer’s you should find a way to get them, most places give them out for free house to house or you can pick them up at your grocery store.

There are also tons of apps you can use to get your flyers AND save money on your food!

3. Use money saving apps to save more

Lucky for us there are tons of apps to save money on groceries! Finding the best apps to use can help you save more and spend less.

Below I will go over the most popular grocery money saving apps!

1. Rakuten

Rakuten is free to join and if you grocery shop online (including Amazon) then shop through this app to save money on every purchase!

To make it easier they also have a chrome extension available for google chrome users.

4. Freeze, Freeze, and what? yup! Freeze

Freezing is my favorite way to save money on groceries, we literally have 3 freezers! When meats are on sale I purchase a few and then freeze them, I also freeze:

Fruits (I buy frozen fruits and veggies)
Soups
Bread
Pancakes
Muffins
Cooked chicken and turkey

……so much more! I buy most of my containers off Amazon (shop through Rakuten!)

Another great time saver as well is too meal plan and freeze your meals, you can some ideas from this article: 10 budget friendly meals you can freeze!

5. Plan Baby, Plan

Planning your meals is another great way to save money, even if you just plan out your supper meal at first to get into the habit.

You are less likely to buy takeout if you know you have food at home and already have the meal ready to go. Again check out the $5 meal plan if you have trouble planning meals.

Meal planning also helps making a list to bring way easier, if you need help grab a free meal planning printable below!

6. Track Your Spending

Take a calculator with you (I just use my phone) and track what you are spending. This way you can see how much you are spending before you get to the checkout and make adjustments if needed to stick within your budget.

You can also sign up for certain apps and get money back! So amazing, my favorite app is Checkout51.

Final thoughts on saving money on groceries

If you start working these into your routine I am certain you will notice a change. Before I started budgeting I was spending $400+ on groceries per month! I am thrilled to say I am now down to $200 a month (Recently added a new baby in the mix so our monthly bill has increased), the biggest thing for me was making a list. Always do your grocery shopping on a budget!

*Update* Pleased to say now that my baby is a toddler I have managed to only spend $100 a week on groceries, so yes I am back up to $400 per month.

However, we are a family of 4, live in Canada, and have watched the price of groceries skyrocket in recent years! If you live in the United States I suggest taking advantage of couponing!

Love to hear your grocery saving tips below in the comments!

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FAQs

How to only spend $100 a month on groceries? ›

Decide what you'll eat for a week, or even a month, and plan meals based around low-cost staple foods like oats and eggs for breakfast; tuna, peanut butter, cheese and nonfat plain yogurt for lunch; and inexpensive cuts of meat like chicken thighs or flank steak and dried beans and grains like brown rice that you can ...

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What is the 6 to 1 grocery method? ›

The 6-to-1 grocery method entails buying six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads and one treat. Continue to shop carefully while at the store to get the best deals. Flexibility with your purchases will be a key to making this method a success.

Learn More Now ›

What is a good monthly grocery bill? ›

By Household Size

According to the USDA guidelines, you might spend $979 a month on a thrifty plan, $1,028 on a low-cost plan, $1,252 on a moderate-cost plan and $1,604 on a liberal plan. The USDA guidelines can provide a starting point for a food budget, but they don't consider all the variables that can affect cost.

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What is a realistic food budget for one person? ›

The average food budget for a single person is between $250 and $300 a month, but that's just a guideline. If you can buy meals at a discount or visit family and eat with them, you might be able to spend less. Figure out the budget that works for you.

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What is a good grocery budget for 2 people? ›

Average Grocery Costs in Fall 2023

According to a recent GOBankingRates article, average grocery costs range from $250 to $550 per person, per month. The USDA published a food plan, updated for 2023, that shares costs for a “nu*tritious, practical, cost-effective diet” for families of any size.

Is $1000 a month on groceries a lot? ›

New census data shows the average American household is spending about $270 a week on groceries, or more than $1000 a month. And in Florida, it's even more expensive, with people here spending $290 a week or $331 with kids. In fact, Florida is the 5th most expensive state to buy groceries.

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Is eating out cheaper than eating at home? ›

Financial advisors have long promoted home-cooked meals as a cost-saving alternative to restaurant food. A 2018 study found that, on average, you'd spend almost five times as much money ordering a delivery meal compared to cooking that same meal at home.

What is 6 5 4 3-2-1 grocery shopping? ›

You buy six vegetables, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads, and one "fun" item for yourself. So it's 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. People on TikTok are already claiming that the method has helped them save money and eat healthier. "I've been using your method and it honestly helps," another added.

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How to simplify grocery shopping? ›

In Chef Will Coleman's 6 to 1 grocery shopping method, shoppers purchase six vegetables, five fruits, four protein sources, three starches, two sauces or spreads, and one item just for fun. This system simplifies shopping, reduces waste, and saves money.

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What is the 3-2-1 food rule? ›

PROGRAM: 3-2-1 doesn't just mean lift off to weight loss, it's the foundation for this three-pronged plan. In the meal plan, there are three balanced meals, two healthy snacks and one treat every day.

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How can I make my food bill cheaper? ›

Learn tricks to cooking on a budget

Tins, and dried foods such as pasta, rice, noodles and oats should feature heavily on your shelves. Replace fresh fish, veg and fruit with frozen. Choosing frozen salmon rather than fresh, as in these salmon and pesto parcels, can save you over 55 percent.

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How to live off $150 a month for food? ›

Affordable and nutritious meal ideas for a $150 monthly budget include dishes like vegetable stir-fry with rice, bean and vegetable soups, pasta with homemade tomato sauce, and oatmeal with fruit for breakfast. These meals are cost-effective and can be made in large batches to provide multiple servings.

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How can I keep my grocery bill under $30 a week? ›

Before heading to the store, think about all the meals you want to prepare for the week and make a list of the ingredients you'll need for them. Then, when you're actually shopping, stick to the list. No impulse buys! Once you have all the ingredients you need for the week, prepare as many meals in advance as you can.

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