Grocery shopping is one of the biggest expenses in our budget. Here are some easy ways you can save money on groceries without coupons.
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It’s no secret that one of the places we spend the most money on is groceries, especially with the rising costs of food this year.
So, I decided to research ways that I could save money on our grocery bill that didn’t include having to clip coupons.
What I discovered is that making a few small changes in the way that I plan and shop for groceries has helped to reduce our grocery budget each month.
Here are some of the tips that I use to save money on our groceries without coupons.
30 Tips to Save Money on Groceries Without Coupons
Start with a Plan
1. Create a Budget
Before you even think about making a trip to the grocery store, you should sit down and create a budget. Think about how much money you can afford to spend and stick with it.
2. Check Your Pantry
Always look in your pantry and cupboards to see what you have on hand. This can be helpful with meal planning because it will not only tell you what you are out of.
But, it could also give you ideas of meals you could throw together with ingredients you already have on hand.
3. Plan Your Meals
Meal Planning can save you a ton of money. It does take some work but is definitely worth the time. Currently, I use a monthly meal plan. But, even if you would prefer to plan weekly the savings will still add up.
You can make meal planning even easier by using theme night dinners and a favorite meal list to plan your dinners at home, saving you time and money.
Looking for frugal meals to add to your meal plan?
4. Meatless Once a Week
Plan a meal without meat at least once a week to help you save money. You can have pasta, or beans instead.
5. Shop Sales Ads
My ritual on Sunday morning is to look through the sales ads for the week ahead while I’m having my morning coffee.
Recently, I have started using the Flipp app on my phone which shows the most recent ads in my area. It’s been so convenient and helpful with my meal planning.
6. Make a List
It’s so important to make a list and stick with it so you are only buying what you need. It also helps to avoid impulse purchases.
7. Shop Around
You don’t have to be loyal to only one store. Make sure you are comparison shopping.
My favorite stores to shop at are Aldi’s and Walmart, but occasionally I will find better meat prices or sale prices at another grocery store in town. Go where the deals are.
8. Clean out your fridge/ freezer
Cleaning out your fridge is just another place to take inventory of what you have on hand. It helps when you are meal planning.
9. Plan of Attack
Decide what day of the week you plan to shop. My favorite day to shop is Thursday because I find the most deals.
I try to avoid Mondays to give stores a chance to restock after the weekend. It also helps to know what time of day and what stores you plan to go to.
Being prepared is the key to saving money.
Are you looking for more ways to save money?
- 15 Simple Ways to Save Money Every Month
- How to Stop Buying Things You Don’t Need
- 13 Things I Stopped Buying to Save Money Today
10. Eat before you shop
This seems pretty basic but I can’t count the number of times I’ve gone to the grocery store on an empty stomach. When you are hungry it can lead to purchasing additional items you can’t afford.
At the Grocery Store
11. Money-Saving Apps
There are some really great money-saving apps out there that can help you save on things you buy anyway. Ibotta is a great app, along with Checkout 51 and Shopkicks. The savings can really add up quickly.
12. Shop by yourself
I don’t know about you but I have a hard time sticking to a budget when I don’t shop by myself especially when the kids come with me. It helps you to avoid buying items that aren’t on your list.
13. Shop Generic Brands
Store brands are cheaper to sell because they don’t have high marketing costs and pretty labels so they can pass those savings on to us. Plus, they usually taste just as good as name brands.
14. Stock up on Staples
Keep your pantry and cupboards stocked with items you use most often. A great time to stock up on pantry staples is before the holidays when they go on sale.
15. Check Unit Prices
Always make sure to check the cost per unit price. This helps to ensure that you are getting the most product for the price.
16. Buy in Bulk
This can save you so much money. But, always consider your family’s needs. It’s important to only buy things you know will get used.
17. Stop buying pre-packaged foods
You can save so much money by purchasing the big boxes of products and dividing them up yourself.
18. Buy Produce in Season
Certain fruits are a better price at different times of the year. You are going to find a much better price on berries in the summer than in the winter where you would be paying a premium.
Learn some more ways to save money and eat healthy on a tight budget here.
19. Look for Sales on Meat
Always check for discounts on meat. I usually try and shop early mornings because they tend to mark meat down to make room for fresh cuts.
The use-by date will probably be in the next couple of days. So, use it up that day or throw it in the freezer.
20. Watch out for Special Buys
Special Buys can be a great money saver. However, when the sales are 10 for $10, it may not be necessary to buy all 10 items unless it’s indicated on the sale tag.
Related: 15 Supermarket Spending Traps to Avoid
21. Buy Big Packs of Meat
Buy meat in larger packages to split up and use for multiple meals. This also works great for making freezer meals.
22. Keep Track
Make sure and keep track of what you spend. You can use the calculator on your phone or do as I do and round up in my head and keep track on the side of my grocery list.
23. Use a Store Card
Take advantage if your store offers a store card. They not only give you special sale prices but will usually offer you perks like points towards gas.
24. Watch at the Checkout
When you are at the checkout, watch to make sure that everything is ringing up correctly. It’s easier if you catch it at the register than having to go up and get it taken care of at customer service.
25. Pay with Cash
If you have a hard time sticking to your budget and find that you are still going over by a few dollars every week. Then, the best thing to do is to only bring cash with you to the store. It forces you to stay on budget.
Saving Everyday
26. Cook at home
It is much less expensive to prepare your meals at home than to purchase prepared food or frozen dinners.
Looking for easy meal ideas?
- 85 Easy Budget-Friendly Meal Ideas –that are kid-friendly and perfect for hectic weeknights.
- Best 20-Minute Meals for Busy Weeknights–easy dinners that take less than 20 minutes your family will love.
- 28 Easy Shortcut Rotisserie Chicken Dinner Ideas- Skip takeout and use a $5 Rotisserie Chicken for dinner instead.
- 35 Quick and Easy Ground Beef Dinner Ideas– simple and inexpensive recipes to get dinner on the table fast.
27. Shop Weekly
This will not only save you money but time as well. Despite, having a monthly meal plan, I still shop weekly to pick up things like bread, milk, and fruits and veggies.
28. Eat Leftovers
We usually use up our leftovers for lunches. But, if you have a lot of leftovers, you can have a leftover night to finish up what you have in the fridge. This is especially helpful before grocery day.
29. Grow your own produce
There is nothing better than homegrown veggies from your own garden. A few years ago, we built two raised gardens that contain tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, beans, onions, and peas.
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30. Write it down
Write down what you run out of so you can add it when you are making your grocery list. I keep a notepad on the side of the fridge that works great for this.
There you have it. Some really easy ways that you can save money on groceries without coupons every week.
Find more ways to live better for less:
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