In June 2022, it was reported that the average American needs an extra $460 to keep up with inflation. The cost to purchase groceries alone went up by 11%!
But you don’t need to look at an updated study to know that buying groceries is still expensive. What can you do if you’re shopping on a budget and still need an abundance of groceries?
This guide will show you the best tips on how to save money on groceries. Use these tips and make sure you share them with your friends.
Here’s what you must know:
Food Stamps
The first step is to learn more about food stamps and where you can use them. Food stamps are vouchers that let you get certain groceries for free or with a generous discount.
You’ll often have to prove financial hardship to qualify for receiving food stamps. With the current economic crisis, more Americans are qualifying for food stamps to help them out.
Use Coupons and Loyalty Programs
While you probably already look for discounts any time you purchase groceries, you need to be even more aggressive now.
Many of your favorite supermarkets will have loyalty memberships. These help you earn points or cashback whenever you go grocery shopping. You can use these discounts for future purchases.
Often, you’ll receive coupons via direct mail. Additionally, you can find them online. Make sure you don’t disregard any discount as even $1 off can make a difference in the aggregate.
Buy in Bulk
Buying groceries in bulk is one of the easiest ways to save money on groceries. However, you must make sure you only buy bulk items that you use often.
This avoids you from having to throw things away because their expiration date has arrived.
Bulk deals help you save money because the unit price is often cheaper. Nevertheless, make sure to check the unit price before buying.
There are times when you won’t get a proper discount or the discount isn’t significant.
Buy From Farmers
One of the main reasons why your meats, fruits, and vegetables are expensive is that you buy them from a supermarket.
If you have a local farmers’ market then you want to go there for much of your grocery shopping. Not only will this food often be cheaper, but it’ll often be healthier.
What happens if you don’t have a local farmers’ market? You can reach out to local farmers and ask if you can buy from them directly. Even your neighbors can help out.
Your neighbor might have a nice banana tree and you can buy these bananas from them.
Or, if you also grow fruits and vegetables consider bartering with them. During times of economic crisis, you can save money on groceries by trading with your neighbors.
Never Shop When You’re Hungry
Do you ever spend your time throwing out expired foods wondering why you bought them in the first place?
When we purchase groceries when we’re hungry we’ll buy more than we need. You’ll waste your money on groceries that you normally wouldn’t choose.
You’ll also try to experiment with buying groceries. You’ll buy products that might taste good, but you’re not really sure about them!
During an economic crisis, you don’t have time to experiment. Focus on buying groceries that you already enjoy eating. You don’t want to waste a single penny or a single morsel!
Use Delivery Services
You want to consider using delivery services to save money on groceries. Delivery fees are often reasonable and sometimes they can be free.
One of the biggest advantages of using delivery services is that you’ll usually not overbuy. You’ll often stick to the basic essentials so you won’t spend too much.
Many delivery services such as Uber Eats, Postmates, and Wolt offer cashback and discounts to loyal customers. This ensures that you continue to save money on groceries in the long run.
Don’t Overuse the Bakery
Many grocery stores and supermarkets alike have bakeries where you can buy delicious fresh food. But this is often when your wallet gets strained.
You don’t have to cut out the bakery altogether. But you want to reduce buying products from there completely.
You’ll miss out on delicious food but you’ll save a lot of money in the long run.
Buy Generic Foods
While we may love our name-branded foods, there’s nothing wrong with buying generic brands at times.
Generic foods can still have a great taste and great nutritional value. These are often cheaper and so you’ll get delicious food but you’ll also save money in the long run.
Cooking Your Meals
One of the conveniences of grocery shopping is that you can buy pre-packaged foods. This takes away the inconvenience of cooking but it also hurts your bank account.
These meals are often expensive and are one of the fastest ways to waste money on groceries. You want to stick to buying the ingredients and cooking your meals.
Instead of buying frozen rice and chicken, buy these products separately. This makes the cost much lower.
Not to mention, the rice and chicken will last much longer that the pre-packaged meal.
Shop Around
You might have a favorite grocery store in good times. But when finances are tough, you need to shop around at different grocery stores.
Keep records of the prices at each one. Shop at the grocery stores that offer you the best deals.
While you might wish to be loyal to one store, you have to shop around to save money.
Now You Can Save Money On Groceries
Now you can save money on groceries during this economic crisis we’re facing. The best option is to look for food stamps. This helps you get free or heavily-discounted groceries.
Make sure you buy groceries from farmers whenever possible. Consider using delivery services to save on costs and receive discounts.
Follow the other practices in our guide and share them with your friends. You’ll have no problem buying groceries and saving money.
If you need even more guides on saving money, check them out on our website. We’ve got a lot of great resources to help you out!
