• Home
  • About Women With Intention
  • FAQs
  • Contact Me

Women With Intention

For women seeking purpose, simplicity, and balance in life.

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • Intentional Living
    • Goals
    • Self-Care
      • Self-Care Calendars
    • Time Management
    • Living Your Best Life
      • Putting Yourself First (Self-Care)
      • 31 Days Of Intentional Living
      • Smart Choices (Fitness & Diet)
  • Homemaking
    • Decluttering, Organizing & Simplifying
      • 31 Days Of Decuttering In December
    • Intentional In The Kitchen
      • Meal Planning
        • Meal Plan Monday
        • Meal Planning Master List
      • Canning & Preserving Food
      • Freezer Cooking
      • Recipes
    • Holidays & Special Occasions
    • Seasonal Fun
    • Home Management
  • Saving Money
    • Budgeting
    • 14 Day No Spend Challenge
    • Grocery Shopping
    • Income Producing Ideas
    • Store Deals
    • Do It Yourself Projects
  • Relationships
    • Christian Living & Biblical Womanhood
    • Family Fun
    • Marriage
    • Mentoring
    • Parenting
  • Resources
    • 31 Day Challenges
    • Building A Stockpile
    • Master Meal Planning Lists
    • Printables
    • Blog Party Directory
    • Self-Care Calendars
    • My Reading List
    • Things I Love

26 Smart Ways To Save On Groceries

(This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.)

October 30, 2014 By Jenny 11 Comments

Have you had to increase your budget lately due to your grocery bill going up?  Butter, eggs, sausage, and bacon are all items I've noticed that have taken a big increase at the grocery store the last several times I've grocery shopped.  If you are like me, you are trying to keep your budget in tact, while trying to buy healthy food!  Here are 26 Smart Ways To Save On Groceries

**Some of the links in this post are my referral links.  I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase (at no extra cost to you) which helps  me run and maintain this blog.  Thank you!  You can read my disclosure policy here.

**Did you miss the other posts in this series of 31 Days Of Intentional Living?  You can find them here!

Have you had to increase your budget lately due to your grocery bill going up?  Butter, eggs, sausage, and bacon are all items I’ve noticed that have taken a big increase at the grocery store the last several times I’ve grocery shopped.  If you are like me, you are trying to keep your budget in tact, while trying to buy healthy food!

I’ve compiled 26 smart ways to save on groceries when you’re barely making ends meet!

  1. Have a small snack before going grocery shopping!  I’m amazed at how much extra stuff I throw into the cart when I’m hungry because “it looks good!”  To stay on track fill up your tummy before heading out with a banana and you can avoid those “hunger purchases”.
  2. Have your list in your purse and ready to go.  I don’t know how many times I’ve made a list only to leave it at home on the counter.  Learn from my mistakes and once it’s made, put it inside your purse!  (It’s also great to include a pen or two so you can cross the items off your list!)
  3. Once you get to the store, stick to your list!  This will keep you from those impulse items!
  4. Stock up on items when they’re on sale.  When you look at the ads and come across a great deal, stock up on enough items to make it through to the next sale.  Remember not to buy too much of anything that will expire though or it won’t end up being a good deal if you have to throw it away.   The typical store advertising cycle is 6-8 weeks.  If you know you will be making spaghetti once a week and you use one, 16 ounce package each week, you should buy at least 6 packages.  However, if it is an item like mustard and you go through one bottle a year, buying 6 would be silly and most likely some would go to waste.
  5. Take your calculator and keep a running total as you shop.  I have found that if I round up to the nearest dollar it keeps me within budget and if I do find some of those great deals I will know how much more I can buy!
  6. Don’t be afraid to put back some of your items at the last minute if you go over your limit.  I’d rather put some back than struggle with money later on!
  7. Price match at stores that allow it. Not only do you save on your groceries but you can save on gas by going to one place.
  8. Check the price per unit. Buying the biggest item isn’t always the cheapest.  (This is especially true if your store doubles coupons!  Sometimes the small items with a doubled coupon are almost free!)
  9. Take advantage of double coupons. Double coupons combined with a sale make very reasonable groceries!
  10. Shop loss leaders.  Loss leaders are the REALLY great sales that stores have to get you into the stores.  Just don’t buy the other items that are way overpriced or you won’t be saving any money!
  11. Pay for your groceries with cash.  It’s easy to stick to the budget when you leave the plastic at home or in the wallet.  If you know you have $100 cash, spending $102 isn’t going to work!
  12. While you are shopping check the end caps for clearance items.  Many times you can use a coupon on these and they will be very reasonable.  One of my favorite local grocery stores has 2 or 3 shopping carts with marked down items and I can almost always find something that our family can use.
  13. While you are shopping look above and below you on the shelves.  Usually the most expensive items are at eye level.
  14. Always take your coupons with you.   You never know what is going to be on those clearance end caps or in store specials!
  15. Meal plan using groceries you already have in your pantry combined with groceries on sale.  You will save a lot!
  16. When you are really struggling financially, use up what is in your pantry. It may be breakfast for supper, but that is one meal that you probably have all the ingredients for in your home.  This also works for pasta, frozen pizzas and sandwiches!
  17. Take advantage of apps such as Checkout 51, Shopkick, and Ibotta.  These will save money by giving you cash back on purchases.
  18. Create a price book.  By doing so you will know if you are actually saving money with a sale or if it’s just advertising that isn’t a good deal!
  19. Find out what day your store marks down meat, dairy items, etc.  Most of the time it is marked down because the “use by” date is coming up.  You can either cook those foods right away or freeze them for later use.
  20. Look at items such as cheese or fresh veggies.  Can you save money by doing the work yourself?  I always thought that by shredding my own cheese I would be saving money.  Lately, I have found some really good deals on shredded cheese that were far cheaper than buying it and shredding it myself.
  21. Be creative with substitutions.  Did you know you can substitute applesauce for oil when making a cake?  Applesauce is cheaper than oil which will save you money.  You can also save by buying a whole chicken and using up the parts than by purchasing the parts separately.
  22. Pay attention when you are checking out.  Watch the prices as the cashier scans the product!  I have found many times that the price was wrong and by correcting it, I saved money.
  23. If you can, shop alone.  This is a rule that I would love to do, but honestly does not work in my season of life very well.  I have found that when I shop with the younger kids, I do tend to spend more money than when I’m alone.  I am more efficient and can concentrate more clearly when I’m alone (plus no one is sneaking items into the cart when I’m not looking!)  However, now that the older ones are maturing, I feel it’s important to teach them these tricks as well so when they are out of the house, they aren’t wasting their own hard-earned money!
  24. Watch for buy one get one half off sales.  This can reduce what you would normally be paying by 50%.  However, sometimes the stores mark up the items when they do these sales so you really aren’t saving anything.  Once again, this is when the price book comes in handy!
  25. Make your meals and snacks from scratch.  It is usually cheaper to make from scratch than to buy mixes!
  26. Find out who has a garden and ask if they will share produce with you!  My garden always produces more than we can eat of certain items and I’m happy to share the extras!

What are your favorite grocery saving tips?

Have you enjoyed what you read here today?  Do you have friends or other women you know that could benefit from this resource?  If so, please do me a favor!  I have included the links below to share with other intentional women!  They’ll be glad you did!

**Did you miss the other posts in this series of 31 Days Of Intentional Living?  You can find them here!

Filed Under: 31 Days Of Intentional Living, Grocery Shopping Tagged With: Saving Money

Comments

  1. Heather @ My Overflowing Cup says

    October 31, 2014 at 12:48 AM

    Thanks so much for all of the excellent tips, Jenny. I don’t live in the city so I don’t shop very often. Because of this, I try to buy as much as I can in bulk and plan simple meals based on those items. I buy 25 or 50 pound bags of beans, oats, flour, sugar, powdered milk, etc. You make an excellent point about making sure they can all be used up before they go bad. Thanks for the post!
    Heather @ My Overflowing Cup recently posted…Expect To See GodMy Profile

    Reply
  2. Karen says

    October 31, 2014 at 10:24 PM

    Great tips! I definitely need to eat a snack before I go to the grocery store. 🙂
    Karen recently posted…October Round-UpMy Profile

    Reply
  3. Karen says

    November 7, 2014 at 11:45 AM

    You’ve got a great list of tips here. I’ve put many of them into practice throughout the years, and find that I need to adjust when we move and have different shopping situations, or as you mentioned, in different seasons of life. But, you have such a nice list of tips here that there is plenty to take and tailor to individual situations.
    Thank you for sharing with us at Wake Up Wednesday!
    Karen recently posted…Birthday Bash Week of Giveaways: Win a Seed Savers Exchange Seed Packet CollectionMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Stephanie says

    November 9, 2014 at 10:51 PM

    Our stores don’t do coupons, so I just have to stock up when they have sales. I have the grocery store I shop at saved to my bookmarks so that I can see what is on sale before I go. They almost always have “buy one, get one free” meat and since I have a deep freeze, I can buy as many as they’ll allow and freeze for later. They also do “10 for $10” most weeks so I can stock up on pasta, sauces, and other items for a huge savings. I also buy the store brand of most things, as the quality is the same, but often for cheaper.
    Stephanie recently posted…Find extra cash this holiday seasonMy Profile

    Reply
    • Jenny says

      November 10, 2014 at 9:51 AM

      We have a few stores that are good about coupons and several that aren’t so I understand exactly where you are coming from! We utilize our freezers as well! Thanks your great ideas! 🙂

      Reply
  5. Tracy @ Our Simple Homestead says

    November 11, 2014 at 10:48 AM

    What a great reminder list. I am always looking for ways to cut my grocery bill! It is the one budget item I feel I can have control over. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  6. Erin | It All Matters Mom says

    November 12, 2014 at 10:06 PM

    I do most of these! I have yet to do a price book, but I want to do one. The only time I veer from my list is if there’s a great sale. Pringles were on sale the other day here for 88 cents instead of $1.50, so I bought 20. My husband goes through two a week taking his lunch to work. I love finding sales like that and stocking up!
    Erin | It All Matters Mom recently posted…Attitude of gratitude: Thankful for trialsMy Profile

    Reply
  7. MM says

    November 14, 2014 at 10:10 AM

    I really like your idea of a price book – I have one of sorts… just some prices of food I typically buy, but have not created one on a spreadsheet to keep track of these. Have you created a printout for this? Thanks for all the great suggestions!
    MM recently posted…Homegrown Calendula Oil Body CreamMy Profile

    Reply
  8. Jill says

    December 7, 2014 at 7:09 PM

    These are great tips for saving on groceries!

    Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
    Jill recently posted…Months of the Year Printable Series FREE January Word Wall KitMy Profile

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Friday's Fabulous Five #16 says:
    November 14, 2014 at 12:03 AM

    […] 26 Ways to Save on Groceries – Even though I feel I have a pretty good handle on our grocery bill, I enjoyed this list of different ways you can save on groceries every week. […]

    Reply
  2. Simply Inspired Wednesday's - Week #6 says:
    March 4, 2015 at 5:01 AM

    […] Women With Intention – 26 Smart Ways To Save On Groceries […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Hello! I’m Jenny!

I'm a wife, a mom of 6 and daughter of the King. I love my chocolate, cute cloth diapers, DIY and self-improvement projects, and curling up with a great book!

I'm excited to have you join me on my journey of saving money, living the good life while balancing family, relationships and homemaking! Learn more about me and this site here!

Would You Like More Tips & Tricks To Live YOUR Live With Intention?

Subscribe By Email!

* indicates required

Top Posts & Pages

  • 31 Days Of Intentional Living: Introduction
    31 Days Of Intentional Living: Introduction
  • No Women With Intention Wednesday This Week
    No Women With Intention Wednesday This Week

Follow Women With Intention on Facebook!

Follow Women With Intention on Facebook!
 photo 9e35b669-0746-4500-97cd-440272ae0979_zps8ac4d98e.jpg Each month, I post a FREE monthly self-care calendar. I hope to help you all live with purpose is by loving yourself enough to take time for self care! As parents, it is our job to prepare our children to leave the home when they are grown. Here are the life skills I feel are essential to know.  photo 31 Days of Purpose 300 button_zpsj2vb9hrn.png Are you snowed in and looking for something fun and tasty? Snow ice cream might be just want you need! Here are 3 snow ice cream recipes! Follow on Bloglovin

Recent Posts

  • 5 Daily Sanity Saving Tips To Help You Escape Survival Mode
  • Hello Friends! I’m Still Here…
  • No Women With Intention Wednesday This Week
  • Women With Intention Wednesdays
  • Women With Intention Wednesdays
Pied-a-terre Loft Furniture

Archives

  • March 2018
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
shareasale.com Blogorama - The Blog Directory

**This site contains affiliate links. See the disclosures page for additional information. Copyright © 2013-2018 Women With Intention

Pages

  • 31 Day Challenges & Series
  • About Women With Intention
  • Blog Party Directory
  • Contact Me
  • Disclosure Policy
  • FAQs
  • Master Meal Planning Lists
  • Self-Care Calendars
  • Subscribe

Family Blogs
top blog directory

Home & Garden Blogs - Blog Rankings

Copyright © 2023 Beautiful Pro Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress Themes · Blog Set-Up By Blogelina