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.
There have been numerous times I would forget to buy little things like spices or condiment’s then I would have to make another trip to the store which meant more gas and then I would always grab a few more items that I didn’t necessarily need, thus spending even more money.
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.
Sign up through this link here to get a free $20! All you have to do is sign up for free and make a $20 purchase through Rakuten and then BOOM get $20 free!
2.
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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HOW TO SAVE MONEY EVERY MONTH ON A LOW INCOME (SAVE $1,000+)
Monique
Wednesday 14th of February 2018
Hi, Jessica Thanks for sharing these great tips! You are certainly right "It's all about the list" I won't set foot in a grocery store without one. Another thing I do to bring my cost down prior to grocery shopping is A. Shop my freezer and Pantry, and B. Plan out my meals for the month or for the next few weeks. This strategy helps me only purchase whats needed, and prevent overspending.