12 Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

[@donnaallgaier-lamberti3933]

I will cut out cable TV, Smartphones, eating out, vacations, newer vehicles, new clothing, etc. but I will not cut out our nutrition, (ALL organic and GMO free foods) that we need to properly nourish our bodies. Healthy food is medicine. You either pay now for healthy food or you pay later in ill health, doctors bills and lost school and work time. I am age 73 now and this is the voice of a lifetime of experience speaking here.

[@maya.the.earthling]

I pay almost twice as much for my (organic) groceries as I do for my rent (parking space for my tinyhouse) because I agree with you wholeheartedly.

[@MomGetsMoney]

I agree with you on health, but organic and non-gmo don’t influence health based on studies. Eating lots of plants and minimally processed foods is what is important for your health.

[@AmeliaUnleashed]

As a young mom with a toddler, I find online grocery pickup worth the $1 fee. I can carefully shop within our weekly allotted budget on the app and can effectively compare prices of certain items per 100g or price per litre (yes, we are Canadians) quickly. When I go into the store myself (with my toddler) I would often get distracted and grab whatever looks like the best price but the online app tells you the deals and I save SO much doing it that way. Also can see the total in advance and remove items as needed. ❤

[@faythewu]

I've also found that it helps me focus on the things I need rather than when I go to the store in person and start seeing things that I want but don't truly need

[@MarinaMinkin]

I have a Kroger boost membership, so I am getting free delivery. So worth it

[@ALinn-vr3nl]

Wow, for only $1, and with a toddler - that's a huge bargain. Brilliant idea. How do you pay, please? Do they bring an ATM thingy out to you at your car, to slide your card?

[@MarinaMinkin]

@@ALinn-vr3nl I am using a credit card. I am not trying to make my life difficult (I am paying it fully)

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

@@ALinn-vr3nl - I order most of my groceries online here in Canada as well. (So much easier than lugging my groceries home on the bus!) Once my order is complete, they charge my credit card. It's very handy. Then they just deliver my groceries to my doorstep in big rubbermaid bins. I pay $8 a month to be a 'member' with them. I order groceries every week, so that works out to $2 delivery per order, plus members get large discounts on certain items that non-member don't. Anyhow, every seller has their own rules and perks. But it sure is convenient to have my groceries delivered! :)

[@HydrogenTwoO]

One thing I do is about halfway through the week, I look in the fridge and see what I may have bought too much of or is about to spoil (for example, meat that needs cooked). I meal plan, but sometimes I don't eat everything I expected to, which is totally okay, because I can stick it in the freezer! This saves so much money, and then I "shop" my freezer when I'm meal planning for the next week. Since doing this, food is wasted a lot less, which IS money.

[@lydiah7184]

We purchased a 1/4 cow and 1/2 pig from a local farmer. Obviously a big expense right away but we’re getting ALL cuts of meat, even steaks and short ribs for around $5/pound.

[@ALinn-vr3nl]

You are impressive!

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

That's a great idea. I'm trying to find a local farmer to do the same thing.

[@IzzyTheGent]

Something that has helped me is ordering whatever groceries I can online and picking them up for free at the store. 1) I can check my stock at home in real time. 2) I’m not tempted to buy anything that I might see in the store that’s not on my list. 3) I can easily check for digital coupons-especially if they pop up automatically on the item’s page before I add it to cart.

[@AmeliaUnleashed]

YES. I agree

[@tduck828]

What stores is it free? I don't recall any in my area that's free. It's all subscription based plus everything in the app is more expensive.

[@tammyjohnson5368]

I agree. I'm able to pickup groceries for free on the Walmart app

[@tduck828]

​@@tammyjohnson5368I can 100% tell you the app charges more for every single item than in the store though.

[@IzzyTheGent]

@@tduck828 Kroger or Walmart. If there’s not a Kroger in your area but another store that’s in the Kroger family, perhaps they’ll have free pickup. Can’t say for sure though.

[@soultreesims]

These are great tips! Here are a few other things you can do to spend less money and reduce food waste. For those who would like to buy in bulk, but can’t really afford the bulk cost or maybe don’t need a large quantity, try splitting with a family or friend who may need staple kitchen items. For example, each person could pitch in $100 and get the meats, pasta, breads and then split the items evenly, and the other could get condiments, dairy items and sauces. You could also come up with a list of items you both need that may fall outside of the staple items, and then split that total cost once items are purchased. For my family, we go to Sam’s club, so we could split the 3 Pk of prego sauce, and the 8 pk of pasta, and members mark chicken between three family’s and be paying significantly less, for more.

[@DivineHarmonyHealing444]

My biggest tip (that isn't necessarily the easiest but is definitely healthy) is to grow things so you don't have to buy them for a season or maybe even a year. Salad items, corn, tomatoes, beans or whatever you tend to buy a lot of seasonally, can be grown yourself for just a few pennies!

[@MomGetsMoney]

This is great for fresh herbs, which are way overpriced at the store and add so much flavor to healthy foods

[@kasession]

I think 'Meal Plan' should be #1. It made a big difference for me. 👍🏿

[@ALinn-vr3nl]

Yes, same for me. I also finally finished creating a 4-week rotation menu (2 breakfasts, lunches, and dinners per week, eaten on alternate days. The breakfasts are no-cook cereal and toast breakfasts, and sandwiches for lunches. Fruit and veg at each meal.) I've done weekly planning as above, for years, but never created a rotation menu for the month. The rotation menu has slashed my grocery bill, and is such a relief and relaxing to have. No more weekly meal planning, except to check the produce in the fridge to see what i don't need to buy. So now i'm just tweaking the rotation menu. I'm buying and eating a lot less, and lower on the food chain. It's such a relief to know what's ahead and not have to plan weekly.

[@sissiemay9603]

Never shop hungry

[@nodiraslife]

Pre kids, I was all for brand names thinking store brand weren't as good. Later, I realized all brand names are full of artificial flavors and synthetic dyes. That makes them so special and fast selling. Now, I read most of the ingredients to cut the cost and eat healthier

[@h.a.mmorgan1939]

As I utuber says on her channel, "recipes are suggestions" ,I strongly agree. I made lentil soup recently. The recipe called for tofu. I didn't have any, so I substituted leftover chicken saved and frozen from a different meal. A double win. The meat was not wasted, and there no need to purchase additional food item.

[@BrandonHamrac-p3g]

Something I absolutely love about your videos is that whenever you talk about a product or service during your video, you keep it short and to the point. They're usually brief enough that I don't even skip past them

[@estercabillon3918]

I would like to add that legumes, like beans, lentils, chickpeas and others more, are a great source of protein at a very low price! ✌️Not talking about going vegan altogether, but considering adding beans in your weekly meal plan 😁🤗

[@laurenmanning3672]

Yes! I was going to comment this. Rachel had suggested eating pasta or grilled cheese instead of meat and certainly those are yummy, but beans and lentils and avocados are such great sources of healthy protein and pretty inexpensive. One of our favorite meals is bean dip (cooked, seasoned dry beans with salsa and cheese in it. Tortilla chips to dip!) so good!

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

Agreed! Especially if you get them dried, not canned. A little more work, but a huge savings!

[@milaalaniva775]

I do a lot of "chili con carne" style half beans half some kind of ground turkey, beef anything plus lots of rice. Digestion improves as well 😅.

[@mademoisellesura]

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten is don’t be loyal to a particular store, even your local grocery store (as much as that might hurt). When I go grocery shopping I go to three different places for different things (all in the same town) because certain things are cheaper at certain places.

[@matthill2957]

Me too, I go Aldi first, then Walmart, and finally then Dierbergs, Schnucks, or Fresh Thyme for the specialty items and they will sometimes have great deals

[@tduck828]

​@matthill2957 lol those are all the same stores I frequent and exactly same order. Too funny!

[@ALinn-vr3nl]

I used to do that, but the amount of time, gas, and other car expenses (including car purchase price per mile) actually made this far more expensive, and a huge chunk of my time. I also impulse-purchased more. I saved a ton of money after asking a classmate in college how she had time to get As on her work. She said she just ran errands on one day per week, only. I decided to try it. When deciding which day would be my day, it had to be a weekday, to do both business and personal errands. It had to be a day there were no public meetings in the evening, in case errands spilled over into evening. And I wanted to choose a day that I could most likely stick to, for life, regardless of the jobs or career I had over time, because I wanted to build a convenient pattern for life. So I chose Friday, and highly recommend it. No public meetings on Friday nights, typically. I can always go out on Saturday nights. I wrote down every errand that came to mind during the week, to do on Friday (no matter how impossible it seemed to wait til Friday), instead of grabbing the car keys. As soon as I wrote down each errand for Friday, I'd realize how I could wait til then. That first Friday, the list was insanely long, because I'd been bargain shopping at multiple grocery stores, hardware stores, and office supply stores, etc., each week. I couldn't do all those errands on Friday. Too exhausting. So after that first Friday, i decided to alternate which stores I went to each week: one grocery store one week, another grocery store the next. Ditto hardware and office supply stores. This slashed my driving mileage for errands by 50%! And saved massive time. The structure helped me plan ahead better each week. I filled the tank every Friday, til the pump clicked off, and started writing down in a little notebook I kept on my dashboard how many gallons each week, to the 3 decimal points on the pump. I started comparing the weekly number of gallons it was taking to fill the tank every 7 days. Gradually, without trying, my gas use decreased. 9 years later, I had gone from an average of 10 gallons/week, down to an average of 1.5 gallons/week. This has saved me $150,000 over the past 30 years. It extended the life of my old car by 10 years. So it really pays off to have a weekly errand day (Friday!).

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

@@ALinn-vr3nl - Very smart! It takes discipline and organization skills to do this. The amount of money and time saved are huge! Plus, you're far less likely to impulse buy if you're not running errands multiple times per week. Well done!!

[@shannontauzer2858]

We usually do a frig dinner once a week, all the leftovers that didn't get eaten for lunch and odds and ends we either make something new or just reheat the old stuff. This also gives us a chance to clean out the frig and get rid of stuff that is a little too old cause life happens and things get pushed to the back of the frig.

[@frank-the-tank75]

Great idea, Shannon! A perfect way to ensure no food goes to waste in this tough economy in which we all are living. Lis Pendens.

[@isay207]

Can make a hearty soup too

[@michellepaulson3235]

We do breakfast for supper as well! The kids love it! They help make the pancakes (adding chocolate chips), eggs and sausage or bacon. It's nice they chip in to make the food so I get a break!

[@jayrome8245]

tip: Beans & Rice!

[@rbgz246]

Rice and beans... beans and rice 👍 😃

[@lyra2112]

I was surprised she didn't say it 😂

[@MoneyMan28]

@@lyra2112 She doesn't know

[@shannonobrien9922]

I make this rice that's AMAZING and cheap! I get the Aldi brand- theirs is the best (even best Zatarains for us!) Get 2 boxes Jambalaya rice, 2 tubes cheap 1lb tube of sausage - cook all together= YUM!!!!!!

[@KateMoranHere]

Great list. I'd add the tip of cutting down on processed snack foods (cookies, chips, etc.) and soda if you can. That stuff is just so expensive and eats up a ton of grocery dollars.

[@matthill2957]

Facts, im guilty of this forsure

[@ALinn-vr3nl]

Agreed! I have been shocked to see how much I'm filling in between meals with those items, and how much I have been spending on them. They've gone up so much. A standard bag of Fritos is now $4.50! I used to buy one type of chips each week (potato chips, fritos, or tortilla chips.) Not all 3. I'm gradually returning to that (hopefully). I've never been a soda fan, but now buy flavored sparkling water, to add to orange juice. It's nice, and healthier than soda, but it costs $4-6 every few weeks for 8? cans.

[@MsYoast]

Two young kiddos, husband is a firefighter so gone for days at a time, and I work full time. Certain convenience foods are a lifesaver and can be part of a "healthy" meal if you counteract with fruit and veg. My kids LOVE breakfast for dinner. Probably once a week we have scrambled eggs, bacon, and about a 1/4 bag of tater tots or a few microwave pancakes. (Eggs, there is that cheap protein you talked about). Happy plates from both every time and maybe costs $5 total. Also do a frozen cheese pizza and a bagged salad kit often and Happy Plates every time. They LOVE spaghetti and a can of green beans with fruit as a side. They LOVE a PB&J with some sliced cucumber and fruit as a side. Easy and cheap. Saves my sanity and they are happy. I figure as long as half my meal is made of fruit or veg (yes even canned veg is fine) they are eating healthier than most kids. Also...pro-tip, if you have a kid that won't eat vegetables start with canned vegetables. They are sort of bland, and very soft, so the kids are less resistant to the texture and flavor (because there is less of each). We started with canned carrots, then when they got use to those brought in carrot sticks. Started with canned green beans then brought in fresh ones sautéed in oil. Started with steamed bag broccoli and then brought in fresh. Works like a charm.

[@HoganHomefront]

I’m a firefighters wife as well! He just started 3 months ago and we’ve got a 3 year old and and 2 year old and our third one due in April! 🤯 So definitely loving your tips, the only thing that’s keep me sane right now is grocery delivery! We got a super reduced price for the year after the trial period at Walmart and it has saved me this whole pregnancy!

[@GratefulDeb270]

I love using a grocery app & then pick them up. No impulse buys! Yay!

[@nicholasselke5214]

I like how even though this is strictly about groceries, this video touched on probably the simplest way to save money in all facets: stop buying things you don’t need. I frequently give this advice when people ask me how to save money, but then they dismiss it as if it doesn’t work. It doesn’t work when you don’t follow that advice

[@Sahmgirl]

Meatless Monday doesnt mean deprivation. We do loaded baked potatoes, beans & rice, veggie soup, etc. Once a week with no meat is surprisingly helpful to the budget, but my kids (all boys) still love the food!

[@thorneto2742]

How do you manage to hit your minimum daily protein without eating meat?

[@elvirarustamova3013]

@@thorneto2742beans , lentils, nuts, mushrooms. Tuna is cheap protein and not meat

[@zach3127]

@@elvirarustamova3013 Tuna like the fish? AKA meat?

[@elvirarustamova3013]

@@zach3127 I didn’t think Fish is the same thing as red meat.

[@HerAeolianHarp]

@@thorneto2742 There's protein in a lot of plant-based foods.

[@alice5931]

When you are looking at protein ALWAYS check your local butcher shop. They may be more expensive on certain cuts, but for burger, sausage and soup bones they are almost always cheaper than your grocery stores that have to truck things in.

[@gregdotson2129]

I agree with having a price book that gives you the ‘normal’ prices of the items you use. As well as knowing what you have already. The one thing I didn’t see/hear. Was to meal plan based on that inventory, AND the sales. This is what I do. I plan my menu based on what I already have as well as what’s on sale for a good price. This is usually the protein because that are so expensive. The other thing that wasn’t mentioned was to know the price per amount. By this I mean know if buying the bulk item from Costco is cheaper than buying smaller items on sale at the local grocery store. Buying in bigger quantities is not always cheaper. The other thing I do is that I have the leftovers from the night before as lunch the next day. Saves time and money from eating out.

[@tammyturowski6703]

What is a normal price?? Prices go up regularly haha

[@jenniferrosenthal7731]

I keep track of lowest prices I’ve seen and date it. For example, I will not buy cereal unless I get it under $1/box. Often I can get it for around .75/box and stock up and have a healthy supply until I see sales with digital coupons that make it worth it for me again. For things I don’t have as much control over such as eggs, I buy 5 dozen when they’re cheap and then again, watch for the sales. I kind of have store sale cycles memorized and know when stuff is actually a good deal.

[@tammyturowski6703]

@@jenniferrosenthal7731 yes my brain remembers the cost of things too. I know when it's a good deal. J don't loom at the cost after I've already checked out haha

[@leepayk-bann3489]

I use a keep cup for coffee when i can or have a coffee before I leave instead of buying in a coffee shop.

[@carkarlaw]

The supermarket in Canada is monoplized by the big three (Loblaws, Sobeys, and Metro). My tips is: Shop elsewhere, namely Chinese grocery store. You will see very different produces/fruits/snacks but some of them are way fresher and cheaper. I went to a Middle East grocery and got good deals on these snack and bakery platter.

[@filiatreaufamily2322]

Meal planning is huge. Also planning breakfast and snacks. I also will stick to my list but if I come across sales on meat bc they need to restock I will buy it and freeze for a future meal. Aldi will sell meat on sale that still has a week before it needs to be frozen at 50% off!

[@joygarrett8397]

I frequently buy meat that is at or close to date for 30-40% off . . Put inside freezer bags or vacuum seal & put in my chest freezer. All marked with the BB date/date froze/ & use immediately upon defrost on the labels. If it’s a lg quantity item (family pack) I’ll break into smaller groupings before freezing. I live alone . . But if having company over I just defrost extra packages!!

[@frank-the-tank75]

Just spent $120 at Publix for 1 week for myself. Just seems like last year that same selection (I get the same food every week pretty much) was only $80.

[@monarene44]

A thrifty budget for one adult is $250 a month according to the usda cost of food chart.

[@frank-the-tank75]

@@monarene44 Thanks, Mona Peters. I will try to see about shopping at a cheaper supermarket and try to hit that $250 per month goal :-)

[@titusmom]

Not sure if you’re already doing this- but I love Publix and I find checking the app before going into the store really helps. I can see what is on sale for the current week and that has helped me to save money.

[@ALinn-vr3nl]

Yes, it probably was $80! I hear you. I've had several $120 one-week grocery trips for just myself in the last year. Ouch.

[@rachelblack9545]

You might want to shop somewhere cheaper. Where I live Publix is one of the more expensive stores.

[@geogriapeach5211]

Your viewers would enjoy Kari, Keep It Simple, DIY. Short and truly helpful.

[@matthill2957]

I go for store brands as much as i can but sometimes it is so bad that you cant do it lol

[@soultreesims]

For figuring out how to use up leftovers without it getting too boring, I think of a few meals I can make from one item. For example, I make chili and cornbread one night, then typically we have some leftover. So, I use the chili and make chili macaroni with pasta or cheese shells. Or I use it for hot dogs, French fries, or chili burgers. And for things like tacos (though we don’t always have leftover), we make taco salad, quesadillas or breakfast tacos.

[@lilpiggie7095]

Been doing grocery pickup for about 2 years or so. And its help a lot with budgeting. I dont get all the extra random stuff i dont need and helps me stay at a target price. Most places is free as long as you do the minimum, which is around 30 bucks or so.

[@paulmichaud3230]

1. Use a chest freezer (buying in bulk, buying on sale. I grew up poor and we had two large chest freezers.. and a huge garden) 2. Know your prices. You have to know what you typically pay for items to know a sale or if another store is cheaper. 3. Comparison shop and look what items cost per lb or oz. (My normal coffee costs 50% more in the larger bag. So, sometimes bulk costs more but you have to pay attention.) 4. Plan cheap meals. Growing up, things like sour cream and cream cheese where considered luxury items. Cereal is ridiculously expensive. Premade mixes are expensive. Tomato based meals are loaded with sugar and typically more expensive. You get the idea.

[@jenniferrosenthal7731]

I don’t add household products to our groceries. The grocery stores tend to be more pricey on those items and I coupon heavily for laundry items, personal care, medicines, etc… I consistently save 75%, sometimes even more.

[@genevievenelson9400]

Same here, and I completely agree with you😊

[@kellykersten8828]

I budget those separately also. I have food and then household and then health and beauty.

[@laneyluneva]

Why do we all buy sour cream and it turns out there's one hiding in the back of the fridge? 😂🤣 Also buying in bulk is a good way to get everyone disinterested in whatever food it is!

[@nodiraslife]

Exactly

[@reelcowboys]

Giving up meat is not negotiable. We've raised meat birds, have been given wild game, and I found a local meat processing plant in August. I ordered about 200 lbs of sirloin for $2.22 per pound. We just defrosted the last 8 lbs yesterday, cooked steaks, and what's leftover will be beef stew or added to a potato soup. I let hubby have the pick of what to turn the left overs into. I've also made a stir fry with left over steak. Putting in the work to process meat can save you a lot of money. The last meat birds we raised did cost us $2.04 per lb. The last deer that we processed was given to us from a ranch in a land management program. Basically about 40 lbs of beautiful meat for free. I even cook the front legs whole to get as much meat as possible out of it.

[@susannekimberland1951]

Batch cook meat on the grill on Sunday. I switched from 647 bread which soared in price even at Aldi to Aldi white bread that is .50 per loaf (vs 647 that is $4.09 per loaf). Save money and will reduce amount of bread to keep on track with Weight Watchers. I buy popcorn kernels and pop in plain paper bag in microwave. Saves the waistline and wallet!

[@sheryl7837]

I’m grateful to say that we are blessed to not have a grocery budget, HOWEVER, I still have a habit of doing many of these things that Rachel suggests. I always look for the quality meats and seafood that are marked down $1-$2 or more per item. I just plan to use them sooner or freeze it. We love good leftovers so I often make extra to use later. Store brands can be just as good as the name brands, you need to experiment a bit. And yes, meal prep and a grocery list are a must for me. Thanks Rachel, I’m always up for saving money!

[@hannahwhite9014]

This topic has been super relevant for me since my parents asked my siblings and I to take care of the grocery bill for our family of 8 (plus friends and family that often come over.) We follow most of these tips and are able to get our budget around $700/month (vs. $1400 previously, which I still think is relatively good for a family of our size.) A few general tips I would add: 1. Look for the price per pound/oz. for the best price. It’s often in bulk *but not always* 2. Just like your regular budget, your grocery budget can’t be all serious. Have a small budget for fun stuff like ice cream. (We often found ourselves going to the store when we wanted a dessert or something. Just go ahead and give yourself permission to enjoy a treat without going overboard on the budget.) 3. Simply your meals. More ingredients = more 💸. Having repeat meals in the month also helps with that. **If you want to get extreme with paring down your budget, I would** 4. Meal plan for the month. We also shop for the month but that’s really tough. At least look ahead for birthdays, parties, or special events/holidays that you want to buy food for. Those are sneaky expenses that add up. 5. Cook more from scratch. Ex. You can make marinara sauce cheaper than buying it already made, and you can cook it in bulk and save for later. See what little swaps you can make to save-and it’s usually healthier too! There’s a lot more we do and it’s pretty insane what I do to put our budget together but these are big things I’m learning and still learning new things!

[@IAmebAdger]

Re: 2. Good idea! I think planning for little treats is a wonderful thing as looking forward to a nice thing is a happy experience in itself. However regarding impulse buys of little treats there's a trick where you can save lots of money: Sleep on it... for 24 or 48 hours. If you still want that same treat after all that then it must be worth it, but a lot of the time you don't want it anymore and therefore have saved money.

[@ALinn-vr3nl]

Wait, $700/month for 8 people?? I thought I was being fugal at $300/month for 1 person. x8 would be $2400. Two years ago, I could spend just $200 - 250/month, but not anymore. Do you live on the coast or inlind? In California, we pay a small fortune. Especially in the last 9 months or so, food prices have sky-rocketed. Congratulations on doing so well! That's $87.50/person/month. At an average of 4.3 weeks/month, that's an average of only $20.34 per person per week. Are you sure it's that low? That would mean eating nothing but oatmeal and raisins for breakfast, and beans, rice, and just onions, carrots, and celery for lunch and dinner. At least where I live. How do you eat, please? Can you give me examples of a typical breakfast, lunch, and dinner?

[@zekrk504]

Great advice Rachel, Thank You!!

[@reginabeasley872]

Rachel Cruz heres a great tip for saving money on groceries i shop the aisles by doing this i spend less time in the store and just buy the items I need and don't waste time going down aisles i don't need or use the items example ( pet aisle, i don't have a dog or cat,i have 2 parakeets, and buy their seed at petsmart ) nor do i go down the baby food aisle ( don't have any babies) by avoiding unnecessary aisles it saves time and money

[@terryhenderson424]

Not so much on buying groceries but on reducing the cost of thier utilization, consider adding a small number of cooked legumes (ie beans) to what ever and where ever you can. Add a handful or two to soups, stews, salads, casseroles, and even spaghetti sauce. The fiber rich addition of both carb and protien is filling and often makes dishes more nutritionally complete which in turn satisfies. A partial can works and left overs can be frozen short term (0-3 months). But you can also cook up "a mess of beans" (1 lb bags work pretty well as a start) then freeze the left overs in usable portions; 1 cup or 1/2 cup portii3ns work well as a start. I like to create chubs by: freezing cooled beans in something like dairy or soft margarine containers, pop out like ice cubes, stuff each chub down a bread bag seperated by 2 layers of waxed paper or a small piece of parchment, secure the bag end with a twist tie and return to the freezer ready for use.

[@ALinn-vr3nl]

Smart! Great ideas. Thank you. I love the chub idea, all stored in a bread bag.

[@twinmama16]

Something else you could add, is growing your own food, even if its micro greens

[@twoods2914]

I was told to buy soap berries for my washing which I bought a bag that does 365 washes. So even if I washed once a day I could do this for a year without buying any more. The bag cost me $42 AUD. I also buy bulk dishwashing liquid and just refill it when needed. Bulk dishwasher tablets and hand soap. Saved a fortune. Wash my hair once per week which saves so much on shampoo and conditioner. I buy good ones but they last and hair lasts as well cause it’s not constantly being washed. Meal planning each week and now over Christmas period we are eating through freeze and pantry. Trying to buy little to nothing.

[@emilydeboer3121]

Where do you buy soap berries?

[@christhoene6141]

So I know this tip isn’t applicable to everyone but if you are close to a rural area talk to a local butcher shop or if you know a farmer who produces livestock ask them about buying meat direct. You do have to buy in bulk so there will be more cost upfront but you can buy meat often at about a third of the price as it would cost in the grocery store per pound. This is where some freezer space is a necessity but you will quickly come out ahead even if you have to buy a freezer. The quality of the meat is often significantly better and fresher than the grocery store. An even more advance tip is if you know a farmer you can work with, ask them if they have an animal with a small blemish that doesn’t affect the quality of the meat and can cut down your cost even more. Sometimes a farmer will have an animal with an injury or a blind eye or something that will cause their buyer to significantly discount the price the farmer gets only because it slows down the large processing line. Farmers are often happy to sell animals like this to someone local to have butchered at a local shop at a very reasonable price.

[@reginabeasley872]

Another grocery tip i use is your hmo insurance has perks they give you an allowance for paying utility bills and buying healthy foods if you take advantage of this you can get foods with your benefits ( at specified stores,they usually tell you,) to buy water fruits vegetables etc this really helps me save money on groceries

[@s.r.gemmill6246]

Buy "store" brands vs. name brands for cereal, chips, oatmeal. A lot are 1/2 the price.

[@AmyBard-l9d]

I have tracked the food that we pack in our lunches and what we normally eat every month. So I know how much of everything we need for a month. I watch for it to go on sale and buy all of that item then. Saves me a bunch of money. We are always buying for a month in advance in case of...

[@bettedavis9261]

Thanks for these ideas! I can attest to the fact that they all work, as I've done them all for years (well, not the grocery store app, but prior to that, I looked at the weekly paper ads). I'd love some ideas I don't already do, though.❤

[@ALinn-vr3nl]

This evening, I posted a few ideas, above, that save me money. I hope they help!

[@syndarill]

I feel like a big issue for some of us is being blind to what we have in our fridge/pantry already. I find that apps and websites where you input what foods you have in the house and they spit out recipes for you help a LOT. Because sometimes we don't realize that all these random items can be used to make something and now we no longer have to go to the store for dinner that night

[@slelpssinal]

What apps are you talking about? Do you have any names? I think that’s a good idea.!

[@syndarill]

@@slelpssinal supercook and magic fridge are ones I’ve used in the past. But I’m sure there’s more

[@michellefitz4287]

Me too. I would like to hear which apps would help. Please share!

[@ALinn-vr3nl]

@@michellefitz4287 Yes, me three! I would like to know the names of these apps, too, please.

[@sharimason2977]

Buy non food items at big box store instead of grocery store

[@reginabeasley872]

When possible i use the digital coupon ( depending on if i use the items) i shop the store aisle

[@terryhenderson424]

On and off, it has been more frugal for us to meal plan AFTER grocery shopping. This has been true when we've shopped places with unadvertized sales, markdowns, and clearance. Based upon the sales, fridge, freezer, pantry, and likelyhood of finding a deal i will pencil in a meal plan before heading out. There have been times i havent even started a meal plsn becsuse the likelyhood of finding deals has bern high enough; not near as guaranteed any more though. When im organized, i still start with a sales based shopping list for each store. Under the store name is a columnized list with iten name, cost per unit, how many units to buy, what that total will be, and if/whst type of coupon or bogo requirement exists.

[@ALinn-vr3nl]

That's smart. Do you ever check the online store ads in advance, so you can know what will the deals will be, beforehand?

[@terryhenderson424]

@@ALinn-vr3nl We have resisted apps and digital coupons. Without them it gets increasingly difficult. I used to spread the newspaper ads out, skim them, then make a columnar list by store while circling required coupons and starring sales items on the list. Then I would write the sales cost each, number to buy, total cost per item, and a c of coupon required. If it didn't have all the info, then it was an item to remember but not on the buying list. From there I would put a number at the store name to indicate which order to shop. Depending upon what I found, I didn't always go to all the stores.

[@terryhenderson424]

@@ALinn-vr3nl Currently, we don't shop the national chains as much because we can often get better prices at WinCo, Grocery Outlet, and a few other stores; this includes better than WalMart. WinCo will often have some items at a lesser price to move them along. Markdowns and clearance aren't what they used to be. Not near as often nor as deep except for at a couple of very small, local, stores or chains.

[@terryhenderson424]

@@ALinn-vr3nl Back in the day, we used to be able to go to one store Tues @11:30 PM and get 50% off of what was left of the previous weeks sale price meat and also the Wed ad price on that meat. The other half was on 2nd shift and we would meet for date night at the grocery store; I didn't even look at other stores meat ads until after Tues night most weeks but I did keep my eyes open for markdowns. For a couple years elsewhere, Sun between 8AM and 9AM was when the markdown milk products went on markdown; we were sure to stop by on our way elsewhere with a cooler. From the milk cooler we would travel to produce past meat tomseek markmdowns then based upon price determine what type of cream-of soup would be on the menu. Then the grocery list and menu plan would begin in earnest. For a while there we could buy banana and apple boxes of culled produce at a produce store for $1-$5. We went Sat mornings cause if we bought, it was a full day (or 2) of food prep.

[@jenniferdavis6346]

I use rebate apps and combine that with sale prices and coupons for the cheapest price. If I see a clearance item, I scan it with the app to check for coupons. I have a set price I will purchase items at and stock up when they hit that price. I try to get the best deals so we can have treats at home so we aren’t tempted to go out to eat.

[@joannafoster3423]

Costco Meats rarely are cheaper than Walmart or other stores sale prices. For that matter, Costco is rarely cheaper than sale or generic prices elsewhere. Plus those Costco membership fees....

[@tammyturowski6703]

Costco is very expensive

[@gabilafora4204]

I do that, I know what is cheaper where and I go to different places for different things

[@litfuses7765]

Aldi is a life saver! Try it once!!

[@rg-mi5hh]

We don't meal plan. We keep the pantry and freezer stocked with what we use. Get it all at lower prices than filling in what is missing for a meal at regular prices. Instead of meal planning, we spend that time organizing so we don't lose food. We buy mostly at Aldi, and on sale meat at our local grocery store. Their sales are cheaper than Walmart or Aldi.

[@tduck828]

I like fruit and veggies. Hard to freeze and stock up.

[@tammyturowski6703]

​@@tduck828then buy what's in season and on sale. Buy the rest in bulk

[@pkmat6786]

Dollar stores are a good resource as well.

[@oggy7796]

Snacks and soda is not good for your health and costs a lot. Good if you can reduce or completely remove these from your diet.

[@Macsrus5]

Our local butcher cuts fresh ribeyes as you order. The end pieces that are left, are not “pretty” , so he sells them for FIVE dollars! It equals about an 8 ounce ribeye! We stock up on them and eat like we’re rich😂 It’s Sterling Beef👏

[@believe446mj6]

Meal plans always, 😊 get the store brand, Putting a straw in the squeezer for everyday products like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash ….reduces the amount ，we usually squeeze out a lot, especially for kids. We don't need that much. I love this way to reduce the amount. It's healthy, saves time and water 😆 helps the environment

[@mattyp3119]

Wait. Someone at ramsay has a more thought out opinion than rice and beans? Or kraft dinner? Wow sophisticated.

[@vamsiramineedi6296]

Replace the meat with beans to save more money on groceries and health!

[@joaquimrodriguez8961]

To avoid double buying , we write on list as they run out . I,e no wasting no double buying. Simple, it works for us.

[@Aleksandar6ix]

I am getting a new job where a lot of time will be spent travelling - the locations I go to aren't necessarily the best for 'eating at work', so what can I do there? I'm a single guy, and often don't find the energy to cook after a long week.

[@billwilliams5889]

Perhaps I missed it, but did you talk about buying store brands whenever possible ? Big savings ……

[@krystalb7745]

Meal ideas that satisfy the kids is what is challenging. I make a plan and after multiple meal rejections I loose my flow. Any ideas anyone??

[@meganemery6312]

I have a Pinterest board labeled “meals” and I will periodically spend a few minutes on Pinterest looking for kid friendly looking dinners. I’ll try these recipes out, and the ones the kids actually like/eat, stay on the Pinterest board: the rest I remove! This gives me a collection of recipes to go to when I’m not sure what to meal plan for the week: bonus points if the recipes are EASY and non expensive.

[@joannafoster3423]

Meal plan using mostly meals you know they like. I take meal requests from my kids as well. If they don't like what's served, after at least trying it, they may have pb&j or cereal.

[@melissapowell2848]

Include them in the planning. Also, if old enough let them help with dinner. They are more inclined to eat what they pick or help with.

[@tammyturowski6703]

If they're hungry, they'll eat. Or let them cook the meal. What an odd question.

[@meganemery6312]

⁠@@tammyturowski6703 not an odd question, don’t be rude.

[@OscarM.94]

Helpful video👍🏽

[@christinejorgenson2439]

I go to the meat department and look for markdowns. It is meat that will be on the sell by date. I will look to see if it looks fresh,etc, before I buy it.

[@justinefox9152]

Such a bummer for me because eating more carbs and less meat makes me sick and spikes my blood sugar. Eating cheaper made me health decline and I am paying for it now 😢

[@giainto5564]

Put scrambled eggs on rice. Cheap!

[@OscarM.94]

🔥🔥

[@deborasmith5191]

I didn't hear you say to skip the cut up veggies and cut them yourself whenever possible. Another idea is to make items from scratch vs buying ready made - cookies, muffins, pizza, or anything else. Skipping the organic variety will save money. Sometimes the regular stuff looks better than organic variety. I know that may not be ideal, but temporarily it will save money.

[@danielwalicke6635]

Unfortunately, some of the genetic name brands are almost as expensive as a the name brands now.

[@terricox3559]

Pleasantly surprised to see that i do all of these. Two adults two cats and we spend £200 a month

[@davidbrooks8809]

Make homemade cookies and homemade biscuits it's cheaper... also when you make something with hamburger just use half the hamburger

[@nildabridgeman8104]

Excellent tips.. tnx

[@ericknaub7194]

I always pay attention to price per ounce - Bigger is not always better sometimes smaller is the better value- also when shopping around consider travel time cost I.E driving 30 min to save 5.00 may not be worth it

[@bobgmailcom6868]

Ok. Calling these tips a way to save half off your groceries is a big stretch. Let’s not oversell. Key tip to add is see the $/lb and $/oz on shelf label. Any good store has it so you can see which pasta sauce is 8% cheaper and make your call.

[@josecaraballo6053]

I shop instacart to not go over budget..

[@DjBaapreB]

Take your time to change habits 👍

[@Emriv]

I don’t cut corners with my food or laundry/cleaning supplies… NOPE !

[@tyronemcsanchez]

Buy half of what you normally buy

[@jimt6151]

Shop for fruit, vegetables, and meat/poultry at a local farmer's market. You'll get better quality, healthier, more nutrient-dense, better tasting food for your money. You'll eat healthier, which can save on medical expenses, and reduce or eliminate the cost of store-bought vitamins and supplements to make up for what isn't in the factory-farm food (or to recover from what IS in the factory-farm food). Because the food is locally grown, you won't be paying for warehousing, trucking, and other expenses of the supply chain. And, with minimal or no processing involved, you'll pay for FOOD, not for labor and industrial processing or fancy packaging.

[@renethumann4871]

Over ripe ready to eat bananas 🍌 and freeze them for smoothies later in the week

[@HerAeolianHarp]

Or use four in banana bread.

[@daveassanowicz186]

#1 Never Go Grocery Shopping HUNGRY

[@tylersweet3554]

Amazing that the number one way to cut down on your grocery bills wasn't on here, and that is to make a grocery list, and stick to it. Shopping hungry, and without a plan leads to a cart full of impulse buys. If you go in knowing you're just buying chicken, tortillas, coffee, and beets; you wont walk out with oreos, frozen pizza, orange juice, spaghetteo's, pork chops, and precut carrots.

[@ALinn-vr3nl]

lol - so true.

[@davidbrooks8809]

Great Information thanks

[@rachelblack9545]

Shopping at a cheaper grocery store - walmart, aldi etc was a major miss on her list.

[@stephaniejensen4596]

I looked up "least expensive, most nutritious food" to obtain some ingredient ideas....

[@carolinemurphy3087]

As an animal based eater.. we find GREAT prices …on sale🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@shannonobrien9922]

That isn't possible for me ...for June, I spent a whooping $100

[@SbzeroGames]

Right now, because of inflation, generics are flying off the shelves and you are left to buying the name brand.

[@johncameron4194]

Aldi!

[@jolenegonzales4295]

I disagree with buying the store brand of products. The majority of the store brands add several ingredients that are really bad for you vs the name brand. Always read the labels!!!

[@lastredcentfarm3375]

When buying chicken buy a whole chicken. It’s cheaper per pound then use the carcass to make chicken stock in ur crockpot.

[@tistheseasonforpoetrybyvan239]

"Four Walls: Housing, Utilities, Transportation, and Food"

[@DarleneEhalt-r1h]

Rice and beans

[@central3425]

Generic brands often have lower quality ingredients. For example, beef broth at the basic generic level had some nasty chemical based preservatives whereas the more expensive broth had natural integredients and less chemicals. Thats a consideration as well

[@hayleyroche4379]

I think years ago the generic brands probably did compare. But now they just don’t. They taste bad, go off more quickly, or you have to use more to get the same effectiveness. There are some exceptions but across the board I don’t believe it saves money

[@slelpssinal]

I agree!

[@shaneomack5018]

Inexpensive > cheap