One of the best areas to cut back in your budget each month is the grocery category. Trust me I know how it can add up and if you have kids in your household you definitely are spending a lot of money each month feeding those growing mini-humans. While it seems impossible at times to cut back on food expenses, I have come up with several ways to save money on grocery expenses each month.
Buy Generic
I buy generic in almost every single brand. Some people are convinced there's a difference but if you don't believe me just check the ingredient labels of your normal brand and the store brand. 95% of the time they are identical. Buying generic saves me so much money that I can't even imagine what would happen if I started buying name brands. I buy generic everything - cereal, coffee, water, canned goods, frozen veggies, cheeses, household paper goods, and medications.Plan Meals
If you have no idea how to get into meal planning you need to read my meal planning tutorial post. Once you start meal planning you'll be buying only what you need until your next grocery trip and you'll be able to take the time to think of affordable meal options for your family.Portion Control
If you can't convince yourself to exercise portion control for dietary benefits than surely saving money will be a better motivator. Would I like to eat an entire box of cereal in two days? Probably. Is it saving me money? Nope. So I figure out how many bowls are each box of cereal and then I'm able to limit myself to one bowl a night (or every other night) until my next grocery trip.Avoid Impulse Purchases
Stick to a grocery list (part of meal planning) and only purchase what's on the list. You'll avoid impulse buys if you adhere to strict guidelines of only buying what you've planned to eat. Whether it's your breakfast foods or your dessert, you have to stick to a plan and a list.Buy Frozen Over Fresh
Instead of buying onions or beans or broccoli from the fresh produce area of my grocery store I always buy it frozen. It lasts longer and I don't waste any. And if you find a great deal on fresh produce, you can always chop it up and freeze it so you don't waste any. This may involve some research before you go to the store because you'll want to see if there are any specials in your local ad.Don't Fall for Coupons
Coupons can be a really great thing however they generally don't make coupons for generic brands. And you know what I realized after a bit of research? If I use the coupon for $1 off name brand coffee I'm still paying 50 cents - $1 more than if I buy the regularly low priced generic brand.Avoid Processed Foods
Processed foods are generally more expensive and they aren't the healthiest option. If you shop the exterior layout of your grocery store you'll likely be getting more fresh and frozen options.Budget Friendly Meals
You can choose to make budget friendly meals that include simple ingredients like a meat, a grain (rice), and a veggie. It might not be the most extravagant dinner but it'll be easier on your wallet.What steps do you take to save money each month on your groceries?
Be sure to join my Facebook group, Fixing Your Finances, to help you with your finance journey along the way.
Thanks for the tips. Coupling used to get me in trouble all the time. I was just buying things due to I had a coupon for it.
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That's what I used to do too! it was almost like an addiction because there was a thrill to it.
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