How to Save Money on Groceries: 3 Tips to Cut Costs
Groceries are a necessity, but it’s no secret that, recently, they can also drain your bank account. Thankfully, there are strategies you can use to save money no matter how many people you may be feeding in your household.
Continue reading our blog to discover some great tips on how to save money on groceries including creating budgets and joining grocery store loyalty programs.
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Creating a Grocery Budget
Learning how to save money on groceries can be overwhelming at first, but with the right tools, you’ll be able to incorporate it into your daily routine. In this section, we’ll share some helpful techniques you can use as you begin to create a grocery budget that’s specific to your needs.
Track Your Current Spending
The first step to discovering what you should be spending on your groceries is knowing what you’re currently spending. You can do this by keeping your grocery receipts.
This will give you a realistic picture of how much you’re spending and what you’re buying. We recommend creating a spreadsheet that breaks down your spending habits into broad categories such as beverages, produce, meat, etc. Once you break your costs down, you’ll see which of these categories you can spend less on.
Set Aside a Portion of Your Income
Your grocery budget will depend heavily on your income level and how many people are in your family. If you’re not sure how to figure this out, you may want to consider using a grocery calculator. A good baseline to work from is allocating about 10% of your income to your grocery budget.
Plan Your Meals
Keeping a budget is easier when you have a plan. Meal planning has become increasingly popular over the last few years for many reasons. While some people do it for time efficiency or healthy habits, others do it to help with their grocery budget.
When you plan out your meals every week, you know exactly what you need to buy and how much of it you need. This eliminates food waste and will also keep you from splurging on unnecessary products.
Have an Accessible Grocery List
It’s easy to forget what you need or don’t need as your walk down the aisles of a grocery store. This is why we are firm believers in keeping a handwritten grocery list on your fridge or somewhere else in your kitchen space.
Doing this allows you to write down any items you may need to replace the moment you realize it. Having a list nearby can not only keep you accountable as you buy your groceries, but it also ensures that you’re buying the food you know you need.
3 Ways to Save Money on Groceries
Now that you have the tools to create a grocery budget, it’s time to see how to save money on groceries. Below, we’ve listed 4 ways you can begin saving today and in the future.
1. Join a Grocery Store Loyalty Program
Joining a grocery store loyalty program can go a long way toward cutting costs and keeping some extra cash in your pockets. At Stauffers of Kissel Hill, you can sign up for our signature rewards program.
Easy and accessible, our rewards program doesn’t require you to carry a card or key fob, all you need is your mobile phone number when you check out. You’ll earn points with each purchase, have the ability to save on featured brands, and receive the lowest prices we have to offer. Plus, you get a $10 savings coupon at the register for every $500 spent at one of our Fresh Foods stores.
For more information about Stauffer’s signature rewards, check our rewards FAQs page, and sign up today.
2. Stay Up-to-Date on Coupons & Sales
Another way to cut costs is learning how to save money on groceries with coupons. Staying up-to-date on select sale foods as well as available coupons can not only help with spending, but it can also help as you create your grocery list.
Before you go shopping, look at what type of sales your store offers. At Stauffers of Kissel Hill, you can sign up for digital coupons by joining our email list or download coupons before you shop by checking out our website. Being a part of our loyalty program will also give you exclusive access to coupons to use as you check out.
3. Stick to Your Original Grocery List
As we mentioned before, creating a grocery list can come in handy when trying to save money. You can do this by keeping a handwritten list or using a digital one. Stauffers of Kissel Hill offers an online shopping list feature that will allow you to add your favorite grocery items before you go shopping.
We give you the option to organize your list by department to ensure you don’t miss anything, plus you’re able to print out a physical copy to bring with you as you shop.
Putting these tips into practice and sticking to a grocery budget may be hard at first, but in the long run, it can benefit you and your family for many years to come.