I have a philosophy about physical health and food. Either you spend your money at the grocery store (buying healthy food) or you spend it at the doctor’s office (trying to cure disease). Either way, you are spending the money, and you might as well eat healthy and be healthy than spend your life chasing doctor’s appointments and hospital bills. Quality of life is just as important as quantity.
NOTE: This is the first in a series of blogs to help my readers save cash and live better lives on less. The goal is to help people have a higher quality of life without the expense.
Reducing your grocery bill can be achieved through various creative strategies. Here are some ideas to help you save money while still eating well:
Meal Planning: Plan your meals for the week ahead of time. This prevents impulse buys and ensures you only buy what you need. Take a shopping list and keep it to a minimum. Check the ingredients that you have on hand before you leave for the grocery store so that you won’t have to throw away unused food.
Store Layout: Learn the layout of your local grocery store. Stores put dairy and meat products in the back of the store to force you to walk past other higher priced items that might entice you. Processed foods (pre-packaged, often having unhealthy ingredients) are higher priced and can be tempting to buy. If you only need milk, know the route to the dairy isle and don’t deviate! Only buy milk!
Sneaky Secret: Items displayed on end caps (on the end of the isles) are not necessarily on sale. Manufacturers pay for those prime spots in the store to entice a sale. Food manufacturers also pay for premium “eye level” shelf space, and those prices reflect it. You need to literally look up and down and compare prices on items. Also, be careful to check expiration dates. I can’t tell you how many times I have gotten home to see that a can of tomatoes expired last month.
Skip Nonessential Items:
- Drink tap water. Bottled water is unhealthy for the environment and unhealthy for your grocery budget. According to Statista.com (https://www.statista.com/statistics/237832/volume-of-bottled-water-in-the-us/), in 2022, 15.9 billion gallons of bottled water were sold in the United States. Per capita (e.g., per person) consumption of bottled water was 46.5 gallons that year. There are 7.5 bottles of 16.9 oz bottles of water per gallon, at $1.50 per bottle that is an average annual cost of $11.25 per gallon, time 46.5 equates into approximately $523 per year savings PER PERSON. Drink tap water!
- Clean your own fish! Fish is cheaper per pound if you buy the whole fish. Remove the head, tail, etc. at home. Not sure how? No worries. I am no chef either. Check out this YouTube Video on how to clean a fish (for beginners!).
- Clean your own chicken! Whole chickens are cheaper than purchasing them already processed in the meat counter. Check out this YouTube video You might also consider having more meatless meals. Meat is one of the more expensive grocery items you will purchase each week.
- Don’t buy toiletries at the grocery store! Make a separate list for toiletries and paper products for the discount stores such as Wal-Mart, Costco, etc. You will save 20% to 40% right out of the gate.
- Grate your own cheese! Like meat and other processed foods (e.g., cut fruit, lettuce, etc.) pre-grated cheese just costs more. Save your money and buy a grater so you can grate your cheese at home. Put it in a good storage bag or glass container and refrigerate it.
Use Coupons and Discounts: Look for coupons in newspapers, online, or through grocery store apps. Take advantage of loyalty programs and discounts offered by stores.
Buy in Bulk: Purchase non-perishable items in bulk, especially those you use frequently. This often comes at a lower per-unit cost.
Shop Seasonally: Buy fruits and vegetables when they are in season as they tend to be cheaper and fresher.
Grow Your Own Produce: If possible, start a small garden to grow your own fruits, vegetables, and herbs. This can significantly reduce your grocery bill during the growing season.
Repurpose Leftovers: Get creative with leftovers to make new meals. For example, turn leftover roasted vegetables into a soup or stir-fry.
Avoid Shopping When Hungry: Shopping on an empty stomach can lead to impulse buys and overspending. Eat before you go to the grocery store to avoid this temptation.
Track Your Spending: Keep track of your grocery expenses to identify areas where you can cut back and adjust your shopping habits accordingly.
It’s easy for grocery bills to get out of hand, especially when you are feeding a family. By implementing some or all of these strategies, you can significantly reduce your grocery bill without sacrificing the quality of your meals.
Heather
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