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13 Easy Ways to Save on Groceries (Without Giving Up Your Favorite Foods)

With these 13 small money-saving tips, you can pay less for groceries each week without cutting your favorite foods from your shopping list.

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Updated Sept. 24, 2024
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Do you tend to leave the grocery store with more food than you’d planned on and much less money than you walked in with? 

High grocery bills are easy to rack up thanks to the thousands of food items and brands available. Luckily, there are a few ways to enjoy what you love most and still keep more money in your bank account

Here are 13 simple ways to protect your grocery budget without cutting your favorite (or priciest) treats from your list.

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Know when it pays to buy organic (and when it doesn’t)

Grandbrothers/adobe woman holding small and big strawberry in hand showing natural and hormonal induced growth

Organic foods are typically more expensive than non-organic varieties, so it’s important to be strategic about which organic foods you buy.

For instance, non-organic strawberries can be covered in pesticides, while organic strawberries are grown with far fewer chemicals. The higher cost gets you cleaner foods.

In contrast, foods like onions and avocados have thick skins that protect them from chemical contamination, so you can stick with cheaper, non-organic varieties.

Eat before you shop

Анна Демидова/adobe woman sitting in outdoor cafe eating pizza slice on table

If you’re hungry when you head to the grocery store, everything’s guaranteed to look even tastier and more tempting than it already does. 

Try to schedule grocery shopping for after mealtimes, or consider taking a snack with you.

Use your store’s free grocery pickup

Andrey Popov/adobe delivery man handling grocery basket to someone outdoor

If your store lets you order online for free pickup, try it out. Since someone else does the shopping for you and sticks strictly to your list, you’ll avoid impulse shopping as you wander the aisles. 

Even better, some stores incentivize online shopping by offering discounts on your first order.

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Stop throwing away coupons

fotopak/adobe discount coupons scattered on white background

They might look like junk mail, but don’t automatically toss store newsletters and coupons in the recycling bin.

Take a second to peruse the listings and see if anything you usually buy is on sale, then plan your weekly shopping trip to take advantage of the deal.

Shop for in-season foods

Miramiska/adobe various healthy vegetables freshly harvested on soil outdoor

Most American stores try to carry all types of produce year-round, but produce almost always costs less and tastes better when you buy it in season. 

Strawberry season usually starts in June (or earlier if you live in a temperate state), summer squash grows throughout the summer, and beets are perfect in the fall.

There’s a ton of information readily available online about the best produce for each season, so be sure to do some research before your next shopping trip.

Switch to a credit card with cash back rewards for groceries

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If you frequently shop on credit, find a credit card that rewards you for your purchases. 

There are a few cards that offer cash back on grocery purchases, which helps you save while you spend. Start your research with our list of the best credit cards for buying groceries.

Know what’s in your pantry, fridge, and freezer before you shop

andov/adobe woman storing frozen food in freezer with containers

Want to avoid buying food you already have? Scope out your pantry, fridge, and freezer before you head to the grocery store. This can save you a lot of time, money, and precious food storage space.

If you think you’ll forget what you already have, you can take pictures of your food storage areas or create a running list on your phone.

Figure out how to store perishables correctly

qwartm/adobe woman taking out frozen raspberries in hand from freezer

According to Feeding America, Americans throw away over $408 billion worth of food each year. You can avoid throwing away money by learning how to stop your food from spoiling too fast. 

For example, always use your crisper drawers to store fruits and vegetables, keep your bread in the fridge if it always molds quickly, and throw anything perishable you won’t soon use in the freezer for later.

Be strategic about buying in bulk

nataliaderiabina/adobe woman buying pasta glass jar in store putting in basket

Buying in bulk from stores like Costco and Sam’s Club can save you a lot of money on groceries, but only if you use everything you buy.

If you’re shopping for just yourself instead of a large household, or you tend to buy perishable produce, your bulk grocery orders will likely go bad before you can eat them all.

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Get familiar with local grocery stores

jackfrog/adobe couple managing grocery store together while looking out for spice jars and green vegetable crate

Believe it or not, your favorite big box superstore might not have the cheapest groceries in your area. 

You can often get higher-quality goods for less at small, locally-owned stores that specialize in specific types of food. Do your research and find out if it pays to shop at your neighborhood bodega or nearby Korean market.

Keep reusable bags in your car

Monkey Business/adobe couple unpacking grocery

In some cities and states, you have to pay an extra fee if you need your groceries bagged in the store’s plastic or paper bags.

It’s easy to run out the door without remembering to grab your reusable bags, so always keep some in your car for easy access.

Take advantage of your store’s loyalty card perks

gustavofrazao/adobe hands holding sign of earn points on white A4 sheet

Your store loyalty card can help you save on more than just groceries. 

Some stores (such as Kroger) let you rack up fuel points when you bring in reusable bags. Other cards qualify you for members-only coupons that help you save more on certain items.

Check for quantity requirements on sale items

Wayhome Studio/adobe woman wearing yellow jumper doing time out gesture using hands on blue backdrop

Before you grab an on-sale item off the shelf, look closer at the sale price. 

Stores love to offer discounts that only apply if you buy two or more items, but they often add that crucial detail in small print at the very bottom of the sales tag.

Bottom line

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Staying within your budget at the grocery store is easier said than done, especially if you’re trying to move beyond living paycheck to paycheck.

But there are still ways to enjoy your favorite foods and lower your financial stress. They might seem simple, but you’ll be surprised at how quickly your savings add up.

Keep these 13 tips in mind as you plan meals and create a shopping list this week.

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