Do you want to stop spending so much money at the grocery store? Here are the best ways to save money at the grocery store and eat healthy.
Grocery shopping can be expensive, especially if you’re not aware of the sales techniques that stores use. Once you know these tips and tricks, it will be easier to save money every time you shop.
Retail stores and online retailers put a lot of effort into their sales strategies to encourage you to buy more products, maximizing their profit. Fortunately, my goal is to teach you how to save money when doing groceries or visiting the store. Preparing your own meals and shopping smartly is still the cheapest way to go about it. With some smart shopping techniques, you might even manage to keep your grocery bill under $70 per month, just like me.
Today, I will share common ways stores try to make you spend more, how to avoid them, and the best ways to save money at the grocery store.
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## Best Ways To Save Money At The Grocery Store
### 1. Meal Plan
Meal planning has positively impacted my life. We spend less time cooking and shopping, eat more vegetables, waste very little food, and save a lot of money. Meal planning helps you buy only what you will eat throughout the week, preventing food waste and reducing frequent trips to the grocery store.
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### 2. Make A Grocery List
Always start by making a grocery list. This helps you remember what you need and keeps you focused on buying only those items, avoiding unnecessary purchases. A grocery list also prevents you from buying duplicates of products you already have at home while forgetting essential items.
### 3. Avoid The Middle Aisles
Grocery stores are smartly designed to place fresh products like milk, bread, and produce at opposite ends of the store. This layout forces you to walk through many aisles — increasing the chances of impulse buying.
To avoid spending more, shop around the outer aisles where most essential products are located. This strategy helps you get in and out quickly without passing by tempting items in the middle aisles.
### 4. Never Buy Food Hungry
One vital lesson I’ve learned is to never go grocery shopping hungry. Shopping after work before dinner usually leads me to buy more than I need. Always eat before you go, or shop on weekends when you can shop at your convenience.
### 5. Be Cautious With Free Samples
Free food samples at stores can be tempting but beware—they often make you hungrier, leading to extra purchases. If you stick to your grocery list and eat at home beforehand, it’s easier to resist buying unnecessary items.
### 6. Eat With The Seasons
Eating seasonal produce not only tastes better but also saves you money. Out-of-season fruits and vegetables are usually more expensive due to longer transportation and storage needs. Opting for in-season produce helps keep costs down.
### 7. Stay Familiar Despite Store Layout Changes
Grocery stores periodically change their layouts to make you spend more time searching for products, increasing the chances of impulse buys. To avoid this, stick to your shopping list and focus on finding what you need, even if the store looks different.
### 8. Use a Basket Instead of a Big Cart When Possible
Big shopping carts can encourage buying more items. If your grocery list is short, opt for a shopping basket instead to avoid unintentional overspending.
### 9. Don’t Buy Things Just Because They’re on Sale
Stores use sales to bring you in, but you often end up buying other full-priced products. Only buy sale items if they’re products you regularly use. Otherwise, sales can lead to overspending. If you find it hard to resist sales, try a no-spend challenge to improve your discipline.
### 10. Don’t Buy Bottled Water
In most western countries, tap water is safe and free. Buying bottled water wastes money and contributes to plastic pollution. If you don’t trust tap water, invest in a water filter or filter bottle to save money and reduce waste.
### 11. Avoid Brand Names
Generic or store-brand items often come from the same factories as brand-name products but cost less. Don’t pay extra just for a label—give store brands a try and save on your grocery bill.
### 12. Eye Level Is Buy Level
Items placed at eye level tend to be the most expensive because stores want you to see and buy them first. Lower and higher shelves usually hold cheaper options. Check all shelf levels before buying to find the best deals. Notice how products for kids are even placed lower where they can easily see them.
### 13. Beware of Precut Items Markups
Precut fruits, vegetables, and meats are convenient but come at a premium price and generate more plastic waste. For example, precut carrots can cost nearly three times more than whole carrots. Buying whole produce and preparing it yourself will save you money.
### 14. Watch Out for Sale Items at Checkout
Grocery stores place small sale items and impulse buys near the checkout lines hoping you’ll grab them out of convenience. Be mindful when you wait in line to avoid unnecessary purchases.
### 15. Understand Different Pricing Tactics
Stores use several tactics to make products appear cheaper:
– **Psychological pricing:** Items priced at $1.99 instead of $2 seem less expensive, even though the difference is minimal.
– **Bulk discounts:** Offers like “11 for $20” encourage you to buy more than you need. These deals might not save much money if you don’t truly need that quantity.
Always buy only what you need, not just because of discounts.
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By following these tips, you can become a smarter shopper and reduce your grocery expenses significantly without sacrificing quality or nutrition. Happy shopping and saving!
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