Introduction
Grocery shopping has become a challenge these days. Everything has become expensive, from flour and vegetables to snacks. Every time you check out, you get shocked by seeing the bill. And then you see those people with 100s of coupons in the store. It may work for them, but not everyone has time to print those coupons, scan them and organise them like it’s a full-time job!.
But good news: you don’t have to do all of this!
With a few simple, smart habits, you can easily save costs at the grocery store, without stress and coupons.
1. Make a meal plan first.
This is the simplest and most effective habit when you know what you are going to buy – only what is necessary.
Plan meals for 3 or 5 days of the week and make a list accordingly.
Pro tips: Planning this much reduces the cost of food, and you don’t have to wake up again and again due to the need to take out.
2. Do not buy groceries without a list.
Shopping without a list means impulsive spending. Make a solid grocery list on apps or paper to follow.
Don’t shop on an empty stomach! Otherwise you will end up with a gluttony of chocolates, chips and snacks.
3. Shop the outer section of the store first.
The outer area of the store – fruits, veggies, dairy, meat – has basic and healthy items.
The middle aisles have temptations lurking: cookies, snacks, and soda. Visit them at the end only if necessary.
4. Try brand-store items.
Generic brands and stores have the same quality of products as big brands. The only difference is the name and price. Whether it’s ramen, pasta, or snacks, do try it once; the taste is mostly the same but pocket-friendly.
5. Find out the store’s discount time.
Many stores offer items on discount at a time. Bread and meat are cheaper at night. Fresh deals are available in the morning. Who knows? You may get the same item 30 per cent off just with a little difference in timing.
6. Buy in bulk smartly.
Bulk shopping saves money but only when you don’t waste it. It is better to buy dry items like rice, oats, or pulses or frozen items in large quantities. But buying too many fruits and then eating them is a waste of money.
7. Learn to freeze extra food.
The freezer is your best friend in terms of saving. Leftovers? Freeze it.
Discounted chicken – freeze it. Can’t finish the bread quickly? Freeze it. This will reduce food waste, and emergency meals will also be ready.
8. Use cashback apps without coupons.
You don’t have to scan or search anything. Just scan the receipt after shopping and earn points.
Try:
Fetch rewards from Ibotta and Rakuten. These apps give you a little cashback without any extra effort.
9. Avoid single-use and pre-cut items.
Pre-cut fruits, single yoghurt cups, and individual chip packs – all of these cost a lot of money in the name of convenience. Instead: Buy a whole pineapple and chop it yourself. Buy a whole pineapple and chop it yourself. Buy a big cheese block and grate it yourself. Buy a large snack pack, and divide it at home. Effort is a little; savings are a lot.
10. Review grocery spending every month.
Take 5 or 10 minutes at the end of the month: What purchases went to waste? What meals did you actually make? Did you buy more than you needed? Understand your own patterns and make smarter shopping decisions next time.
Let’s understand a little deeper.
Often people consider grocery shopping a boring part of their routine: just go to the store, pick up the stuff, check out and come back home. But if this routine is planned smartly, it can become the most impactful budgeting move. Because groceries are one such expense without any exception. Now if you are spending $1,000 every month on groceries and, by being a little smart, save even 20%, then you make a profit of $200 every month. In 1 year $2,400 saved if you invest that money? The picture becomes even more powerful.
Why does it cost more money to shop for groceries?
Let me give you a small example: Imagine you go to the store to buy only 4 items:
- Dough
- Bread
- Eggs
- Butter
But on the way you buy chips, cola, a fancy chocolate bar, and a buy 2 get 1 free shampoo, which were not on the list. Result? The bill gets doubled. This is impulsive shopping. And it happens when:
You are hungry.
- You are stressed.
- You are hungry.
You have come without a list; you get emotional after seeing the deal. All this is human psychology. Brands and stores play on this: strategic item placements, discount banners, and free sample stations. Fancy packaging. So grocery shopping is emotional, not logical, if you go without planning.
True story: Pooja vs Preeti.
Let’s take two fictional characters:
1. Pooja
She goes to the store without a list. She shops based on mood and cravings. She buys whatever looks good or feels tempting. Monthly grocery bill: $1100.
2. Preeti.
She plans meals every Sunday. She sticks to her list and budget. She uses cashback apps and compares unit prices. Monthly grocery bill: $96.89.
Difference $51.30. per month and per year $615.56.
Pooja isn’t careless. She was just unplanned. Preeti isn’t a finance expert; she’s just intentional.
More tips to stretch every rupee.
11. Learn to look at the unit price.
Every product on the store shelves has a small price ”per 100g” or ”per litre”. This helps us know which is the cheapest among two products of the same size. Big packs are not always cheap; sometimes brands secretly reduce the quantity (a.k.a. shrinkflation).
12. Avoid Packaged Drinks.
Juices, energy drinks, and fizzy beverages have high sugar levels and are expensive too. Water is best. And if you want flavour, try lemon water, tea, or infused water at home. Monthly $5.70… to $11.40 can be saved with just this one habit.
One comment
asd
great work