25 Ways to Save at the Supermarket

In these days of financial strain, we’re all looking for ways to save money wherever we can.  When it comes to tightening up budgets, there are some obvious ways to trim expenses, such as eating out less often, spending less at the mall, and curbing entertainment expenses.  But we all have to eat on a daily basis, so not buying food is not an option for any of us.  Thankfully, there are some ways to save at the supermarket and trim your food bill without making your family go hungry.  Many of these supermarket saving tips are common sense, and some you’ve likely heard before, but if you combine as many of the tips as possible, they will add up to big savings at the supermarket over the course of the year!

25 Ways to Save at the Supermarket:

1. Make a list before you go.  And stick to it!  Supermarkets spend a lot of money to market items to consumers and get them to purchase on the spot and the majority of supermarket purchases are impulse buys.  Get into the habit of making a list of what you need before you enter the store and stick to the list so you don’t walk out spending more than you planned on.

2. Plan out meals for the week.  In association with tip #1, plan your meals for the whole week, make a list of what items are needed and then shop for those items all at once, to avoid extra trips to the supermarket.

3. When planning meals, look at the sale circulars from local supermarkets and plan meals around what’s on sale that week.

4. Clip coupons, but only for items you already plan to buy.  I’m not a big fan of spending lots of time cutting out coupons, except for items you already plan to purchase.  Most coupons are for processed items that are more expensive and if you’re not already planning on buying the item, there are usually cheaper alternatives than the name brand item from the coupon.  Also, if you cut out too many coupons, they become difficult to manage and you wind up not using them.  Yes, I know that that are people out there that claim to spend next to nothing on their food bill by clipping coupons, but in the effort vs. reward category, I choose to only clip coupons sparingly.

5. Don’t go hungry.  A very obvious tip, but it really does work.  When you walk into a supermarket hungry, you’re much more susceptible to impulse purchases.  So eat a good meal or a solid snack and then take your trip to the market.

6. Sign up for your store’s frequent shopper program.  Very often they run promotions where you can earn points towards a percentage off your purchase, free coupons, or free food (usually during the holidays, like a free turkey around Thanksgiving).  Signing up is free and saves you money.

7. Shop the sales.  Supermarkets price a few items each week at a deep discount to entice you to shop at their store.  Take advantage of the sale and stock up on those items when they’re on sale.  Very often they’re pantry items or freezer items that can be stored for awhile.

8. Check out more than one store.  I don’t advocate running from store to store just to get a few cheaper items at each store, because the time and gas you waste is probably not worth the savings.  But scan the circulars of the supermarkets closest to where you shop and each week choose the one that has the best sales based on what you are planning on buying.

9. Buy store brands and generics.  They are much cheaper than their name brand counterparts and very often are similar in quality.  I have found that the quality of these products has increased in recent years and they are a good buy for the buck.

10. Check unit prices for comparison.   The bigger packages are not always a better deal.  In order to determine which size package is your best buy, or which brand is cheapest, look at the unit prices.  Most stores post them right on the store shelf price label and they make it much easier to compare prices among brands and sizes.

11. Shop solo.  Go to the store alone and pick a time when you’re not rushed or stressed.  When you go to the store with others, you’re more likely to buy items you don’t intend to.  Kids are notorious for begging for “extras” and even if your policy is to not give in to their begging, it makes for a more stressful trip and it will be more likely that you’ll buy more than you had planned on.

12. Reduce the number of trips you make to the store.  The more you step foot in the supermarket, the more you’ll likely buy.  So try to limit trips to just once a week.  This is not difficult to do if you plan ahead, make a list, don’t go when you’re rushed, go alone, and pay attention to what you’re buying.

13. Check use by and sell by dates.  Make sure you’re buying the freshest products so they don’t expire before you’re ready to use them and then you have to throw them out. 

14. Shop high and low.  Higher priced items are usually placed on the middle shelves or at the end of aisles so they can be quickly grabbed.  If you look up and down, you can usually find similar items at lower prices.

15. Shop on the edge of the store.  Not only is the food healthier,  but you will avoid a lot of the processed and convenience foods in the middle of the store, which are usually pricier.

16. Watch the scanner at checkout.  Make sure that items are being rung up at the correct prices, especially if they’re on sale.  Some stores even have a policy that if an item rings up for a higher price than listed, you get the item free.

17. Leave a running shopping list on fridge.  This way, if someone in the house finishes an item, they can just add it to the list and when you’re ready to go to the store, you will already know what you need to buy.

18. Buy in bulk, but only if you use it.   Many bulk purchases are a good deal, but only if you will use the entire quantity of what you’re purchasing.  As mentioned before, check unit prices to make sure you’re really getting a deal.

19. Buy frozen veggies.  They’re of similar quality to fresh veggies and a lot cheaper.  Also, they don’t spoil easily so you’re less likely to throw out waste and they’re available at a moment’s notice when you need to make a quick meal.

20. Eat less meat.  Try to make meat a smaller percentage of your meals and you’ll save money.

21. Buy in season produce.  It tastes better and is less expensive.

22. Cook a lot at once and freeze.  If you cook meals in bulk and then freeze for future use, you can save money and time – an added bonus!

23. Don’t buy individual size snacks.  You pay a lot for the convenience of those grab-and-go snacks.  Save money by buying larger bags of snacks and separating them into individual portions in plastic bags or containers when you get home from the market.  They’ll still be quick, but will leave more money in your pocket.

24. Shop for items before you run out.  This way you can buy items when they’re on sale, rather than having to pay full price when you have no choice but to buy them.  This works well for staple items that don’t spoil easily.  Get to know when your store runs sales on certain products and stock up at that time (like baking supplies before the holidays).

25. Ask for rainchecks.  If your store is out of an item that is on sale, ask for a raincheck and purchase it at another time.

Each of these supermarket saving tips can individually help you trim your grocery bill, and when combined can really make a big impact on your food budget.  And in these days of financial strain, every little bit helps!