5 Brilliant Ideas to Save Money On Groceries (Plus The Best Apps And Credit Cards You Need To Help You Save)

Having a limited budget when it comes to grocery shopping is never easy, but spending it is even more so.

Grocery shopping can put a strain on your wallet, especially if you’re trying to stick to a fixed weekly or monthly budget.

Unless you’re lucky enough to live in an area with lots of farmer’s markets and specialty shops that sell fresh produce, meat, and other groceries at cheaper prices than what you would find in most supermarkets, there isn’t much you can do about it.

This is why saving money on groceries is one of the biggest financial challenges people face today.

But here are some great ways you can help yourself deal with the tightness of your wallet while still eating well—and not just once in a while, but regularly too!

In this article, we look at 5 brilliant ideas to save money on groceries (plus the best apps and credit cards you need to help you save) which will ultimately leave more money in your bank account.

How To Buy Groceries On A Budget

If you're looking to save money on your groceries, there are a few tips that will help you out.

First, always shop for groceries in bulk at the grocery store.

This will save you money on the per-unit price, and you can also store the food in your fridge or pantry for easy access.

Second, compare prices and take advantage of sales. Do not make impulse purchases!

Sales vary from store to store, but often you can find the best prices on groceries by comparing prices.

And finally, make use of coupons.

Print out your coupons and store them in a safe place, so you can always take advantage of their discounts.

By following these tips, you'll be able to buy groceries on a budget without sacrificing quality or taste.

5 Brilliant Ideas to Save Money on Groceries

We have already covered a few ideas however, there are other ways to save money on groceries.

Let’s take a look at five unique and brilliant ideas to save money on groceries.

Tip #1: Shop With A Friend And Maximize

Shopping for groceries in bulk is significantly less expensive.

However, unless you have several freezers in your basement or garage, that food is going to go to waste.

Consider shopping with a friend at the grocery store.

Together you can purchase the maximum amount of bulk chicken you’re allowed to buy, split it up and save tons of money on your grocery bill.

This works quite well with meats and items that can be frozen, as well as with non-perishables which can all be found at the grocery store.

Tip #2: Learn To Preserve Food

Saving fruits during the summer and apples and peaches in the fall is a great way to save money.

The best time to buy fresh fruits in bulk and preserve them is during sale seasons.

Jam and canned fruit will not be required for the remainder of the year.

Canning equipment and generic brands are also inexpensive and preserved foods taste much better than their commercially canned goods and brand items.

Tip #3: Shop Post-Holiday

Ham after Easter, corned beef after St Patrick’s Day, and turkey after Thanksgiving—these meats drop in price by about a quarter after the holiday.

Pick them up from your local grocery store and freeze them for later in the year.

Tip #4: Homemade Convenience

Prepared foods are usually much more expensive than making your very own foods.

Instead of purchasing pre-made meals from the store, make them yourself.

You can make a big batch of waffles on the weekend and refrigerate or freeze them.

Toast them in the morning and you have all the convenience at a fraction of the expense.

You don’t even need syrup if you add cinnamon and apples to your waffle recipe.

Tip #5 Hit The Ethnic Markets

Don’t bother with the big box grocery store; instead, make your next grocery run to your local meat market, farmers market, Indian market, Spanish market, or neighborhood Asian food market.

Ethnic cuisine specialist establishments may have the same product as your local store but at much lower food prices.

It can be fun to sample new markets and foods.

How To Save Money On Groceries Without Coupons

If you're looking to save money on groceries, you don't have to resort to clipping coupons.

There are several ways to save and find the best price without using coupons.

First, shop at discount stores. Discount stores like Costco and Sam's Club offer great deals on groceries, and you can often find exclusive deals that aren't available at regular stores.

Second, use meal planning to save money on groceries.

Planning your meals ahead of time will allow you to buy food in bulk and save on costs.

And finally, use coupons sparingly - only when they'll save you money.

If you use coupons regularly, you'll eventually run out of deals, and then you'll be back to square one - trying to save money on groceries using coupons.

Instead, try one or two deals per month and see how much money you can save that way.

With a little planning and effort, you can save money on groceries without resorting to coupons.

Budget Grocery Shopping List

When you're on a budget, grocery shopping can be a challenge.

But don't worry - we've got you covered with our budget grocery list.

This budget grocery list includes all the essentials you'll need to stock your kitchen with food that's both affordable and nutritious.

First, make sure to stock up on healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

These foods are essential for a balanced diet, and they'll help to reduce the cost of your groceries.

Next, don't forget the basics.

You'll need cereal, bread, eggs, and milk.

These items are essential for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and they're all affordable and nutritious.

And finally, don't forget the snacks.

You'll need snacks for when you're bored or when you've got a little hunger pang.

Snacks like cereal bars, granola bars, and trail mix are all affordable and nutritious.

Family Of 4 Food Grocery Budget

It can be tough to manage a food budget when you have a family of four, but there are a few tips that can help.

For starters, try to stick to a budget for each category of food.

This way, you won't have to spend too much money on one thing and end up skimping on other areas.

And don't forget about coupons! Even digital coupons and printable coupons.

You can often find great deals on food at most grocery stores by using coupons.

And last but not least, make sure to meal prep!

This will help you save time and money by preparing meals ahead of time and saving yourself the hassle of going to the grocery stores.

With a little planning and effort, you can easily manage a food budget that will allow you to feed your family without breaking the bank.

Apps To Save Money on Groceries

What is the best app to save money on groceries and reduce your grocery bill?

We could not identify one thus we rather list the best 3 in our opinion.

Instacart

Looking for a way to save time and money while still eating well?

Look no further than Instacart!

Whether you’re running low on milk or just want to make sure you have enough toilet paper on hand, Instacart can help you out.

By simply choosing the items you want and where you want them delivered, you can have your groceries delivered right to your door in just a few hours.

And with prices starting at just $3.99 for same-day orders of $35 or more, it doesn’t get much more affordable than that!

So whether you’re a busy parent or just want to make sure you’re stocked up for the week, give Instacart a try today!

Learn More (on Instacart)

Thrive Market

Thrive Market provides organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan food, and sundry other healthy items at economical costs.

It is not a conventional grocery service like Instacart in contrast to its online organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, and vegan grocery marketplace.

Not only is it kind to your body, but also your wallet.

Thrive is kind to both.

Customers save a lot of money and benefit their health.

Thrive has a lot of corporate responsibility credentials, even aside from its healthy living mission.

Thrive provides free goods to the community for every paid membership it generates.

All people have the opportunity to live a healthier lifestyle.

Learn More (on Thrive Market)

FreshDirect

FreshDirect is a grocery delivery service that guarantees the finest, most contemporary foods from everyday staples to rare specialties not available locally.

It takes that commitment very seriously, having built a delivery network based on delivering dishes from farms, fisheries, and dairies to customers' plates in the shortest possible route.

It's also serious about quality, employing a team of specialists who sample more than 800 fresh foods every day.

Learn More (on FreshDirect)

Food Budget Calculator

The Food Budget Calculator by Mint is a wonderful tool to use to calculate your food budget.

Use the formula provided to calculate your monthly and weekly food budget based on the USDA’s food plan.

Input your family size and information below to calculate how much a nourishing grocery budget should cost you.

Of course, every family is different.

Some families enjoy coupons and leftover meals, whereas others prefer fresh fish and aged cheese.

After calculating your budget, slide the bar to change your spending habits.

Best Grocery Credit Card

Looking for a great grocery credit card?

Check out our top picks!

With these cards, you can rack up big rewards on your food purchases.

The Best Grocery Credit Card:

The Chase Freedom is our top pick for the best grocery credit card.

This card offers great rewards for food purchases, including 2% cash back on all your purchases and a rotating category bonus that can give you as much as 5% back on your grocery purchases.

Plus, you can use Freedom's rotating bonus categories to easily switch between food and other types of spending.

The Amex Blue Cash Preferred is also a great option.

With this card, you'll earn 1% cash back on all your groceries, plus 5% cash back on the first $6,000 in combined grocery and gas purchases each year.

These rewards can add up quickly, making this card a great way to save on your food expenses.

If you're looking for a card that offers more specific rewards for food purchases, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great option.

This card offers 2x points on all your food purchases, plus 1 point for every $1 you spend on everything else. That means you'll get a lot of value for your

Key Takeaways

So you know that saving money on groceries is one of the biggest financial challenges people face today.

It can be incredibly hard to save money on anything, and this is why saving money on groceries is so important.

Because once you start saving on your grocery bills, you can better afford to eat at home more often instead of going out for meals every night.

Keep those money-saving tips of thumb in mind: Make a list, shop by supplements and in season, and keep those coupons clipped.

Try out these five strategies for extra savings.

You will be surprised at how much you can save on groceries if you do.

For more tips on saving money check out our related articles.