5 Savings Habits You Should Add To Your Grocery Plan Immediately
Grocery bills have a way of creeping up while your paycheck stays put. While you can’t do much about the price of eggs, food is one of the few big expenses you can actually control. With smarter shopping habits, you can keep your grocery bill in check.
Nutrition expert Dr. Joan Salge Blake, a Boston University professor and host of the podcast SpotOn!, has five practical moves that could help you save 30% to 50% on your next grocery run.
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Here are the tips she suggested.
1. Meal Plan Before You Shop (And Use Your Freezer)
It’s simple mechanics once you decide what you’re eating for the week. Check what you already have, then build your grocery list from the gaps you see.
Checking your pantry, fridge and freezer before shopping is one of the most underused savings moves. It keeps you from buying duplicates and helps you stock up strategically. If the ingredients you grab are perishable, don’t forget you can extend their shelf life by freezing them.
“Use your freezer for more than just ice cubes," said Blake. "Start stocking up on sale items now in your freezer to use later when they aren’t on sale."
2. Build Meals Around What's on Sale
Most people plan meals first and hunt for deals second. Flip that approach and let the sale items decide what’s for dinner. Think of it as your own cooking show, where the challenge is to downsize pricey meat and poultry and load up on produce that’s on sale.
“For example, when making chili, use 50% less ground turkey or beef but load up the crock pot with more beans and extra canned corn," said Blake. "The result is a produce-forward chili that will feed an army but with less meat and costly ingredients.
Plus, you can freeze leftovers for another meal later in the week.
3. Use the Apps Your Phone
The easiest way to save at the store is to download the supermarket’s app and browse the weekly flyer before you go. According to Blake, the homepage typically highlights the best buys.
“Better known as 'loss leaders,' these foods are purposefully put on sale to lead you into the store to buy other items such as laundry soap," said Blake. "In fact, these prices could be so low that the store loses money when you buy them. Plan your week's meals around these loss leaders."
Grocery stores also have to move perishables by specific dates, so they often mark them down by as much as 50%.
Blake explained, “Consumers can use the USDA’s Food Safety App to determine how long these foods can be stored in your refrigerator or in the pantry before safely consuming them. If you are not going to consume perishables immediately, they can be stored in the freezer to use at a later date.”
4. Head to the Center of the Store
Store brands save you money, but so does where you shop in the store. The center aisles are often where the value is.
“Depending on the vegetable, the canned versions can be as much as 80% cheaper than fresh and 50% cheaper than frozen," said Blake.
"You can create a very inexpensive, first course vegetable soup by substituting the fresh veggies in the recipe with the canned variety, such as tomatoes, potatoes and beans… The canned veggies are already cleaned and diced, so they are ready-to-use."
5. Use Your Kitchen Knives
Convenience comes at a price. Pre-chopped and diced items often carry a hefty markup, and the savings add up fast when you skip them.
For example, baby carrots are made from larger carrots but typically cost more than twice the amount. Blake said this is something you can easily do yourself and pocket the savings.
"Dust off your chef’s knife and carve those large carrots into petite-sized portions."
The Bottom Line
None of these habits require a spreadsheet, a coupon binder or a life of rice and beans. They just take a little planning, a sharp eye for sales and a willingness to pick up a knife. Try one or two on your next trip, then add more. Your wallet will notice.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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