How To Save Money on Groceries in 2024 

I’m always looking for new opportunities to increase my income, but sometimes, minimizing my expenditures is an excellent way to leave extra cash for saving and investing. 

If you spend over $200 on groceries weekly, you’re probably wasting a significant portion. 

While it’s tempting to focus on earning more cash, it’s more important to learn to maximize what you already have. 

If you’re ready to take control of your finances and reduce your grocery expenses, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll dive into different ideas on how to save money on groceries. 

I know you’re looking at your grocery shopping list and wondering how to maintain your living standards and eat healthy while cutting back. 

I’ve been there before and used strategies like shopping apps, buying generic, and planning my meals to cut my grocery expenditure by half. 

How To Save Money on Groceries 

Want to save money on groceries without condemning yourself to the same meal every day? You can still cut back on food expenses without compromising your health and living standards.

It’s all about planning your meals right before shopping for the ingredients. 

Buying versatile items, using rebate apps, and leaving the kids home can all help you significantly slash your grocery bill. 

Some of these strategies are easy to implement, while others require patience and discipline. Don’t try to implement everything simultaneously. You can cut yourself some slack. 

Here are the best ways to save money on groceries. Feel free to explore and pick the ones that suit your needs.

1. Use a Shopping App 

You don’t know what you’re missing if you’re not using a shopping app. Signing up for a rebate app is among the best ways to save on groceries. 

These apps allow you to compare prices from different stores to find the best deals. You can earn up to 10% cashback when shopping at select stores. 

One thing I like about shopping apps is you can stack several to maximize cashback. This is how a shopping app works in a nutshell:

• Sign up on an app like Fetch, Ibotta, or Drop.
• Accept deals and shop online or in-store. 
• Some apps require you to upload your receipts to earn cashback.
• With other apps, you can link your cards to earn automatically.

Most cashback apps pay you in points, which you can redeem for PayPal money, direct bank deposits, or gift cards to popular stores like Walmart and Target.

Here are some excellent shopping apps worth your time:

• Pogo: This app lets you link your cards to earn cashback automatically every time you shop. 
• Fetch: Sign up for a free Fetch account to earn cashback by scanning eligible receipts.
• Drop: Like Pogo, Drop lets you link your cards to earn points seamlessly without scanning receipts.
• Ibotta: Another app that lets you earn cashback on groceries by scanning receipts.
• Rakuten: This is one of the leading shopping apps in the U.S., and it partners with over 3,500 stores worldwide.

2. Get Free Gift Cards 

I love free stuff, especially if it means saving a few dollars. Snagging gift cards is an excellent way to save on groceries. 

Free gift cards won’t appear from nowhere. You must put in little effort to earn them. Luckily, the required effort is minimal, and it mainly involves doing fun stuff like playing games and answering surveys.

Simply sign up on the following GPT sites to land free gift cards for your next grocery shopping trip: 

• Branded Surveys: Do you often offer unsolicited opinions on brands and products? If yes, sign up on Branded Surveys to meet brands willing to pay for your feedback.
• Opinion Outpost: Another research company that pays you to complete short, online surveys.
• Crowdtap: The withdrawal minimum is $5, and you can earn up to $50 on one survey.
• Prime Opinion: This website pays up to $5 per survey.
• YouGov: Sign up on YouGov to get paid to complete surveys on exciting topics like entertainment, sports, politics, and society. 
• SayMore: Another excellent way to make money with your phone. 
• Valued Opinions: Still looking to earn extra cash by sharing your opinion? Sign up on Valued Opinions for free gift cards you can use to buy groceries. 

 3. Buy In-Season Items 

In-season items are usually cheaper than out-of-season products because the former is in surplus supply. 

In most cases, out-of-season products are flown from outside countries or stored under favorable conditions, making them expensive. 

Furthermore, some out-of-season products like fruits may taste different due to the prolonged storage. 

To minimize your grocery expenditure, consider sticking to in-season items and get more for less. 

4. Buy Non-Perishables in Bulk 

Buying food items in bulk is one of my favorite tips for saving money on groceries. It also reduces the number of grocery trips you need. 

Wholesale items are usually cheaper than retail, so buying them in bulk is a fantastic idea if you have a specific items you often use. 

However, bulk-purchasing only makes sense for non-perishable products like cereals, canned foods, and starchy foods like noodles. 

Buying perishable foods like milk, fresh fruits, and vegetables in bulk may lead to wastage, especially without proper storage equipment. 

That said, stick to non-perishables when buying in bulk to save money on groceries and avoid food wastage. 

6. Choose Generic Over Brand Names 

Brand name items are usually expensive, but that doesn’t mean they are superior to generic brands. In most cases, generic and brand items have the same base products. 

Next time you go shopping, consider replacing your brand items with generic ones to see if they meet your expectations. 

Of course, saving money doesn’t mean you have to compromise on a product’s quality. For me, brand names are some of the things I stopped buying.

You can try generic products, but if they don’t meet expectations, you can switch back to your favorite brands. 

7. Use Cash, and Don’t Bring Extra 

Bringing the exact cash I need to the store has helped me eliminate my impulse-buying behavior over the years. 

I used over twice the amount I budgeted for on unplanned purchases because I thought I could discipline myself.

However, instead of tempting myself every time and failing miserably at self-control, I tried another strategy: bringing the exact amount I needed. 

For this plan to work, you must have the updated prices of everything you want to buy to avoid under or over-estimating. 

Many stores nowadays have an online catalog. Even if you’re planning to shop in-store, consider checking this catalog to update the prices on your shopping list.

Also, remember always to use cash when you go grocery shopping. Cashless payment methods are more convenient but also more susceptible to impulse buying. 

8. Bring Your Own Reusable Bags 

If you don’t bring a bag to the store, you’ll end up spending more. Imagine purchasing a bag while you have multiple reusable ones sitting at home. 

It may seem insignificant, but small purchases usually add up. If you buy a shopping bag on every trip, the amount may accumulate to significant sums in a year. 

Some stores, like Walmart, offer a discount when you bring a reusable bag, which is another awesome way to save money on groceries.

9. Create and Stick to a Budget 

Have you ever gone shopping passively, picking items from the shelves only to find excess items back home?

The last time I went shopping without a budget or a grocery list, I was embarrassed when I got to the cashier because I had to return some stuff since I didn’t have enough cash. 

Also, upon reaching home, I realized I had three big tubes of toothpaste. Who needs that? Now, I’m more mindful of my shopping habits, and they have helped me save a few bucks in the long run.

Start by making a grocery list before heading to the store. Keep an inventory on your fridge door and indicate any items you consume to have a complete list by your next shopping trip. 

It’s one thing to make a shopping list and another to stick to it. Be disciplined enough to buy only the things you need and avoid impulse purchases.

These budgeting tips will help you create a budget that works. You’ll also learn the common budgeting mistakes you should avoid.

10. Check Out the Clearance Section 

Checking out the clearance section is always worth it because you may find up to 50% discount items.

Many believe that items in the clearance sections are always nearing expiration, but that’s not always true. 

The store may want to eliminate some surplus items to make room for newer stock. Therefore, if you have the time, check the clearance sections at the store to find favorable deals. 

11. Don’t Go Grocery Shopping on an Empty Stomach 

I used to have a weird habit of picking a snack immediately after I got to the store to eat while I shopped. 

By the time I got to the cashier, I had finished my snack and had to pay for the packaging. 

I’m not sure if this was against store rules, but one thing is for sure: it cost me extra cash because it was often an unplanned purchase. 

There are many temptations to spend unplanned cash, especially if you go to the store on an empty stomach. 

Consider eating before going to the grocery store. If you don’t have the time, you can bring a snack to eat on the way to or from the store. 

12. Purchase Versatile Foods 

It’s fascinating how you can use pasta to make different dishes, such as salads, soups, stir-fries, and dishes like lasagna. 

Versatile foods are those that can be used to prepare different meals. Rice, cheese, potatoes, and bread are good examples. 

Such food items can save you money. You can use them in almost every dish and purchase them in bulk at discounted prices, as they take longer to expire. 

13. Purchase Frozen Vegetables

I’m sure you’re disregarding this option because you think fresh vegetables are better and healthier than frozen ones. 

Hear me out, though. Frozen and fresh products usually have the same nutritional value, especially if frozen immediately after harvest. 

Furthermore, frozen vegetables have a longer shelf life than fresh ones. If you prefer buying items in bulk or making a few grocery runs, frozen veggies are an excellent alternative to fresh ones. 

14. Avoid Delivery 

Grocery delivery is often worth it due to the convenience, especially if you’re too busy with work or the kids and can’t run to the store. 

However, delivery usually attracts additional avoidable fees if you’re not busy. Instead of paying that extra $10-$15 because you’re too lazy to go to the store, consider how these small expenses add up in the long run. 

Paying $10 weekly for grocery delivery accumulates to $520 annually, enough to save, invest, or channel toward a more fulfilling purchase.

The next time you want your groceries delivered because you’re unmotivated, think of it as a way to exercise and reach your step goals while saving money.  

15. Check Expiration Dates

Some heavily discounted products may be close to their expiration dates. Therefore, you must check them carefully to avoid waste.

Expiration dates are usually approximate, so there’s some wiggle room before the product goes bad. 

If you’re buying items you’ll use immediately or within a short time, a close sell-by date may not be cause for alarm. 

However, if you intend to stock up your groceries for a while or purchase them in bulk, consider buying products whose expiration dates are as far as possible. 

Also, you can keep some products longer if they’re frozen rather than chilled. Consider that as you shop.

16. Reduce Your Grocery Shopping Trips 

The more you visit the grocery store, the more you’re likely to spend, regardless of the discounts and offers available. 

Shopping biweekly works for me. Weekly is too frequent, while monthly is inconvenient since I usually run out of groceries by the fourth week. 

That said, consider the size of your household and your budget while determining the best frequency to go grocery shopping. 

If you have a large household, consider reducing your trips to once a week. This way, you’ll be forced to use most ingredients at home. 

17. Leave the Kids 

Kids are naturally impulse buyers and may sometimes not understand the need to stick to a budget. 

I’ve seen kids at the store picking items by themselves and adding them to the cart when their parents aren’t looking. 

They usually throw tantrums when confronted, forcing their parents to buy them whatever they want.

Leaving the kids while grocery shopping isn’t always possible, especially if you don’t have a babysitter.

However, if you can go without them, you’ll have a chance to focus and be mindful of your purchases to avoid impulse buying and busting your budget. 

If you don’t have someone to watch the kids, consider going for your grocery shopping trip while they’re at school.

18. Create a Meal Plan 

Before I started mindfully planning my meals, I used to view cooking as a chore because I spent more time deciding what to eat. 

Most of the time, I’d settle for the same meal every day or go for weird alternatives like coffee for dinner. 

Other times, my lack of preparedness caused me to spend a lot of money on takeout or eating out. 

While it may seem tedious, meal planning is one of the best ways to save money on groceries. I work with a weekly meal plan, where I decide what to cook for every meal. 

If I’m going to have a busy week, I prepare the food and stock my fridge so that I can conveniently heat it for a few minutes instead of cooking for hours.

A meal plan also guides you on what you need to buy, enabling you to save extra cash and avoid impulse buying. It also reduces food waste since you can budget for exact amounts. 

19. Shop at the Farmers’ Market

Buying groceries from the Farmers’ markets eliminates intermediaries like retailers, lowering the overall cost. 

Therefore, the next time you need to go grocery shopping, consider checking your local Farmers’ market first, especially for fresh produce. 

Another perk of shopping at the Farmers’ market is that you’re likely to get higher quality, locally grown produce instead of the organic produce at the supermarket. 

Buying in bulk is also cheaper since the farmers usually offer huge discounts.

20. Follow Your Favorite Brands on Social Media 

Most of us use social media to follow celebrities and keep in touch with friends and family. But did you know you can leverage social media to save money on groceries?

Sounds odd? Here is the connection:

Brands and retailers usually run promotional campaigns on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. 

If you follow them, you can access exclusive deals and discounts unavailable to in-store or online shoppers who don’t engage with the brands on social media. 

By following your favorite brands on social media, you can get first-hand information on the performance of certain products through client reviews and comments. 

This way, you’ll know if shopping with them is worth it.

Consider subscribing to their newsletters for exclusive deals and coupons you can use to save money on your next grocery shopping trip. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What are 3 Tips for Saving Money on Food?

Here are my top three practical tips for saving money on food:

• Create a meal plan 
• Stick to your shopping list and budget 
• Use a shopping applike Pogo to earn cashback 

Is It Cheaper to Buy Groceries Daily or Weekly?

The fewer grocery shopping trips there are, the cheaper it is. Therefore, buying groceries weekly is cheaper than daily.

Shopping weekly allows you to create an effective meal plan, reducing the overall cost of food. Also, it provides an opportunity to buy items in bulk at a discount. 

Shopping weekly also allows you to save on fuel and transportation.

Final Thoughts 

Saving money on groceries doesn’t mean you should compromise on food quality. It simply means cutting back on expenses by being more mindful of your purchases. 

Whether you have a big household or live alone, you can implement the strategies in this list to free up more cash for savings, investments, or vacations. 

Some options may be harder to implement, especially if it requires discipline. However, don’t be discouraged. Remember, you don’t need to change your consumption pattern overnight. 

Start with the ones that feel the lightest and work your way towards a more frugal lifestyle.