Groceries are one of the largest routine expenses we have. The average single person in Canada spends around $214 a month on groceries. For a family of 4 or more, those numbers add up quickly.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways to save. Let’s talk about the best ways to save money on groceries in 2021!
The Best Way To Save Money on Groceries
There is a “best way” when it comes to saving money on groceries, and it’s all thanks to the digital age.
Without question, the best way to save on groceries is to download the available grocery store apps in your area. If you live in a city or large suburb, then there are likely several options for you to choose from.
Having multiple options available to you will allow you to compare prices, find the best deals, and make informed decisions on one of your largest regular expenses. If you start with downloading these apps, then there are some important tips to follow from there.
Tips for Saving Money on Groceries
First, you need to make the decision that you want to save money on groceries. If you carry that determination with you, your wallet will certainly thank you later.
Second, you want to download apps from your local grocery stores. If you manage that, then there are plenty of ways to save money on one of your largest routine expenses. Here’s how.
1. Shop At Multiple Stores
If you think this is excessive, it isn’t bad. Around 40% of shoppers go to multiple grocery stores in search of the best deals, so join them!
Always look between different apps and see where you will save the most money and shop at multiple stores if possible. If you don’t want to shop at more than one or two grocery stores, then do the math and see which store will offer the biggest deal.
A little planning will need to take place if you intend to shop at multiple stores. For example, if you’re going to all of these stores in one trip, choose one store to shop for frozen goods and go there at the end to prevent melting.
2. Coupons
While you can always pick up the ads from the store itself and find out how to save, couponing can usually be done through the app. Assuming you have the grocery store app, look through personalized coupons and see where you can save the most money on regular expenses.
Even if one store has “$1 off” and another doesn’t, you should always look at the prices and do the math to see where you can save money. The price comparison shouldn’t stop just because there’s a coupon.
3. Rewards Programs
These rewards programs don’t offer an overwhelming amount of benefits on average, but they do add up if you shop somewhere regularly. If you use one or two grocery stores weekly, then you should use their rewards programs, which are also often controlled through the app.
Rewards programs often offer personalized coupons based on your previous shopping habits, as well as bonus points that knock money off of your total bill.
4. Shop Multiple Times a Week
Many of us enjoy grocery shopping, especially if it doesn’t take too long. If you go multiple times a week, you can take advantage of deals that don’t only apply to the weekends. In fact, Europeans often shop for groceries every day!
Also, preventing food waste is a major factor in saving money on groceries. Psychologists are aware that a carton of eggs doesn’t hold as much perceived value to us when they are in the refrigerator as they do at the store. Once we’ve already paid for it, it loses its value in our minds.
However, it doesn’t matter if you’ve paid for it already or not. If a quarter of your food isn’t eaten, then it’s the same as leaving a bag behind at the grocery store.
Shopping multiple times a week will prevent produce and meat from spoiling before you eat it, which saves money. As a bonus, you will even avoid the weekend crowds if you go more than once!
5. Only Buy Foods You Will Eat
As we mentioned, food waste is a major driver of money waste. If you shop for similar items regularly and find that certain items go to waste regularly, then it’s best to stop buying them. Even if you really want to like kale, if you’re not going to eat it, don’t buy it.
6. Shop With a Calculator
Calculators are the staple of budgeting 101. Use the calculator app on your smartphone and add up prospective items in your cart to see how much you will spend.
At the very least, use a calculator during price comparisons when browsing through your grocery apps, as this will help choose your stores ahead of time.
Either way, this will help you make informed decisions on your purchases and force you to think about whether or not you really need certain items.
The best part is that you will only need to do this a few times to get the hang of it. Once you roughly understand how much you’re spending on groceries and you figure out what you need, you’ll notice a difference in savings.
7. Use Existing Food
Sometimes, you can save money by using what you’ve already bought. Start planning meals based on what’s already in your pantry or freezer.
Do you have a lot of ground meat in the freezer? A lot of stock and beans in the pantry? Well, prep some chili for the week and you will have an entire meal cut out for your grocery shopping.
If you’ve accumulated a collection of food items over the years, then this strategy could last you for weeks and finally clean out your freezer and pantry!
8. Buy Filling Foods
Foods like potato chips, red meat, candy, and heavily processed foods tend to be very calorie-dense without helping you feel full. Eating filling foods more often will help you maintain a healthy weight and eat less overall.
Eating legumes like beans and lentils are loaded with fiber, protein, and nutrition, and they help you feel full a lot quicker than other protein sources. They are also far cheaper, often only ~$1 per can.
Brown rice, oats, whole-grain bread, fruits, and vegetables are far more filling than most processed foods, and they are also highly nutritious and easy to incorporate into your meals.
9. Buy In Bulk
If you’re emptying out your freezer as we suggested, fill it back up! Just ensure that you use what you buy in a reasonable amount of time.
Buying in bulk is a great way to save money on your groceries, so try getting a subscription to a wholesale store or bulk delivery service! Make sure you do the math and that it works out in your favor!
10. Pay With a Credit Card
Many credit cards offer rewards points, and some of them offer higher rewards for grocery purchases. If groceries are a major expense of yours, then this is a great way to earn some extra points and boost your credit score!
11. Spend More on Groceries
Wait, what?
You read that right. In certain circumstances, you may actually benefit from a higher grocery bill.
If you find yourself eating out frequently at restaurants, then your wallet could strongly benefit from packing a lunch or eating at home. Ordering takeout is bound to cost you around $15 per person or more, especially if it’s delivery.
Even if you eat at fast food places. Not only could you cook healthier alternatives for yourself, but those meals cost at least $8 per person. Let’s do that math.
If you order takeout at dinner once a day and you spend an average of $15 (which is conservative), that adds up to $450 a month for one daily meal per person. Add an $8 fast food meal to that and you’re now at $690 a month on just two of your meals a day per person!
It might feel nice to say that you only spend $50 on groceries every week, but if you’re spending an additional $170 on food every week, then the numbers do not balance in your favor.
Under these circumstances, switching to cooking at home is an easy way to make a significant cut to your routine expenses. The best part is that you can control exactly how the food tastes at home, so it will be perfect every time!
Put Your Savings To Good Use!
Now that you know the best ways to save money on groceries, put this knowledge and your cash to good use! Saving money is important to financial health, so use your savings wisely. Stay up to date with our latest personal finance news and feel free to contact us with any questions!