If you asked me which household expense I felt the most guilty about, I would probably say my grocery bill.
There are months when I look back on grocery spending and I’m shocked by the number. So, I did some digging into what the average American spends on groceries, to hopefully make myself feel better….
What did I find out? Turns out groceries are a spendy pain-in-the side for many people, accounting for the second highest household expense, according to gobankingrates.com. In their survey of How Americans Budget for Groceries, they found that men spend around $290 per month, and women spend $323 per month on groceries.
So, it sounds like many of my fellow readers are in the same boat, and looking for ways to keep healthy food on the table while saving some money. I’ve compiled ten of my favorite tips to save money on groceries.
1) Understand Store Psychology
You may think that the signage, food placement and colors you see in a grocery store are happenstance, but there’s something else going on underneath the surface. Grocery stores are using psychology and behavioral science to influence your shopping experience.
Ever wonder why fragrant fruits, flowers and baked goods are placed at the front of the store when you walk in? These smells not only put you in a better mood, but they trigger your salivary glands, making you more prone to buy more.
A few other tricks include:
- Placing staples (like bread and milk) at opposite ends of the store, to encourage you to walk through the store
- Putting the most expensive items at eye-level so you see them first
- Placing impulse purchases like candy and gum at the check-out lane
2) Plan Your Meals and Make a List
One of the best ways to avoid spending traps is to be prepared and stick to a plan. Try to plan at least a few big meals in advance so you know exactly what to shop for. I like to plan at least one or two big meals that I can make on the weekend and have for lunch during the week. I’ve found crockpot recipes to be the easiest and cheapest way to save on food.
Make sure you check your pantry before you leave so that you don’t buy things you already have. Try using an app like Out of Milk, to help you sync up shopping lists with your partner.
3) Buy In-Season Produce
There’s a reason why strawberry prices double in the winter – they’re out of season. Try to choose recipes that use seasonal ingredients to save on money. Not only will they cost less, but in-season produce is typically more flavorful.
Some examples of in-season produce include:
- Winter – Apples, Oranges, Grapefruit, and Root Vegetables
- Spring – Asparagus, apricots, broccoli, lettuce, strawberries
- Summer – Bell peppers, berries, cantaloupe, corn, peaches, tomatoes
- Fall – Cabbage, cranberries, grapes, kale, onions, pears, potatoes
4) Look at Unit Price
My dad, who has worked in a grocery warehouse for many years, actually taught me this one! Don’t be fooled by sales signs – sometimes the best deal isn’t actually advertised. To really see which option has the lowest price, look at the unit price on the label.
This will show you how the product is priced per ounce. That way, you can easily see the cost comparison against different sized products and really get the best deal.
5) Know Which Organic Items are Worth the Money
While you should try to buy organic whenever possible for a number of reasons, I know it’s not always feasible with the price tag. So, educate yourself on the items that are worth the splurge. Here are the so-called “Dirty Dozen” that carry the highest pesticide residue, according to the Environmental Working Group:
- Strawberries
- Apples
- Nectarines
- Peaches
- Celery
- Grapes
- Cherries
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
- Sweet bell peppers
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cucumbers
6) Buy These Items in Bulk
Some items like apples, spices, canned goods and nuts are best bought in bulk because of their long shelf life and cheaper price per pound. Other good items to buy in bulk include: cheese, dry pasta, oats, and basically any produce that freezes well.
Other items? Not so much. Before buying items in bulk, ask yourself a few questions. Do you have enough storage or freezer space? Do you have recipes in mind that will use the ingredients? Are you really saving money?
7) Use Coupons
I personally go back-and-forth with coupons. Sometimes they seem like a great deal and other times I think they just convince me to buy something I don’t really need because of the “deal.”
On the other hand, our editor, David swears by using coupons, and says it has saved him and his wife thousands of dollars on groceries. So, if you’re interested in using this tactic, start with looking at the Sunday newspaper for deals. Or, find coupons online at sites like coupons.com. You can even organize all of your coupons in this awesome Excel download.
8) Beware Convenience Packaging
There have been countless times when I’ve walked into the grocery store, tired and hungry after a long day of work and just looking for something fast to whip up for dinner. I usually turn to stir-fry as my go-to quick meal. Just cut up some bell peppers, broccoli and onion and stir-fry with some chicken and teriyaki sauce over a packet of rice. Voila!
On those nights, I’m so so tempted to just grab the pre-cut packages of vegetables, but then I think of 1) the wasted plastic ending up in our oceans and, 2) the extraordinary price mark-up. Is that really worth it for 5 minutes worth of elbow-grease?
9) Eat all of your food
According to USA Today, the average U.S. household trashes about $640 worth of groceries per year. That’s not chump-change! And, it has a much bigger affect on the environment. Food waste makes up more than 20% of what’s in landfills and is a significant source of methane gas as it rots, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to Earth’s warming.
Do the earth a solid, and don’t waste your money. Try to buy the appropriate amount of food and get creative with using left-overs. If you don’t think you’ll be able to use your left-overs right away, freeze them!
10) Don’t Shop Hungry
We’ve all heard this common piece of advice, but did you know there’s scientific research to back it up? Being hungry amps up your desire to acquire things, according to new research from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
Try having a snack before you hit the grocery store. You may end up spending a lot less money … and successfully backing away from the donut case.
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I hope you found this post on grocery savings tips helpful! Do you have any that you would add to the list? Which tip is your favorite
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Great tips Ashley! We use a number of them in our family to help save money on groceries. We do virtually all of our shopping at Costco and they, thankfully, have a fair number of organic options. Not all are worth it, like you said, but for those that are it’s typically a good deal. We don’t really use coupons either, it’s just not worth our time in most cases since we don’t buy much in terms of packaged foods.
Grocery can be a very exxpensive list but if you have a meal planning a list to stick it, buy local seasonal and look you can save money and have a healty and delicious diet:D
We buy in bulk when possible and look at the unit price.
Sometimes bigger isn’t always cheaper per ounce though.
We also do coupons, but only use them for products we buy on a regular basis. I’d say 90%+ of coupons are for items we don’t normally purchase and we would spend more thinking “I’m getting a good deal” so I’ll buy this.
Biggest one is don’t shop hungry! Any time I got to get food with an empty stomach it turns out bad!