If you’re looking for ways to cut back on your spending, start with your biggest expenses. According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Expenditure Survey, the average family spends $7,729 on food every year. [source]

Struggling to cut back on your own food spending? The tips below will help you save money grocery shopping and slash your food costs without much effort.

12 Easy Tips to Save Money On Groceries

Grocery retailers know exactly how to get you to spend your hard-earned cash without you realizing. Here are some frugal tips for grocery shopping to make food more affordable without compromising on quality.

1. Write a Shopping List (We mean it!)

Saving money on groceries begins with a list. If you’re just browsing the aisles waiting for something to catch your eye… everything is going to catch your eye (especially the stuff you don’t need).

Stop wasting money on food. Make a grocery list, and only buy exactly what you need.

2. Never Shop Hungry

Hunger will ALWAYS convince you to buy more food than you went in for. It’s a simple fix; eat before you shop for food. This is a must if you want to stick to your list, and save at the grocery store.

Offers change so check the app regularly. You may be surprised at the number and types of retailers offering cash back through Dosh in your area. Just shop as usual and get cash back for stuff you already planned to buy.

3. Amazon Subscribe & Save

One lesser known way to save on groceries is by using Amazon’s Subscribe & Save feature. You can get a variety of pantry items through Amazon delivered straight to your door for free.

If you use the Subscribe & Save feature, you also get up to 20 percent off on your order as long as you get at least five different subscriptions in a shipment. Make sure you compare prices on Amazon with what you can get at your local store to see if you’re getting a good deal.

Shopping through Amazon saves you gas because you don’t have to drive to the store. In addition, it saves you from the tempting impulse buys awaiting you down the aisles of your neighborhood grocery store.

You can set your subscriptions for different frequency delivery intervals up to six months. Once your order arrives, go back on Amazon and either cancel any future orders or space out your orders as far as it makes sense for you.

Want more ways to save on Amazon.com?

4. Get Produce While In Season and Freeze

If you’re not careful, produce can blow your budget fast. Take note of when your favorite fruits and vegetables are in season, so you can stock up and freeze! Soon you’ll have a stash of all your favs and will have avoided dishing out $8/strawberry.

5. Download Grocery Store Apps

Chances are, your local grocery store has an app you can download on your phone. Store apps are a great way to save money grocery shopping since they frequently offer exclusive coupons and deals.

In addition, they feature the store’s sales circular with the current weekly store specials. Use the circular to plan your meals around what’s on sale and then look for coupons to use on your purchase.

The coupons can usually be loaded on your store loyalty card through the app and scanned at checkout. It’s an easy and painless way to pay less during checkout.

6. Try the Store Brand

If you’re only buying name brand products, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to save. Store brands often are just as good as name brands but at a fraction of the price. In many cases, the products are manufactured in the same facility but packaged differently.

Next time you go grocery shopping, make it a point to try one or two store brand items. Start with canned beans or tomatoes since they are used in cooking. It usually doesn’t matter what brand they are – they taste the same in a meal.

Once you’ve found a few substitutions that work for you and your family, consider trying other store brand options. Go one-by-one through each item that you buy regularly and try a generic equivalent.

For some items, you’ll find something that you like just as well (or better); for others, you may end up going back to the name brand. The more generic alternatives you can swap out, the lower your grocery bill.

7. Compare the Price/Ounce

When comparing prices at the grocery store, you shouldn’t ONLY be looking at the price.

Instead, start looking at the price/weight:  Ex: $1.73/ounce

Compare every item’s price per weight so you always know you’re getting the cheapest option.

8. Buy in Bulk

Bulk comes in handy for recipes. When you only need a little of something you don’t have, head to the bulk section, and grab as much as you need.

Not to mention, the bulk section is cheaper and has many hidden gems!

Food items to buy in bulk:

  • Nuts
  • Nut Butter
  • Oil
  • Spices
  • Almond Flour
  • Chia Seeds
  • Baking Powder
  • Sugar-free sweeteners

Also See: Top Cash Back Apps in 2020

Alright, those are the easiest ways to save on groceries every time you shop!

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