You CAN save money on groceries though meal planning: all you have to do is follow these easy tips! You’ve been there, haven’t you? Feeling your jaw hitting the floor when the grocery clerk gives you the total? I totally understand why more *ahem* experienced shoppers comment on how expensive groceries have become; I have witnessed many grocery items triple in price in my own (relatively short) grocery shopping career!
For instance, when I first started shopping, strawberries went on sale for 99 cents fairly often, but now I’m lucky to get them for $2.50! I could ramble on all day about this, but instead, I’m here to let you in on some of the tricks I use to feed my family healthy meals while making the most of the food I buy!
Before I wrote this post, I wanted to be sure that my idea of a frugal meal was in line with the national average. Well, according to the USDA guidelines, a frugal monthly food budget for a family of four is between $558.90 and $641.00, depending on the age of the children. You can check out the statistics and find out how your own budget measures up here!
Are you picking your jaw up off the floor again? Although this seems like a large amount of money, this actually made me feel a little better, since our food budget is right in line with this (and, for us, that also includes diapers, toilet paper, etc., and I’m pretty sure they’re not counting any of that)! That said, I’ll take any help I can get when it comes to finding new ways to save money on groceries!
A Few Tips to Save Money on Groceries
This may seem a little silly, but I always eat before heading to the grocery store! It really helps to curb those “impulse buys!” I also stock up when I find something like ground beef on a great deal; I just pop it in the freezer to use as I need it! This might seem obvious, but I also watch the ads. I’m not totally sure how much money I actually save by doing this, but I know for certain that it broadens the number of items available for our menus, and affords us nice treats like grilled salmon now and then! Variety is the spice of life, after all, and I do strive to feed my family diverse, healthy meals! 🙂
Putting It Into Practice
A little planning goes a long way when it comes to grocery shopping; I am a huge advocate for meal planning, because you can make the most of what you purchase! The main way to do this is to plan multiple meals that use some of the same ingredients. This way, you can cut down on the number of items you have to buy and reduce food waste! To get you started, I created this “5 Dinners For About Forty Dollars Meal Plan!” Not only does it utilize many of the tips I’ve shared, it will save you time as well as money because it comes complete with recipes and a shopping list! What are you waiting for? 🙂
Do you have a super-useful grocery-saving technique to share? Tell me all about it in the comments below!
I understand where you are coming from, I try to save on packaged food, that goes on sale and as for meat I tend to plan only around what I intend to cook that week. I just plan ahead and make enough to last a few days.
YES! Leftovers are AWESOME! 🙂
That’s a great tip to eat before you go shopping. If I’m supermarket shopping while hungry I always buy so much more! Great tips!
Yes! If I don’t eat first, I’ll buy the whole store! Thanks!
These are great tips! It’s not silly at all to eat before you shop, I always buy more when I’m hungry! And I always am shocked at the checkout line…so your tips are right on time!
We’re all in this together, friend! 🙂
Meal planning can be a huge help! I’m not a morning person so I have a very awesome morning meal plan. Not only does it help with grocery savings, it makes for a much easier and smoother morning routine. Thanks for sharing your tips 🙂
You’ve just hit on another really good thought: the easier you make it for yourself, the more successful you can be! Thanks!
What a fun little worksheet from the USDA. I added up our family of six according to age and using the thrifty column. My jaw just about hit the ground. $880.60?! I try to stay below that number for sure. I have been doing a monthly meal plan for over a year now and it has drastically slashed our grocery bill. I agree with you, planning works. If you don’t already meal plan, I definitely suggest you check out Katie’s system!!
RIGHT?! How does anyone even afford to eat? Thanks so much!
Grocery shopping for my family is so expensive. We try to eat organic when I can get it and I’m gluten free. It adds up quickly. I’m not even positive what my monthly grocery bill is but it’s not small! Loving your tips and I’m going to have to start planning more <3 Jamie
It’s sad that eating healthy means spending more! Some things are worth the extra money though, You can’t put a price on your health that’s for sure! I am so glad you found these tips helpful! 🙂
Having a Meal Plan is definitely a great idea to save money…We can’t cut out the daily food list but with such plans, we can surely make out a difference in grocery bills!!! Believing in simple lifestyle and saving money for future so such ideas are always welcome and review them how they can be apply at my house.
I love simple ways to save money and live better too! Thank you for checking out this post! 🙂
I am the same way I stick up when thing ago on sale and freeze what I can. My example is mushrooms- when the clearance them out, I buy them all. Then I go home and sautéed them up for steaks these freeze and reheat wonderfully and then I don’t have to pay $3 a piece when I want to grill out a steak. It is just planning ahead.
Mmm! I love sautéed mushrooms! What a great idea Jen!
When it comes to saving money on groceries, I’m quite frugal (I do all of the meal planning and sticking to the list etc) but until very recently my partner NEVER wanted to eat before we go shopping and ends up throwing stuff in the trolley that we don’t need. He doesn’t even realise he’s doing it. Drives me nuts 🙂 But lately I’ve been trying to encourage him to have something to eat before we leave the house, and it really does make a difference! It’s much healthier too as all of the impulse buys are always unhealthy snacks, so we really are better off without them. He does share my love of bargains though, we get as much reduced foods (especially meat) as we can to freeze for later in the month.
You are so right eating beforehand really helps with unhealthy impulse buys! Thank you so much for your great comment! 🙂