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Looking for ways to cut your grocery budget in half (without clipping a single coupon?) While I save a bundle with coupons, the bulk of my savings come just from shopping strategically, which means you don't have to clip any coupons at all.
I also enlisted the advice of the ladies in our Dinner's Done Facebook group on this post (they had so many great ideas!) If you'd love to get encouragement on making dinner every night, I highly recommend joining this free group ~ go HERE to check it out!
- Always shop with a grocery list
- Actually stick to your grocery list once you've made it
- Menu Plan
- Shop Aldi
- Be cautious when buying in bulk at Costco and Sam's Club (more info HERE)
- Try out Fresh Thyme or Sprouts for crazy low prices on produce
- Check over here for current printable coupons available
- Make sure to check the stores you shop store app for coupons and deals
- Always (always) shop your store's sales ad
- Know your prices
- Stockpile when you see a good price
- Substitute with things you already have (no buttermilk on hand? Mix vinegar and milk)
- Shop without children
- Shop without your spouse. 🙂
- Buy produce in season
- Eat your leftovers
- Shop your pantry fridge and freezer (then use All Recipes ingredient search to make a meal)
- Learn your store's markdown schedule
- Shop the store brands
- Use Ibotta (make sure to check for free items in the app)
- Start a garden
- Try shopping once a month
- Check the unit price to make sure you're never spending too much
- Buy diapers and toilet paper on Amazon
- Checkout Fetch Rewards super easy money savings app
- Buy in bulk
- Pay with cash
- Skip the pre-packaged stuff
- Don't use paper towels
- Or trash bags
- Buy double ply TP and only use single sheets. (TEASING. Just checking in to see if you're still awake.) 😉
- Make seasonings and sauces yourself (get a few of my favorites in the index at the back of this free cookbook)
- Store deeply discounted items in your freezer (get the full list of what to freeze over HERE)
- Have breakfast for dinner once a week
- Don't cook more than you need if it will go to waste
- Only buy meat when it's on sale
- Shop early in the morning when meat markdowns have just been made
- Ask the butcher to cup up large bulks of meat to get the best price
- Rotate your pantry so food doesn't expire
- Make baked goods from scratch (homemade bread, anyone?)
- Cook in bulk
- Ask stores to price match
- Don't shop if you're hungry
- Learn the map of your store so you get in and get out fast
- Skip any pre-cut meats, fruits, or veggies
- Buy big roasts (pork and beef) when on sale and cut them into 2 or 3 chunks, making for several meal (thanks Tiffany!)
- Buy eggs from a friend who has chickens (I get a dozen for $3 and they are organic)
- Don't buy bottled water
- Go HERE to see your favorite stores weekly and and top deals this week
- Buy a rotisserie chicken at Costco or Sam's and use the meat in soups, stews, and casseroles
- Keep a running log of how much you spend at the grocery store each week
- Shop more than one store
- Use cloth napkins instead of paper
- Skip paper plates
- Repurpose glass jars (or use mason jars) and store your homemade dry mixes
- Learn to can your own foods
- Create a price list for your area (Thanks Ashley!)
- Re-use your grocery sacks
- Pick up produce in large bags instead of buy the piece
- Don't buy pre-packaged salad blends
- Use up every single thing in your pantry
- Try out shopping online using Kroger Click List or Walmart Grocery Pickup so you avoid buying extras you don't need
- Avoid the kid snack traps, like packing your own goldfish, making granola bars, relying on fruit, etc (thanks, Amy!)
- Base your meals on sales, buy lots of meat when it's on sale and freeze the extra (thanks, Nicole!)
- Instead of using foil or plastic wrap, store food in re-usable containers
- Reinvent leftovers. Bones from cooked meats can be turned into broth. Use the trimmings and peels from celery, onions carrots for flavor in the broth. Repurpose leftover bits and pieces into something else. Bake extra chicken, use it in other dishes or on a salad. (Thanks, Robin and Vicki!)
- Prioritize what you need most and cut out non-essentials. We no longer buy things like soft drinks, paper towels, most packaged or prepared food. Buy ingredients and cook from scratch. So much healthier for you too (thanks, Tami!)
- Freeze leftovers and save for lunches so you do not go out
- Vacuum seal fruits, veggies and meat to make them last longer
- Buy gift cards for gas rewards
What other things do you recommend to save on groceries without clipping any coupons? Leave a comment to share ~ I love hearing from you!
I only have the top of the refrigerator as a freezer. I had extra money all last summer and bought a bunch of meats. Vacuum sealed most of it. I don’t eat a lot of meat, my pantry is overflowing, as I don’t do well when something runs short, I repla e what I use so I always have probably 3 months supply or more. I also stock canned meats, potatoes, and beans. Fresh vegetables go bad cuz I forget they are there. So, cans it is. No room for frozen. I do buy fish sticks, ice cream products once a month. I want a bread maker but not sure where I would put it, so back to hands . I have an air
Fryer, microwave, stand up mixer, hand mixer, blender, and crockpot..it is just me. I make bean and ham soup in the crock and put leftovers, 1 bowl, in fridge for lunch or snack. I have even made potato soup in it. Always looking for recipes for 1-2 servings, I forget most left overs. I chopped up an onion, didn’t need much but put the rest into containers and into the freezer. I am a picky eater.
That is great Kathleen! It sounds like you have the perfect system that works best for you, which is so important. Keep up the good work!
What do u use instead of paper towels, napkins, plates? Does it help to keep a running total of what you have in house?
We like to use wash clothes instead of paper towels and just have several on hand so that you can easily cycle them through and wash them to reuse! We also use cloth napkins the same way by washing them and reusing them. For paper plates sometimes it is easier to just use paper plates but being more mindful of the times when they are used and trying to use more regular dishes you can wash and reuse again can end up saving you in the long run! Keeping a running total would definitely help as well.
Living in a small town in an expensive state means finding great deals is a challenge. I have never been to an Aldis or a Publix. Costco is an hour away and my schedule doesnt really allow for Costco trips these days. I have to shop from Walmart, Safeway, and Grocery Outlet. Since Grocery Outlet is ever changing inventory, you can’t really count on it for weekly shopping unless you have a very flexible grocery list. I have also noticed the cost of groceries has gone up so much recently. I have a family of 8 and cry shopping for groceries these days. I am reading through all the suggestions and am hoping to adopt some in order to get a better handle on our grocery budget. Our last week walmart trip with a list for the week was $300!!! It was our standard lunch items for the kids for school plus our planned menu for the week. The vegetables were outrageous prices. We were unable to grocery shop for the following week since the budget was blown. I was able to shop from our pantry and freezers. We only had to pick up a couple of items ($50). Help!! Hoping this blog can save me big time.
Living in Northern BC, I find the same thing fresh is way too expensive. I have cut my cost down by keeping my fresh to “staple” ingredients like onions, peppers (on sale,) cilantro, carrots, potatoes and lettuce. This week the hubby asked for some fresh fruit so the budget has been increased. For the rest of our vegetables I buy frozen, they are always cheaper and we enjoy the almost as much. And of course I try and buy seasonal but it’s not always possible.
Make your own baby food with a good blender.
We water down juice to make it last longer. I also don’t mind watering down salad dressing as it’s also a diet trick.
Get your own spring water (if clean spring is nearby) or buy a sink RO system. We have one that only requires 1 filter a year. Remember to have some water stored as it’s handy in case of an emergency.
Don’t forget to check out local farms for deals too– you can find amazing deals and sometimes even haggle a better price!
When my kids don’t eat fruit skins (apples, pears, etc) or crusts, I pop them in the freezer and use them later in my protein shakes.
Old shirts, towels, and sheets can be used for napkins, cleaning rags, wipes, dust cloths, etc.
Make your own cleaners! So much cheaper and there are TONS of recipes online.
RO membranes should be changed at a minimum of every 6 months. Especially after the public water supply changes it sanitation method for the year as a “burst” of chlorine will eat the membrane. Now if you only have a filter that is another story, but still it is wise to change it quarterly.
Don’t buy anything with a label.
I couldn’t get step 51 to work
Aldi puts holiday hams on clearance the day after Easter, etc. They are good quality and can be frozen!
Walmart no longer has savings catcher. Or did they start it again and forgot to tell me?
I have three dogs and 3 cats. I also a dog breeder (shih tzu). Canned pet food is very expensive. I make my own dog food. Ground chicken, turkey, pork or ground beef come on sale frequently. I fry the meat and remove the fat. Add some dog friendly seasoning. Bring to a boil and add brown rice and fresh veggies like broccoli and carrots. Thicken with a cornstarch and water. Much healthier and cost efficient. My batch using just a pound of ground meat is good for 5-7 days. Cost $$ under $10. Canned dog food would be $20 a week. My dogs are very healthy have great teeth, clear eyes and shiny coats. Its a huge cost savings
How do you get shampoo for pennies? I never find coupons for the brand we use in the adds so I throw them out. The plumb never has thing we use in it any other adds I should be looking for? I have 4 adults and a teen girl n a 6 yr old so always looking for ways to stretch our small budget. Thank you
https://www.instructables.com/Homemade-Shampoo/
https://www.littleloveliesbyallison.com/homemade-shampoo-recipes/
Here is my question. Do you count non food items in this budget? Like shampoos and asprin?
Hi Lori! I do count things like that, but often buy things like TP and paper towels on Amazon so those aren’t always included. I usually get shampoo REALLY cheap at Kroger with Mega Sales and Kroger digital coupons (I typically only pay a few pennies for those!)
The biggest savings come when I am not in the grocery store. I STUDY and MARK UP the grocery flyer for the sales. I review my coupons and the store coupons. I have a menu plan, and I have checked my refrigerator, freezer and pantry. I use one store and work its reward system as much as I can. This includes gas discounts that come with the card. I also pay with a credit card that is paid off in full every month. The card I use has a very nice reward program.
After I shop, I review my receipt and log the amount spent and the amount saved into my daily organizer book. I look for future ways in which to cut the bill.
I shop by the rule of $1. What ever I buy it has to be as close to $1 as possible. If it’s not I ask myself is this absolutely necessary? If it’s not but I really want it I wait until the end of the foods and see where I’m at and if it fits with the budget. I can feed a family of 5 (2 teen boys and 1 teen girl) on $150 a week.
what about those of us who are single? I buy little jars and cans of things because I’m not much for leftovers, because it’s just me. Any ideas????
Could you buy bigger containers and freeze for later?
I have a teenage Son who says I always make too much. He is correct. I stretch the meals out to and freeze some of what is left over. I also often give meals to neighbors and especially to a gentleman who is on a fixed income. I seem to always have an overflow of abundance. New clothing and some Christmas cactuses were recently given to me (the plants from the gentleman’s Sister, I was even able to give one to the neighbor. The neighbors daughter gave me, through her Mom, a lot of new tops and a few sweaters). I am often given what I need. I try to do the same.
I had been thinking originally that if You have a single friend that You could split groceries where (each pays half) or with more then one single. Or a fun way might be if Your single friends could get together (distancing of course) and someone makes an appetizer or dessert and one a main course, then switch each week or once a month, etc. If not able to get together (covid…) then each one prepares it at home and they drop off and pick up at each others home. Perhaps a friend or friend could focus on budget friendly meals and share the recipes.
The last idea is to share with another if the friend idea is not what one would want. I am on a fixed income with a teenage Son. Personally I have found the more I share the more I receive (without any expectation. God blesses and always gives us what we need. My thoughts… Barb 🙂
Watch the price per meal! Even though frozen pizzas might be on sale, it still might be cheaper to make your own. I make crust in bulk with bread machine and freeze. Many recipes can be cheapened with cutting expensive ingredients in half or all together. You might not need that can of olives or using half pack of bacon instead of a whole.
Keep an eye on how much money is spent on drinks, switch to water instead when possible.
Great information. I do alot of these already . But I appreciate the new ideas