Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half!

According to the USDA, the average American family spends about $10,000 a year on groceries.

What if you could cut your grocery bill in half?

What would you do with an extra $5000 a year?

Maybe it’s time to get serious about grocery savings.

10 Grocery Saving Tips to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

1. Set a Budget – Do you have any idea how much you’re spending each week at the grocery…make sure to add up every little trip! Now, cut that amount in half. It sounds scary, but it’s doable if you implement all of these grocery savings tips.
2. Plan Your Meals and Make a Grocery Shopping List – What’s for dinner? Plan you meals based on what you have and what’s on sale. Don’t plan on serving pork chops if they’re not on sale.
3. Give Aldi a Chance – Aldi alone has tremendously cut my grocery budget. It’s not your typical grocery store – you won’t find everything on your list, you won’t find many name brands and they don’t take coupons. What you will find is huge savings! By the way, if you don’t like their store brand, they have a double guarantee: “If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with any product, we will gladly replace the product AND refund your money. WOW!
4. Try The Grocery Game – They do the “homework” for you by finding the sales, coupons and unadvertised specials…you do the shopping and saving! The best time to buy? The Grocery Game says stock up when an item is on sale, and there’s a coupon. The Grocery Game – Cut Grocery Bills by 67% or more!
5. Look at Price Per Unit – Price per unit is what really matters. How can you compare the price of a 16-ounce package of lunchmeat to a 9-ounce package of lunchmeat without knowing the price per ounce? At first glance, the 9-ounce package might look like the better deal because it’s only $2, but the 16-ounce package at $3.25 is really the better buy. Look closely at the tiny print on the shelf tag, and you’ll find price per ounce, price per lb. or price per unit.
6. Shop Warehouse Clubs – Deals exist at warehouse clubs but duds do too! This is another case where you really need to know your cost per unit, so you can compare that box of 40 granola bars with the box of 10 granola bars at your grocery. Check out my price comparison field trip to Costco and Sam’s.
   
7. Don’t Be Brand Loyal – Did you just buy another jar of Hellmann’s mayo without comparing prices? Brand loyalty is a budget buster. If you can’t live without a certain brand, make an effort to stock up on it during a sale If you simply switch to store brands, you’ll cut your grocery bill by 25%…no coupons required.
8. Shop Salvage Grocery Stores – Salvage groceries are popping up around the country, and everything they sell is expired and discounted about 75%! Don’t worry…you won’t find expired meats, but you will find canned foods, cereals, pastas and more that say “sell by” for optimum taste. Wondering if you have a salvage grocery in your neighborhood? Check out this state-by-state list of salvage grocery stores.
9. Stock Up – If there’s an amazing buy on an item you use regularly, stock up for 3 months! Most grocery sales run on 12 week cycles meaning they won’t repeat again for 3 more months.
10. Look for Manager’s Specials – When meat and dairy products are about to expire, many grocery stores will mark them way down (about 75% off!) in an effort to avoid waste. If you can use it before the expiration, go for it and enjoy the huge savings! Remember, you can freeze most meats for 12 months.

 
What are your favorite grocery saving tips?

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Image courtesy of Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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In full disclosure, this post contains affiliate links to help support The Budget Diet girl! My advice will always be unbiased and free, but free won’t pay the bills! Thanks!