5 Ways to Save Money on Grocery Bills Without Compromising

While paying your rent or mortgage is the first bill that comes to mind because it’s all due at once, people might not realize just how much they’re spending on groceries. One of the main reasons for this is that people tend to go grocery shopping once per week at the bare minimum, with some heading to the store every day or two.

These trips can add up quickly, though, and when you’re crunching numbers at the end of the month you’ll be astonished at just how much you’re spending. People on the lower end of the income spectrum are spending nearly one-third of their monthly pay on groceries, with the suggested amount being 10 to 15 percent. If you’re looking to save money on your grocery bills without compromising, here are the five best ways to save you money and make sure you and your family are eating healthy, quality meals.

Don’t Be Wasteful

Making use of all the odds and ends of your grocery items is a useful method to save you money on your meals and feel good about your positive impact on the environment. If you buy meat, try buying it whole and butchering it yourself. 

Save the bones to make and freeze your own stock to use in dishes and freeze any meat you’re not going to use right away. You can repurpose leftover foods as well, like making bread crumbs out of leftover bread. Make sure everything is sealed airtight to keep it fresher for longer. 

Buy Items in Bulk and Freeze Them

Along with using every edible part of the food item, preserving and storing food is another helpful tip for saving money on your grocery bill. Buy meat, vegetables, fruits, and even bread in bulk. 

You can freeze those food items to use at a later date, either defrosted or still frozen. Buying items you use often and know you can preserve will ensure you have what you need when you need them and save you money in the long run. Be sure to package everything in airtight containers with the date, because even frozen items can go bad over time. 

Use Coupons

Couponing is a fantastic way to save money on groceries. It can be intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, the savings add up over time. There are sites online, emails you can sign up for, magazines, grocery store flyers, and coupon booklets that offer coupons for a variety of different products. 

Be sure to read the fine print and expiration date to ensure you’re properly using the coupon and save time at the checkout. Find and use as many coupons for items you often use or want to try. Any amount of money saved by using coupons is a success. 

Buy Store Brand

Oftentimes store brand groceries aren’t much different in quality than name-brand items. Store brand foods are given a bad rap, but typically the food items taste just as good, or almost as good as the store brand item. 

The price difference between the brands can be substantial, especially over time. You don’t have to replace all of your groceries with the store brand, but if there are a few select foods you’re happy to substitute then it’s worth a shot to save some money without giving up quality. 

Make Your Own Food

Making, or even growing, your own food from scratch is a practice that is making a steady comeback in recent years. With groceries prices skyrocketing and certain items unavailable, it can be a struggle on your wallet and meal choices. 

Growing your own vegetables and herbs can be done easily with a little bit of research and practice. Making homemade items from scratch like bread, sauces, jams, butter, stock, and even cheese, will not only taste fresher, but save you a significant amount of money on groceries over time. You can preserve and freeze items to maintain freshness.