How to spend less money on groceries

Tons of tips for how to spend less money on groceries and avoid food waste while still making filling, delicious meals for your family.

Saving money when shopping for food is more important than ever. Clipping coupons and shopping sales are obvious ways to save a buck, but what are other ways to save money?

Meal Planning

How to spend less money on food? Meal planning is my number one money saving tip. A little planning, shopping your own pantry, and shopping the sales will all help to lessen the amount spent at the store.

Sometimes “meal planning” can simply mean having ingredients on hand for meals that you don’t have to think about. If you always have ingredients for spaghetti or tacos, that is one less meal to think about. Your family will be fed and happy, and you will be glad you didn’t have to order takeout!

• Decide how many days you want to plan meals for, and take a look at what is coming up on your schedule. Keep in mind days you may have games or meetings. Those nights a slow cooker meal or repurposing leftovers will help get dinner on the table fast.
• Shop your fridge and pantry! Try to plan your menu first around leftovers that need to be eaten, foods expiring soon, sauces or condiments taking up fridge space, vegetables that will be going bad soon, etc. Making sure you use up every last bit of food you already purchased will save money.
• Allow flexibility! Don’t be rigid about what days you serve what. Life happens, and sometimes dinner plans change.
• Meal planning may seem intimidating, especially on weeks where you’re lacking creativity. I always follow the same categories as a guideline: pasta, breakfast for dinner, one beef dish, one chicken dish, meatless dish, soup or salad. These categories take some of the guesswork out of the planning and can easily be modified based on what your family likes. Taco Tuesday or Pizza Friday anyone?

How to spend less on groceries by stocking your pantry

A well stocked pantry is key when trying to eliminate how much you are spending weekly. My Pantry Inventory list can be printed for free and used as a shopping list for stocking your pantry. Keep a copy taped inside a cabinet for a reminder of what you might be missing on your shelves.

• Keep “basics” on hand at all times. By having items like milk, eggs, cheeses, spices, frozen meat, rice and pasta in your cupboards, you can pull together meals without having to purchase as many ingredients each time you shop.
• A well stocked pantry comes in handy for weeks when you can’t make it to the store, or nights when you decide to stray from your menu plan. Added bonus: no need to get take out when you have food at home!
• Buy items in bulk that you use regularly.
• Stock up on sale items, and shop case sales.
• Don’t be afraid to keep a few convenience items on your shelf. Cooking at home will always be cheaper than the drive-thru, so keep items on hand to throw together dinner in a matter of minutes, such as quesadillas.
• If you are on an extra tight budget, try to avoid buying specialty ingredients. If you only need oyster sauce for one recipe and won’t use it for anything else, that is a very expensive ingredient for one meal!
• Keep in mind substitutions when possible. For example, milk and vinegar are a good sub for buttermilk, can save you a few dollars and avoid waste.

Buying in bulk

Buying in bulk is typically the cheaper option, and the easiest way to start building a stocked pantry. Not having to purchase items like rice or flour regularly means less money spent each week.

• Only buy in bulk what you will use up before it expires. If you only cook rice once a month, you may not go through a 25 pound bag before it goes bad- and wasted food is wasted money.
• Costco, Sam’s Club, restaurant supply stores and Azure Standard are all great resources for bulk foods. Be sure to shop around for the best price, doing the math per ounce or pound.
• Take precautions when storing bulk items. Food safe containers with well-sealing lids, mylar bags or buckets with gamma lids will keep critters out and keep food fresh.

Cooking from scratch

Cooking from scratch is another example of how to spend less on groceries , especially when using ingredients purchased in bulk. If you are new to cooking from scratch, start small!

• Make your own taco seasoning or ranch dressing mix. Packets of mixes are always more expensive than making your own. If you keep a well stocked pantry of basics you use regularly, you’ll already have the ingredients on hand.
• Granola and granola bars are easy and versatile recipes that are easy to customize.
• Think about the foods you eat most often in your household, and pick one to make from scratch. Experiment with recipes until you find one you like, and master it. Don’t try to make everything from scratch all at once or you’ll burnout.
• Bread products are an easy starting point for cooking from scratch. Homemade pancake mix, bread, tortillas or muffins cost very little when flour is purchased in bulk.

Repurpose Ingredients

Many people don’t enjoy leftovers, but there are often ways to repurpose ingredients to keep them interesting.

• Roast a whole chicken for dinner. Use the leftovers for chicken salad or in a soup for the week, and use the bones to make broth. One chicken can stretch into many meals!
• Use dry bread for croutons or bread crumbs.
• Add leftover meat, vegetables or pasta to a quiche or frittata.
• Make salad dressing using the last of a jam or peanut butter jar.
• Leftover meat can make a delicious sandwich filling, panini or pizza topping.

Cash Back Apps

Apps like Rakuten, Fetch Rewards, Ibotta, and Upside are a few of the many cash back apps that are available. These apps can help you find the best deals and some even give a percentage back on purchases. These apps are typically easy to use, and can be an easy way to save money at the grocery store or online. Remember, every penny counts!

I would love to hear how you save money on groceries, or how you repurpose leftovers. Don’t forget to print your copy of my FREE Pantry Inventory sheet and start saving money today!