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So, I heard you want to save money on groceries? Well, guess what … You have come to the right place!
In this post you’ll learn:
–Top 5 ways we save money on groceries every single month
–How you can start saving money TODAY on groceries
–Some super delicious recipes that are cheap AND easy to make!
I used to find myself going way over my budget just because of grocery costs every month. And there’s only two of us that need fed!
I’m also NOT going to waste my time couponing. I don’t have the patience or willingness to do it.
BUT – I knew that SOMETHING had to change, I didn’t want to keep spending a ridiculous amount of money on groceries.
That’s when I decided to do some research and a little bit of trial and error.
I want to share with you exactly what I found so you can save the most money on your groceries! Ready to find out how to save money on groceries? Let’s get on with it then …
These are my five best ways to reduce your grocery costs when you’re on a budget, WITHOUT couponing.
1 – Plan out your meals
I know, I know. You’ve all heard about this meal planning craze that everyone is talking about now. You want to know why everyone is talking about? Because it works!
Seriously, if you don’t believe me try it. I used to plan out my meals for the entire month (yikes!) but now I just do it weekly.
On Sunday evenings I sit down with my husband and figure out what to eat for the next week. That way when I go to the store I know exactly what to get for my meals.
It’s proven that the more trips you take to the store, the more you OVERSPEND on unnecessary items.
It also helps so that I don’t have to take multiple trips back to the store (causing me to spend way more than necessary).
Bonus tip: My husband and I do a FFY – Fend For Yourself one to two nights a week when we both have a lot going on. We each get to pick a cheap meal that we want to eat for that night and make our own things. He usually makes a turkey sandwich or jambalaya and I usually make an easy alfredo and broccoli recipe.
2 – Use rebate apps
Let me be clear – a rebate app is NOT like couponing. There’s no clipping coupons from the newspaper (do people still even use newspapers?!)
Rebate apps are definitely my favorite way to save money on my groceries. I searched all over and found places that give you rebates on groceries that you’re ALREADY BUYING. You read that right, WHAT YOU’RE ALREADY BUYING!
We typically save about $30-50 a month using these (don’t be fooled, it may not sound like much but that’s an extra $360-600 a year that I didn’t have).
On rebate apps I usually save money on bread, milk, eggs, produce and a lot of pantry stuff that I need and are already on my grocery list.
It’s as easy as just taking a picture of the receipt – easiest $20 bucks I made by spending money!
Rebate Apps we use:
–Ibotta
Ibotta is my FAVORITE rebate app to save money on groceries. It has all your basic stores like Walmart, Target, HEB, WinCo, Costco and so many others! They’ve even included stores like Best Buy, H&M, Jo-Ann and others that aren’t grocery.
All you do is open up the app, find the store you’re going to and see what rebates they have.
Super easy, no coupon clipping and you just take a picture of the receipt when you’re done. Then BOOM cash back! Once you hit $20 you can cash out using PayPal, Venmo or even get a gift card to stores.
If you’re curious and want to try out the Ibotta app just click this link. Altogether my team on Ibotta has gotten back $1,089.63 in just a few short months. (most people have already gotten back $100+ in less than 2 months.) If that doesn’t make you want to join I don’t know what will! Also, by using that link you’ll get an extra $10 dollars back on your first rebate, you’re already halfway there to cashing out! Plus, the app is free, so don’t worry about spending more money to get money.
Related –> How to Use Ibotta to Save Money on Groceries
–Checkout 51
The next app we’ve used is Checkout 51. Most of the rebates that I get through there are for toilet paper, paper towels, bathroom products, etc …
You can easily download it on your phone and sign up for an account (it’s also free).
–Rakuten
The last app that I use is Rakuten.
This one is a little different where it’s only for online purchases, I don’t scan any receipts and it’s very limited to what stores you can get cash back on. The reason I still use it is it gives you cash back for places like HelloFresh, Thrive Market and Kroger.
They also give cash back and coupons for places like Amazon and Target where I will occasionally get food or snacks that only those two carry.
How Rakuten works is after signing up for a free account you search the store you’re ordering stuff online at.
Click the ‘Shop Now’ button and it will take you directly to that store’s online website.
Even though I don’t make a lot from this app, it’s worth it to me to take an extra 10 seconds just clicking a button. ANY extra money we get back will help.
Now you can get a cheap meal kit online from HelloFresh, and get $10 back. Win, win for me to not having to actually go to the grocery store.
You can check out Rakuten (and get lots of cash back on other online purchases) here.
3. Use the cash envelope system
The cash envelope system is something that can really change the way you look at money.
The basics of it are you take out the money you’ve made (in cash) and put it in separate envelopes for each category in your budget, according to the amount you’ve already determined.
For instance, the amount I aim to spend for groceries in my category is $250 so I take $250 cash and put it in the envelope. Then when I go to the store I can ONLY use the cash in that envelope.
This is super helpful to know EXACTLY where your money is going and how much you have left in each category. It can also reduce over-spending significantly.
If you run out of cash in one category you don’t have a desire to take it from another category. (At least you shouldn’t have the desire to; be strong!)
Obviously if you run out of cash in the grocery envelope and your family is going to starve and go hungry then yes you need to find some money from a different category. Then adjust it accordingly the next month so you don’t have to dip in to others.
Related –> How to Budget using Cash Envelopes
4. Choose recipes that use less ingredients
Finding cheap and easy dinners is my jam! I’m guilty of being one of those who constantly searches for new recipes on Pinterest. No shame, no shame.
It’s so exciting when you find a new recipe that turns out successful, but it can also be expensive.
Some of the recipes I find call for ingredients that I don’t have or wouldn’t typically buy, this can cause my grocery bill to skyrocket.
I have now gotten in to the habit of looking for recipes that have LESS ingredients than the original. If there’s something you love to make but it calls for an arm and a leg in groceries then find ways to incorporate different ingredients that aren’t as expensive.
Do some searching to see if there’s someone who makes the same thing with less ingredients.
Related –> 9 Deliciously Cheap Dinner Ideas your Family will Beg For
Bonus Tip: Go through your pantry before making your weekly/monthly meal list and figure out what you ALREADY have and may have forgotten about. It will save you a little bit in your grocery bill and will be easier to figure out what meals to make if you use what you have.
5. Buy only what you need
If you really want to save money on groceries then you need to take this step into giant consideration. At least I had to. I do believe that this is my biggest problem … Snacking.
Whenever I go to the store I think to myself, “Yes, Kenzy, you do need three bags of dark chocolate chips just in case you want to make some cookies. ” When in reality I am only getting them to secretly indulge in my chocolate addiction and eat ALL THREE BAGS in one week.
Look to see if there are foods you may be buying that aren’t necessary. Especially if you are trying to save money for something specific.
What foods are you indulging on that maybe you don’t need to be? Add up the costs of your snacks or extras that you don’t use. You’d be surprised how much it’s costing you every month.
Want even more tips on how to save money on groceries? Follow me below on Pinterest!
Amanda says
I really like your tips! Lately I have heard a lot about those rebate apps. I have not taken the time to do research on them. Glad I found your post.mi had no idea that some of those apps are free. That has given me the incentive to look into them, sooner rather than later.
McKenzy Potter says
Thank you! Even if it’s just a little bit extra you’re getting back, anything helps 🙂
Ali Lim says
I from Malaysia. Its easy understanding and I going to try it out!