How to save money on groceries: 20 tips to spend less
Groceries are one of the biggest expenses in any household, and one of the most flexible. Unlike rent, this is something you can start saving on this week. These 20 tips will help you spend less without eating worse.
Before you go
1. Plan the week's meals
This is the tip that saves the most. Decide on the week's lunches and dinners, using ingredients across several dishes (Monday's roast chicken becomes Tuesday's salad).
2. Check the fridge and pantry
Before writing your list, see what you already have. That way you don't buy duplicates and you use up what's about to expire.
3. Make a list and stick to it
Organize it by store section so you don't wander the aisles, which is where temptations appear.
4. Set a budget
Decide how much you'll spend before you walk in. If you use the envelope method, bring only the grocery envelope.
5. Eat before you go
Shopping hungry fills your cart with things you don't need.
6. Compare stores
Prices can vary a lot between chains. You don't need to visit them all: pick the cheapest for your main shop and, if it's on your way, another for products where it's clearly better.
7. Shop once a week
Fewer trips mean fewer impulse buys. For fresh produce, a quick mid-week top-up with a strict list.
In the store
8. Check the unit price
The shelf label usually shows the price per kilo, pound or liter in small print. It's the only real way to compare packs of different sizes.
9. Look up and down
The most expensive products are usually placed at eye level. The cheapest ones sit on the top and bottom shelves.
10. Try store brands
For basics like rice, pasta, beans, milk, oil, flour or cleaning products, the quality difference is usually minimal and the price difference large.
11. Buy seasonal fruit and vegetables
They're cheaper, tastier and usually fresher. Local markets can beat supermarket prices.
12. Be careful with "buy 2, get 1 free"
It's only a saving if you were going to buy that product anyway and it won't go bad before you use it. Otherwise it's extra spending.
13. Skip pre-prepared products
Pre-cut vegetables, grated cheese or bagged salads cost much more than doing it yourself in two minutes.
14. Buy staples in bulk
Beans, grains, nuts and spices are often cheaper in bulk, and you only buy the amount you need.
15. Check the reduced-price section
Many stores mark down items close to their best-before date. If you'll eat them soon or freeze them, they're a bargain.
16. Check your receipt
Mistakes at the checkout happen: sale prices that don't ring up or items scanned twice. A quick look before you leave.
At home
17. Batch-cook and freeze
Stews, sauces, beans and soups freeze very well. Having home-cooked food ready keeps you from ordering takeout, one of the most expensive small daily expenses.
18. Use your leftovers
Yesterday's rice becomes fried rice, stale bread becomes croutons or breadcrumbs, tired vegetables become soup. Throwing food away is throwing money away.
19. Store food properly
Learn what goes in the fridge and what doesn't, use airtight containers and follow "first in, first out": put new items at the back and older ones at the front.
20. Track what you spend
Keep your receipts for a month and add them up. Knowing how much you really spend on food is the first step to adjusting it in your monthly budget.
Frequently asked questions
How much can I save on groceries?
It depends on how you shop today, but combining meal planning, store brands and less food waste usually cuts the bill noticeably without eating worse.
Is it cheaper to shop once a week?
Generally, yes. Every trip to the store is a chance to buy on impulse. A planned weekly shop, with the occasional top-up of fresh produce, usually works out cheaper.
Are store brands lower quality?
Not necessarily. For many basics, the quality is very close to well-known brands. Try them product by product and keep the ones you like.
This article is for information only and is not personalized financial advice.