One of the most highly asked questions among our readers is how to save money in regards to groceries and meal planning. While this is so simple, it is also something that takes work and some extra planning. We have some great tips for you to get started, but you have to understand the basic concept first. Buy food items when the prices are low and stock up on them, and in essence, create your own food pantry. Don’t panic if that seems too hard, we are going to walk you through it step by step.
1. Create a list of the top 10-15 meals you make the most. Make a list of the ingredients from these meals, and then purchase these items when they are on sale or a part of a deal. This way you are never buying meal planning items at full price. Make sure to print our Weekly Meal Planning Printable and check out our entire Family Binder printables!
2. Know your prices. I keep a price book of all the items I use the most so I know that I’m truly getting the best price for each item. This means I know the best price per ounce, square foot (think paper products), etc. I know that bread at Aldi in our area is $0.89 and that is the best price per slice. If I go to Walmart, I’m going to pay at least $1.30 per loaf. Keeping a price book allows you to stay ahead of the supermarket game. Check out our FREE printable price list sheet.
3. Use recipe websites. I love to use the features on sites like allrecipes.com where you can search for meals by ingredient. This way if I have rice and beans, I can search for those items and create a meal based on items I have already purchased on sale.
4. Stock up on loss leaders. These are the items on the front page of the sale circular that are on sale. Grocery stores actually lose money on these items, so make sure you stick as closely to these items as possible for each store. Become a shopping ninja! Get in and get out with just what you need to score a deal!
5. Use coupons and work deals. If you are new to couponing, check out our couponing 101 section. We will teach you all the abbreviations and terms like “stacking.” Couponing saves me about $7,000 per year! Following blogs like debtfreespending.com where we break down the deals for you will save you time and money. Also, find a website that has weekly coupon match-ups, where you can see all the exact deals for a certain store. Also, remember, sometimes you can get an item cheaper at a store like Aldi than you can even with coupons.
6. Use apps like ibotta or Shopkick to save even more. I also use apps like Target cartwheel and get text coupons from stores as well. These are cashback apps, and I have earned more than $400 back using these apps.
7. Use Pinterest for new ideas. I have entire board devoted to healthy eating where I pin recipes that I know I want to make in the future.
8. Learn to cook from scratch. So many items are boxed and are definitely not nutritious. I love 100 Days of Real Food and have taken their pledge and downloaded their free meal plans. Several items need to be cooked from scratch, so when I have the time I’m making homemade wheat bread and other items that would cost more in the store, especially the more nutritious items that I don’t want to buy boxed made with high fructose corn syrup.
9. See what you already have. Start now by looking in your pantry and cupboards to see what foods you already have that can be cooked, and that will save you money right now. Don’t think that meal planning requires you to head out to the store and spend even more. Start with what you have and go from there.
10. Grow your own. We just started growing our own herbs this year. Dill, oregano, and other herbs can be pricey, and we prefer the fresh taste anyways. Check out our backyard homesteading series for more posts, and learn about how we even raise our own chickens for fresh eggs.
What are some of your meal planning tips? Comment them below!
Hi there! I’m just here to say thanks for the tips and to encourage everyone else out there. It can be done! The last time I went grocery shopping, I took my list, left my kids with my husband, and hit the store. Not only was I faster without my family tagging along, but I also saved about $100. You see, even without coupons, I was able to save money by having a plan and sticking to it. It was awesome! I have to say, though, it took a little pre-planning to make it happen. I had to know what was already in my kitchen, as well as what I planned to cook, and therefore would need, that week. 🙂 If I can do it, anyone can!
That is awesome Grace! I’m so excited for you! We never shop with the kids! LOL