How To Cut My Grocery Bill

Did you know that food prices in the U.S. rose by 23% from 2020 to 2024? Food prices have remained uncomfortably high for many Americans for a while, despite a slight decrease in inflation. As costs continue to rise, here are ways to cut your grocery bill and fight high food costs.

Stick To Your List

We are all guilty of impulse purchases. Unfortunately, at the grocery store, these add up fast. One or two items here and there can increase your bill unexpectedly by the time you get to checkout. The best way to avoid this is by sticking to your grocery list. Whatever is on the list, put it in the cart. Don’t be enticed by decorative endcaps that encourage you to have a “S’mores Weekend” with chocolate, graham crackers, and marshmallows. Write your grocery list, go to the store, and keep only what you need in your cart.

Buy Generic

Everyone has their name brands they want to buy every time, but in a pinch, generic will do just fine. Name brands like Kellogg’s, Tillamook, and DiGiorno’s make quality products that you may love, but the store’s generic brand will also get the job done. Yes, it may be the difference of 50 cents to a dollar, but when you multiply that by 20 grocery items, it adds up pretty quickly. Buying generic will help lower your overall grocery bill every time you visit the store.

Shop The Sales

Sales, sales, sales! Grocery stores run sales almost every day of the week, so take advantage! They run sales on everyday items that you may need. To find these sales, check their website, app, or weekly ad. Compare sales from multiple grocery stores to get the best deals. If there is a sale on chicken this week, consider amending your meal plans from beef to chicken. Or, buy the chicken while it is on sale and stick it in the freezer for future meals.

But! Only utilize the sales on items you actually need. For example, a sale on paper towels is better to take advantage of than a sale on candy.

Buy In Bulk

Buying food in bulk is a great money-saving strategy that many people have started to take advantage of over the last 40 years, with the addition of stores like Costco and Sam’s Club. Food purchased in bulk should be items you already shop for and regularly go through. It’s best to have a meal plan ahead of buying in bulk to ensure you will cook it all before it goes bad. For example, buying bulk veggies may not be the best idea since they go bad quickly. Bulk cereal is a better idea!

Hunt For Coupons & Rewards

Did you know many grocery stores, including Kroger, Walmart, Target, and more, offer coupons and rewards for their shoppers? Coupons can be found in weekly ads, on their apps, product packaging, receipts, and more. Some stores even have loyalty programs that reward you for being a frequent shopper there through exclusive discounted prices and savings. Don’t miss out on cheaper goods!

Your household grocery bill is a hard expense to cut down, especially when prices are on the rise. Hopefully, with these tips, you can make your food costs more manageable.