25 Proven Ways to Save on Food Costs

By Michelle P. Sharrow, MBA

grocery store milk aisle

If you want to save money on groceries, check what you have in your refrigerator or freezer before you go shopping so you don't buy duplicates. also check expiration dates so you know which items you might need to replace

See more meal planning and food stretching tips below

No matter how good my intentions, a candy bar or a family size bag of chips or cookies always seem to make it into my shopping cart.

Always Shop with a List

By not only shopping with a list during my main shopping trip, but also during my quick stops, I think I can keep myself on track.

Avoid End of Aisle Impulse Shopping

Always check the prices of similar brands.

Another brand may be less expensive even with the coupon. Donít buy the brand-name item just to use the coupon.

Place Your Coupons in Your Car

Most families that clip coupons tend to complete this task on Sundays. So at the beginning of the week, make it a part of your week to place your coupons in a handy spot so you will have them whenever you go to the store. I keep mine with my shopping bags.

. Organize coupon by earliest expiration dates and remember you can save double by combining with the SALES on coupon! items

Watch for double coupon Days

If your retailer doubles the face value of your coupons on a certain day, plan to do your major shopping on that day.

Eliminate the Quick Stops

Take it a step further by planning your meals for the entire week before you go grocery shopping.

More ideas for Saving Money

Cheap Family Meals Under $10

Save Money on New Baby Expenses

SAVE Money on Fall Clothes

Low Cost Family Fun Activities

Hold a Back to School Garage Sale

More Tips to Save Money on Groceries from Our Readers

Meal planning that incorporates last nights dinner into todays food (not as a leftover) and incorporates all the ingredients - If you use only half the broccoli or 1/3 an onion we all know how that offers ends up being thrown away. Do planning to use up every fresh ingredient.

Get the kids involved in planning so there is less complaints and they are on board with buying what's on sale only.

This may be difficult if your credit isn't great but if you can use a credit card( with a point system that gives back cash or gift cards), to buy - gas, groceries, tuition, bills, everything. You can earn 10 points per dollarand every week or two you can end up with $5-$10 in points to redeemSo 1-2 times per month you essentially get a groceries gift card.

Join your local "buy nothing" group on Facebook

“Flipp” is an app I use to look at weekly flyers with different stores to take advantage for items on sale. It matches coupons from your favorite brands with the circular from your local store, Flipp is designed to maximize your savings while you shop. One night a week, clear out your fridge and make confetti soup, or any dish that you can use up all the bits you have. Confetti soup is chicken broth with finely chopped veggies in it. Buy items in larger amounts, be sure and check when the items expire. And how much storage space is needed. If you have the room, buy in bulk- dry beans, rice, oatmeal, flour, sugar, spices, bananas (freeze when they turn brown), nuts, etc.

Buy less meat and more beans and lentils, putting everything over rice makes it last longer.

Items that are in simpler packaging can be cheaper such as items like big yogurt containers vs smaller individual packs when looking at oz helps

The Supercook app helps save money too it provides recipes that you can use based off of what you have in the cupboards.

18 Meal Stretching Tips - How to Save on Food Costs

  1. Add water to the mustard and ketchup, milk to mayonnaise
  2. Switch to powdered milk. Make it a day ahead and chill it well, Or mix with one half real milk, it makes quite a difference.
  3. Soups are extremely cheap as well and you beans or meat to them, to "beef up" or serve "chunky- style" soup over rice to make it a meal.
  4. Don't forget to use herbs and spices so that the simpler meals are still full of flavor.
  5. Also, don't be afraid to supplement from food pantries. That's why they’re here.
  6. Make you own stocks out out of meat bones and fat, the onion skins and carrot peals, etc. Make a few soups ahead on the weekend and use for lunches and quick dinners throughout the week .
  7. Use beans and lentils for proteins and rice for carbs.
  8. Pudding mixes especially when mixed with powered milk make a nice inexpensive week night dessert or snack. Also Jiffy brand mixes such as cornbread, brownie mix or cake mix are in expensive.
  9. Brown beans are often a hit with the family,later i incorporate with lef over pork or beef.
  10. Grow veggies, fruit and spices in season and freeze or can them for consumption later
  11. Pick wild berries . We have black cap raspberries that grow wild and free near my office.
  12. Make cheese toast.
  13. Buy smallish apples, oranges and bananas. People eat one of these, whether big or small. Keep the bowl full for snacking. Popcorn you pop yourself makes a great treat.
  14. Make your own bread (use a beadmaker to make dough, then shape and cook) it's fast, easy, and cheap.
  15. Buy any spices that you can't grow from the bulk store
  16. If you have access to Costco or other food club, the $5 rotisserie chicken is a money saving deal. You can do so much with it: chicken pot pie, chicken salad/sandwiches, casserole, tacos, enchiladas, burritos.... on and on. After a few days, you ncan boil the bones and make either chicken soup or strain and freeze the bone broth.
  17. Save money on breakfast get rid of the boxed cereal and use oatmeal, a five dollar investment lasts the month. If you buy cereal look for the bags and store brands.

Michelle P. Sharrow, MBA

Michelle P. Sharrow, MBA, crunches numbers and provides program guidance in the federal sector by day, and writes at night. Her area of specialty is personal finance.. Her areas of expertise include finances and parenting. More about Michelle Sharrow, MBA

TheParentVine.com earns commissions on sales

About Us- Contact Us - Privacy Policy

©2023 TheParentVine.com a brand owned by GADL Enterprises, LLC. All rights reserved.


TheParentVine.com earns commissions on products sold.