- Use loyalty points and cashback apps
Although keeping an eye on prices is the best way to save money, joining up with loyalty schemes from your favorite stores can also be a good way to get added value from your shopping habits.Also, features and availability vary, so try out some cashback apps like Ebates, Checkout 51, and Ibotta.
These actually pay you for your grocery shop but deals vary between them, so be sure to try a few out to see which works for you.
- Go at a busy time
Grocery shopping drives me crazy and I can’t wait to get what I need and leave. But, if you’re a grocery browser, this can mean you fill up your basket with things you don’t really need.Try to shop at a less fun time to be in the store, or go when you’re on a time crunch so that you’ll go through without dawdling.
The more time you hang around the store, the more likely you are to fill your cart with unnecessary extras, so instead, make sure you grab only what you need and then go.
- Aim to buy the bulk of your groceries once per month
If you’re used to weekly shops then this might sound like a tall order, but it’s way easier to control your spending and keep track of the food you need if you plan one big shop once per month.Then just pick up the fresh essentials via small weekly shops in-between.
- Try to use less without feeling deprived
Using less will make food last longer and save you money but you don’t need to go hungry.Using 75% of the quantities given in a recipe can stretch out meals, as can the tip for bulking out dishes with dried foods.
- Make it a competition to spend less on groceries
Once you get the bug for spending less on groceries, keep track and make it a competition with yourself to spend less and make your food stretch further every single time.Alternatively, get together with friends via social media to share your tips and see who can spend the least. Keep track of your savings every week to stay motivated and measure your progress.
- Basket or shopping cart?
If you’ve got more room to fill up that cart then you’re way more likely to overfill it. When you’re grocery shopping on a budget a basket instead and you won’t be tempted to pick up unnecessary extras.If I’m going in to get one or two things, I won’t get a basket at all and just carry my purchases, so I head straight to pay for them. That way, I don’t make any impulse buys.
Grocery shopping on a budget doesn’t have to be a huge drag, by incorporating a few small habit changes into your routine, you can make meaningful savings in no time.
What’s your favorite way to save money? Let us know in the comments!
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