My Top 10 Tips To Save Money on Groceries

I was looking at my bank statement a few months ago, which I do a few times a week (and highly recommend), and was analyzing my recent purchases. $112.68 at Trader Joe’s, $36.91 at Fine Fare, $54.84 at Trader Joe’s again, $14.53 at Metro Acres, $78.72 at Whole Foods. It came out to $297.68 in less than two weeks. Granted, it was an unusual few weeks as we had family visiting for a couple of days, but even then, it felt like a lot. I knew I needed to dig a little deeper here. Was this spending normal? Why did it feel excessive?

So I googled it and apparently, the average cost of groceries for U.S. households is $4,942, based on 2020 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This works out to about $412 per month. We were clearly overspending here. Yes, we live in NYC, which is notoriously expensive, but still. I knew I could make adjustments to how we shop so it didn’t feel like we were throwing money away. Based on my own personal experience, I’d love to share with you my top 10 tips to save money on groceries, while still eating well!

1. Don’t shop without a plan.

Meal prepping is great, but as a mostly intuitive eater, I find it hard to plan out a full week’s worth of meals because I don’t always know what I will be in the mood for. This can make long term shopping hard, so I stick to a basic plan. Even though it’s really simple, this is my number 1 tip to save money on groceries. Once a month, I buy pantry basics and staples: olive oil, rice, almond butter, spices if we’re low, etc. Then about two times a week, I buy fresh ingredients that I’ll use within a day or so. I use the Notes app on my phone to make a list and I only buy what I plan to use. This is the plan that works for me, but I encourage you to think about how to streamline your process. Before I implemented this very basic idea, my shopping was scattered and disorganized, leading to a lot of impulse purchases and spoiled groceries.

2. Stick to the perimeter of the store.

The perimeter of the store is typically where you find fresh produce, meat and dairy products. These perishables are not only healthier for you, but they tend to be less expensive in comparison to the packaged goods in the middle aisles.

3. Buy local and seasonal.

It’s not always possible to buy organic food, so buying local food is a great, and sometimes even better option. In-season produce is often abundant, which means it will cost less. It’s also more energy efficient because it typically has to travel a shorter distance to land on your supermarket shelves. The shorter distance means it’s fresher by the time you get it, so not only is it more economical, but it’s often better nutritionally as well.

4.Choose whole plant based foods more often.

I believe that if you’re going to eat animal products, then you should choose the highest quality whenever possible. This means it should be organic, grass-fed and locally sourced. Because these qualifications tend to be more expensive, I see eating animal products as a luxury and not something I do as often. Choosing animal products that don’t meet this criteria is a personal decision of course, but viewing it this way has saved me money and I feel better both physically and consciously about my choices. That said, I completely understand if you feel differently. From a budget perspective however, choosing whole plant based proteins is a great way to save money. Plus, beans and legumes are nutritional powerhouses high in minerals and fiber and dried beans have a long shelf life.

5. Prioritize the Dirty Dozen.

Organic produce typically costs more, so choosing organic when it matters most is a great way to save money. Every year, the Environmental Working Group compiles a Dirty Dozen list of foods that contain the most pesticides. Foods on their Clean Fifteen list contain the fewest pesticides, so you can opt for conventional versions of these when you’re watching your wallet. Screenshot their latest version of these lists for reference next time you’re at the store.

6. Buy in bulk.

The first time I saw food sold in bulk bins was at Whole Foods and for some reason, the process intimidated me. I didn’t know where the bags were or how to label my purchase correctly. I eventually learned how to do it (actually not hard at all, lol) and now see how cost efficient it is to buy in bulk. Plus, more and more supermarkets that are not necessarily health food stores offer this now. Buying dry goods in the bulk food section tends to cost less than the same amount of the same food in a package. Rather than paying for the package, opt to buy foods like rice, quinoa, nuts, seeds, and spices from the bulk foods section. You can store them in pretty canisters once you’re home.

7. Minimize packaged food.

Packaged foods are typically more expensive, especially those from brand names. They’re even more expensive if you buy “clean” brands that tout their healthy labels sans artificial ingredients and inflammatory oils. Personally, this is where I have the hardest time, especially when I am looking for convenient toddler snacks. Those “healthy” brands can easily wind up costing you hundreds, if not more, throughout the year. But I get it, they’re convenient and sometimes it can feel worth the time it would take to make a homemade version. So you gotta pick your battles. I do suggest that if you are going to buy premade food, consider choosing the store brand as the ingredients are sometimes similar and less expensive.

8. Comparison shop.

Get to know your local markets and shop around for the best prices. If you always shop at the same places, compare the prices of your go-to foods at other stores. You can sometimes save money by being a little flexible with location. If you shop online, this is even easier to do.

In addition to comparing stores, compare the unit prices of your food. Not all stores have these prices visible unfortunately, but take a look next time you’re at the store or on their website. They will sometimes include two prices related to a product – the retail price (the price you pay) and the unit price (the price per a particular unit size). This makes it easier to see the better deal between different sizes or different brands.

9. Consider Joining a Food Coop.

Not everyone has a food coop near where they live, but if you do, consider joining. According to the Park Slope Food Coop here in NYC, their members save 20- 40% off of their weekly grocery bill. This is because all of their members are required to work one shift throughout a five week work cycle. Their low prices come primarily from saving money on payroll, which is one of the biggest expenses of any store. Because their members do about 75% of the work, their members benefit from low prices and get to save money on groceries.

10. Practice mindfulness.

This is perhaps the hardest one for me because I tend to get excited while shopping at the grocery store. I am drawn to pretty packaging, and I favor “healthy and clean” brands in comparison to traditional food. Being a food snob is expensive though and mostly, a tad ridiculous. I know that if I want to save money on groceries, I need to practice mindfulness. Now when I grocery shop, I ask myself these questions “How does this purchase affect my wallet? Is it worth it? Is there a ‘good enough’ alternative? Will I regret buying or not buying this?” Taking a moment to pause and consider before adding anything to my cart has felt mostly good. I have fewer regrets, less waste, and a few more dollars to show for it.

Hope these tips to save money on groceries were helpful. If you want my full guide on healthy grocery shopping, sign up here!

Top photo by Tara Clark on Unsplash.