And you can confidently say no to those drive thru temptations because you know an easy dinner is waiting at home!

This tip is a lifesaver for busy budgeters. I say it all the time, people: Cash is king! If you want to set and stick to your grocery budget— pay with cash. Get yourself a cash envelope system going for this budget line and any others that are hard to keep in line.

This is one of my absolute favorite tips for how to save money on groceries. Are you ready for this? Make a meal plan and a grocery list before you ever leave the house. Look to see what you already have in the fridge, pantry and freezer while you plan. Okay, making the grocery list from your meal plan is just the first part here.

When you get to the store, stick to the list. I mean it! Just remember: Lots of stores offer this service at no charge. Buying fresh mangos in January will cost you way more than average—and they might not even taste good!

Have you ever noticed that the most expensive items on the grocery shelves are right at your eye level? Grocery stores are smart. They want you to see those items and splurge. Instead of falling for those marketing tricks, look up and down as you shop.

The more affordable brands tend to be higher or lower on the shelves. Now that you know what those clever stores are up to, you can literally keep your eye out for grocery savings.

You guys, it may be time to break up with your go-to grocery store. Find the cheapest grocery store in your area. Go where the sales are!

The more times you pop into the store, the more opportunities you have to overspend. By the way, remember how I said to meal plan and stick to your grocery list?

I love a deal. Plant your own garden! You can start small by planting herbs like parsley, cilantro and rosemary right on your kitchen windowsill. Ibotta, Receipt Hog, Checkout 51 and Target Circle are just a few of the great apps that can help you save.

So instead, find some meatless recipes to whip up on Meatless Monday—or whenever! Also, look for cuts of meat that are cheaper alternatives to what you usually buy.

Skip the sirloin and grab ground chuck. Pass on the pork chops and pick the pork loin. That way you can have your meat and save money too! Technically this is a way to save on your overall food budget because restaurants are not groceries. I repeat: Restaurants are not groceries. Pro tip: Check out these cheap lunch ideas for even more ways to save on your midday meal.

Are generic brands really as good as the name brands? Buy some generic groceries , even if you just start small. Use either your smartphone or a handheld calculator to add up the cost of your groceries as you go through the aisles.

A lot of stores will also have discounts specifically for loyalty members as well. Many stores let you choose between picking up your order curbside or having it delivered. You may find curbside pickup to be more cost-effective, since delivery fees can be expensive.

Some foods are significantly cheaper when purchased in bulk. This can apply to bread, meat, cheese and more. This practice can be especially useful during certain sales. For instance, you may find a deal that applies when you purchase two loaves of bread or two packages of cheese.

Rather than trying to use it all at once, freeze the spare for later. This is an age-old tip for grocery shopping. Bulk bins allow you to scoop into a bag the exact amount you need of things like grains or nuts.

It might not make sense to do too much running around to get all of your groceries, but perhaps a couple different days of the week can be reserved for visiting a couple of different stores. A good motivator to decrease your grocery spending can be rewarding yourself for a job well done.

This can be as small as an occasional trip to the gourmet coffee shop or as large as taking your accumulated savings over time and devoting it to a vacation.

It often starts with planning your meals and creating a shopping list. How to save for college. How to save money in your 20s. Karen Bennett. Written by Karen Bennett Arrow Right Senior consumer banking reporter. Karen Bennett is a senior consumer banking reporter at Bankrate.

She uses her finance writing background to help readers learn more about savings and checking accounts, CDs, and other financial matters. Nell McPherson. Edited by Nell McPherson Arrow Right Former Banking editor.

Nell McPherson is the former banking editor at Bankrate, where she led a team of reporters dedicated to helping readers make the best decisions about their savings and checking accounts, CDs and money market accounts. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise.

Shopping at wholesale stores is another easy way to save money on groceries. These stores usually offer lower prices than typical grocery stores, and they often have a wider selection of products.

Additionally, wholesale stores are a great option when buying food in bulk. This can be a simple way to save money, especially if you have a large family or if you like to cook large meals.

Buying in bulk can also be helpful if you like to stockpile certain items. portioning and freezing meat. Groceries are one of those everyday expenses you can't avoid. However, you can take advantage of this fact by paying for your groceries with a credit card that earns extra cash back on grocery purchases.

This way, you're earning rewards on transactions you would be making anyway, and you can even use those rewards on your future grocery bills. Might as well earn some free money on top of your normal expenses. This helpful guide from CNN outlines some of the best credit cards for grocery shopping.

That said, some cards offer a higher percentage of cash back on groceries than others, so be sure to compare the different offers to see which one will save you the most money.

Additionally, some cards have an annual fee while others do not, so be sure to factor that into your decision. And finally, make sure you're paying off your balance each month so you don't accrue interest that would negate any of your rewards savings.

Many grocery stores offer loyalty programs that give you discounts on your groceries. These programs are usually free to join, and all you need is a phone number or email address. Once you sign up, you'll start receiving coupons and other discounts that can save you money on your groceries. Additionally, some loyalty programs offer exclusive deals and discounts that are only available to members.

If you use a grocery delivery service, you can shop online and have your groceries delivered right to your door. This is convenient if you don't have time to go to the store, or if you live in a rural area where there are no grocery stores nearby.

Additionally, many grocery delivery services offer discounts on your first order, so be sure to take advantage of those savings. Grocery pickup is similar to grocery delivery, but instead of having your groceries delivered to your door, you simply drive to the store and pick them up.

This is a great option if you don't want to pay for delivery, or if you need your groceries faster than the delivery time would allow. Both of these services reduce impulse buying because you have to make a list for the store to fulfill, so you're not making unnecessary purchases.

There are many different ways to save money on groceries, and we've listed eight of the best ones. By using one or more of these tips, you can reduce your grocery bill and put more money in your pocket.

Home Resources Blog How To Save Money When Grocery Shopping. Back to Blogs. Financial Well-being. Whichever option you choose, you will save valuable time and money. Conclusion There are many different ways to save money on groceries, and we've listed eight of the best ones.

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Another secret to saving money on groceries is the Asian/international market. The produce there is usually very good quality at lower Meal plan by reading supermarket sale ads, then buy what's on sale, meal prep and eat at home while bringing lunch and snacks to work Use your freezer right. Freezing large quantities of sale and seasonal food saves the average family of four $2, per year, Economides says

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