Navigating Inflation: 10 Smart Ways to Save On Groceries

As inflation rises and the cost of living increases, finding ways to save on groceries becomes even more crucial. While the price of food may rise, careful planning and strategic shopping can help you stretch your dollar and get the most out of your grocery budget without compromising on your nutrition. In this blog post, we’ll look at ten practical and effective tips to save on your groceries despite inflation.

1. Create a Budget and Stick to It:

Creating a monthly grocery budget is the first step when it comes to being cost-savvy with groceries. It’s best to first estimate your monthly grocery budget, then track your spending and see how closely it lines up to what you planned. Set a budget that’s affordable yet realistic, accounting for the staples you keep on hand and the fresh foods you buy as well. You may need to make adjustments to your shopping habits throughout the month to stay within your grocery budget.

2. Plan Meals and Make a Shopping List:

When you walk into the grocery store, it can be easy to just grab whatever looks good, especially if you go on an empty stomach. Upon arriving home, you may find that you have a random assortment, which doesn’t yield coherent meals, leading you to have to buy more groceries before you planned to do so. Planning your meals ahead and creating a shopping list can help eliminate this issue. Take a peek in your pantry, fridge, and freezer. Write down what foods you have on hand to build meals around so you don’t have to start from scratch buying ingredients. It’s also helpful to look at your paper/online coupons to see what’s on sale that week. Then, prepared with your current food inventory and coupons, write out what meals you plan to have in the upcoming week.

Let’s explore an example. If you have a box of brown rice on hand and soy sauce in your fridge, plus the chicken breast is on sale this week, that can be the foundation of one of your meals this week. Add chicken breast (star it so you remember to use your coupon) and frozen broccoli to your grocery list… you’ll be all set to make a delicious chicken and broccoli rice bowl for a weeknight dinner. Use your weekly menu to create a shopping list, including whatever foods you need to complete each meal. Have a meal or snack before heading to the store so you’re not ravenous and stick to your list to dodge impulsive purchases that can lead to overspending.

3. Take Advantage of Sales and Discounts:

Every week, stores put certain food items on sale or on special deals. Take advantage of these discounts to save on groceries. Keep an eye on weekly flyers that announce discounts at local grocery stores. You can also watch your mail for paper coupons and look online for digital coupons from the stores where you shop. When you find a deal, consider buying in bulk. This allows you to save in the long run since you won’t have to pay full price later. For example, if you like to use canned black beans in your meals and they’re on sale, think about buying several packages of cans. You’ll have them on hand to use in tacos, burrito bowls, soups, salads, etc. so you don’t have to buy them full price when they aren’t on sale and you're craving tacos.

4. Opt for Generic or Store Brands:

It can be tempting to think that name brand products are better, but often generic or store brands are very similar in nutrition, ingredients, and taste. You’ll often find similar quality but at a lower price. When you’re shopping, compare the cost between name-brand products and generic/store brands, you’ll typically find the name-brand products to be pricier. In fact, some people find they actually enjoy the generic/store brand more. For example, you might discover that your local grocery store brand offers a delicious whole grain cinnamon cranberry granola that puts that well-known name brand granola to shame.

5. Buy in Bulk for Non-Perishables:

Non-perishable foods last for quite some time, so it's helpful to consider buying these items in bulk. Usually, you can get a better deal per item if you take advantage of lower unit prices. We’re talking about items like rice, pasta, and canned goods. For example, you’d likely pay less per box of rice if you buy a unit of family-sized instant rice boxes rather than single-serve microwavable pouches. One thing to keep in mind, however, is storage space and shelf life of bulk items. You’ll need to rotate your inventory and keep an eye on best buy/expiration dates to ensure food safety. Prioritize which bulk foods you use most often and can get the best deals on so that you make the most of your storage space.

6. Explore Discount and Wholesale Stores:

Think outside the box when it comes to where you shop. Consider shopping at discount or wholesale stores for certain items on your list. You’ll find such outlets usually offer competitive prices on bulk items and they often provide an array of budget-friendly options. For example, if you go through a lot of mixed nuts with snacks, you probably get tired of highly priced little cans of nuts at your local grocery store. You could likely find a large tub of mixed nuts at a wholesale store for way cheaper and still enjoy the same nutritious snack.

7. Embrace Frozen and Seasonal Produce:

Produce is an important, nutritious, and delicious part of a balanced diet. However, it can be pricey. There are a couple of ways to save money on produce. First, opt for frozen fruits and vegetables, which can be more budget-friendly than their fresh counterparts. They’re just as nutritious and can be prepared in a variety of ways. For example, you can blend frozen berries into a smoothie with Greek yogurt. Or, you can steam frozen broccoli to add into a pasta dish. Another tip is to purchase seasonal produce. Whatever produce is in season at the time is typically more affordable. This is due to it being abundant and cheaper for stores to stock. Use this to your advantage by buying in-season produce and having a variety of entree and side dishes for tastes of the season.

8. Utilize Loyalty Programs and Coupons:

Many grocery stores offer loyalty programs that let you earn discounts and rewards as you purchase items at their stores. It may not seem like much at first, but the savings add up quickly. For example, you may find that for every $300 you spend on groceries, you receive $5 towards your next grocery trip, that’s $5 you can reduce your grocery budget and every little bit helps. Coupons are also a great way to save on groceries. Watch for coupons on items, whether paper or digital, and save money by finding ways to use these particular items on your weekly menu.

9. Minimize Food Waste:

Food waste is a drain for your grocery budget and it's easily avoidable. Plan meals throughout your week that utilize the same ingredients across multiple recipes. For example, if you’re baking chicken breast for quesadillas on Monday night, plan to use the leftover chicken in your lunch salad on Tuesday and as a topping on your homemade pizza on Thursday. Be careful to properly store perishable foods (including leftovers) to extend their freshness and stay safe while minimizing food waste. Label food with the date it was prepared so that you eat it within a safe amount of time. Consider freezing leftovers if you have extra and don’t plan to eat it right away so it doesn’t go to waste.

10. Cook at Home and Batch Cook:

Cooking at home is generally more cost-effective than dining out. Plan to enjoy most of your meals at home and save dining out for the occasional special treat and your food budget will thank you. For example, you may be able to use a pound of ground turkey and a package of buns to make burgers for the whole family for the price of one burger meal at your local steak joint. Cooking at home also allows for batch preparation. Batch cooking enables you to prepare multiple meals in advance, which saves both time and money. For example, you can make a large pot of chili, divide it into three containers, and have three family meals ready to go for the upcoming weeks (just be sure to use food safety when defrosting food).

Save Money with Foodsmart and Meet With a Registered Dietitian 

Our registered dietitians are trained to help you locate local grocery deals, find ingredient swaps that are less costly than your current choices, buy in bulk so you can meal plan and not impulse buy or eat out as much, all through the lens of eating well. With the personal guidance from your dietitian paired with the discount finder, meal planning tool, and budget-focused blogs within our platform, Foodsmart is sure to save you money! Our dietitians are also able to help you sign up for SNAP/EBT if you are eligible, which is a great way to save money during your trips to the grocery store.

Whether you’re on a tight budget or just looking to save, we prioritize your budget in everything we do. Your dietitian can provide guidance to help you make eating well affordable and assist you in registering for SNAP if you're eligible. Plus, in the FoodsMART food marketplace, you can find affordable recipes that meet your budget, compare prices on groceries, and have food delivered to your door.