photo from UnSplash
Grocery shopping can be overwhelming and seriously draining on the wallet. However, there is an art to getting in and getting out with the right amount of food for a reasonable amount of money. Here are five tips on conquering the grocery store while balling on a budget.
Get thrifty with coupons
You can check out coupons for your local grocery store online or in the store. A lot of the time they can provide good inspiration for what you can cook that week while also cutting back on your grocery store spending.
Make a list of what you need
Sometimes you can buy a bunch of unnecessary food when you’re hungry at the grocery store or go in without a plan. Outline the food you absolutely need to buy, and then if you have money to spare after getting those, you can decide if you want to add any treats.
Use a rewards card
If you are consistently shopping at the same grocery store, sign up for one of their rewards cards! You get so many great deals by simply shopping there multiple times, and those small savings seriously add up.
Buy the store brand
Generally, the store brand version of a product is cheaper than some other brand’s version. Unless you have affinity or brand loyalty to some other product (I get it Ben & Jerry’s is just on a different level of ice cream), go for the store’s version to save some cash.
Split basics with your roommates
This is great to save money and reduce waste! Go in on a big carton of eggs, loaf of bread, or large jug of milk with your roommates. Usually those are hard to finish by yourself by the time they expire, so split the cost and food with them instead.