If you feel as though your grocery bill has been steadily increasing, you’re not alone. Over the past year, the price of groceries has jumped a shocking 2.4%. So you might be thinking, “is there any way I can save on groceries?” There are indeed many ways! Here are 10 helpful tips you can use the next time you go grocery shopping:

1. Buy Store Brands

Changing what brands you put into your shopping cart can save you lots of money. It’s one of the easiest ways to save on groceries, and the quality of the product is practically the same. Buying the store brand will typically save you up to 30%.

2. Make a Shopping List and Stick to it

When you’re on a budget, impulse buys will bleed your wallet dry. All those little $5 dollar purchases can add up, and you don’t necessarily need that extra little snack or trinket. So, how do you fix that issue? Make a shopping list and stick to it. You go the old-fashioned route by using a piece of paper and pencil. On the other hand, you can use a plethora of free apps. You can use Out of Milk, AnyList, and Pantry Check, just to name a few.

3. Plan Your Meals for the Week Based on What’s on Sale

When you’re looking for ways to save on groceries, reading the weekly sales circular can be helpful. Using a recipe ingredient matching site such as SuperCook.com can help when you’re looking for affordable recipes. These kinds of sites give you meal ideas based on what you have at home and what items are on sale in a given week.

4. Know the Sales Cycle and Stock Up When Things Are on Sale

Be sure to remember the regular prices of the 10 most common items you buy at the grocery store. That can help you identify sales cycles. You can use MyGroveryDeals.com to look for the best deals around where you live before you go grocery shopping. 

5. Find Coupons Before You Go to the Store

Back in the day, you used to have to buy copies of the Sunday newspaper to get your grocery coupons. But now the Sunday coupon circulars routinely show up in your mailbox. Just check those bulk mail circulars that you may be throwing away right now. 

You can also find these coupons online. If your regular grocery store is a chain, you can also go on to their website to look for the coupons. In addition, you can go onto websites such as BeFrugal.com and Coupons.com as well. 

6. Use Cash Back Apps

Take advantage of getting cashback. You can use apps such as Ibotta, Checkout 51, Fetch Rewards, and Rakuten every time you go grocery shopping. 

7. Buy in Bulk 

It’s always cheaper to buy in bulk. Buying necessities in bulk such as dish soap, hand soap, and paper towels will save you a lot of money. You can also save on shelf-stable pantry staples such as honey, maple syrup, dried goods, and vinegar.

Some of the best healthy foods you can buy in bulk are: 

– Dried beans and lentils

– Frozen meat and poultry 

– Frozen fruits and vegetables

– Honey 

– Oats

– Dried Fruit

– Nuts in the Shell

– Whole Grains

– Dried Pasta

– Chia Seeds 

8. Break Packages at the Meat Counter To Save Money

Say you see a package of sausages that contains six large links and is sold by the pound. But maybe you need only two or three of those links. Just go to the window at the meat department and ask the clerk to break the package for you. You can save a lot of money by doing this. 

You’ll get it repackaged and repriced at the meat counter, and you won’t end up paying for food that you don’t use. You can do this with any meats such as steak, chicken breast, and pork chops. 

9. Be Wary of Sneaky Product Placement 

Retailers often put items with high-profit margins right at eye level on their shelves. There is a saying that goes in the industry, “eye level is, buy level.” So, if you really want to be a savvy shopper you have to look all around you for the most affordable items. That’s sometimes where you’ll find the store brand or just second-tier brands that deliver acceptable quality for a lower price than the big names.

10. Never Shop on an Empty Stomach

If you shop on an empty stomach, you’ll most likely buy food you don’t need. To avoid these impulse purchases, have a meal or a snack before you head to the grocery store. Most importantly, stick to your list.

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