More Ways to Save on Groceries and Household Items

There’s no denying that everything has gone up in price. From eggs to toilet paper. Families are really feeling the hit. We’re all looking for ways to save money on groceries and household items.

My friends and I love to share our tips and even our surplus. And my online friends I want to help you as well. It’s no fun depleting the family funds for a decent dinner.

On a homeschool message board where I am a member we’re having a little discussion on how to save money on groceries and various things.

With a little savvy, the average family can reduce their monthly grocery budget. And sometimes by quite a bit!

Here are more ways to save on your groceries and other household expenses.

Groceries – Food

1. Budget: The first thing you will want do is make a grocery budget based on the size of your household.
2. Menu Plan: Menu planning is a great way to answer the question, “what’s for dinner?” Your won’t make rash decisions in the grocery store and you won’t cave into the fast food line because dinner is done!
3. Price List: Keep a list of where you are getting the best deals. Produce, dairy, and meat are three things I try and pay attention to where they come from. Since we buy organic chicken and grass fed beef I buy it in bulk and stretch it.
4. Try not to let things run out. You may balk at buying in bulk but when you have to make that last minute dash to the grocery store you’re more likely to pay full price or even more. When you buying that regularly used item on sale buy 2 or 3 so when 1 runs out you have a spare. And then the next time it is on sale do the same thing.
5. Don’t do all your shopping in one place. It’s tempting and you think you’re saving time but when you look at what you’re paying you may be paying more than you need to for certain items. Your Price List (#3 ) will help you keep track on who has the best prices where.
6. Don’t “emergency cook.” Meaning be prepared. Plan so that you’re not going out to shop for and then cooking only one meal.  That can be quite costly.
7. Pack your own lunch for work or school instead of eating out. Leftovers or jar salads are great ideas (can be a huge money saver).
8. Instead of buying frozen foods freeze your own. Whether you have a vegetable garden or buy bulk produce learn the best ways to preserve your excess for the freezer. Chopped onions, peas, beans, tomatoes. You name it. It makes pulling those fall and winter soups and stews together easy.
9. Another option is to dehydrate and store your goods. This can be safer than freezer in case you have someone that might accidentally leave the freezer open or the power goes out.
10. Stop buying sodas, donuts, etc. These can add a lot to your bottom line, literally. Lose your taste for soda pop and learn to bake. You know how everyone fell in love with sourdough a couple of years ago. It’s still going strong.
11. Don’t grocery shop when you are hungry – You’ll tend to over shop when you’re hungry. And buy things you normally wouldn’t buy.
12. Don’t buy fancy coffees but learn to make them. If you love that morning latte learn how to make it at home. I don’t need to add a dollar amount to tell you how much these cost. Just imagine how much you could save! You don’t need a fancy machine either. Have your heard about the Moka Pot?
13. Buy your produce in season. This will help you reduce the cost of your produce. It’s cheaper in season and if you refer to #9 and #10 you can put away any excess for future use.
14. Do use Grocery Coupons but only for items you regularly buy. Yes! They still work! They still come in mail fliers, companies still send them to customers, and grocery fliers still have coupons and they are available when you walk in the front door.
15. If you find a mistake on your grocery receipt don’t just eat it! Get it straightened out!
16. Grow your veggies. This is a money saver if you already have a garden. If you do not there can sometimes be a stiff cost to start one up. There are ways to save on that as well but we can cover that later.
17. Frequent 2 or more stores instead of 1. Over time, you’ll start to get to know which items are cheaper in which store. (for example I shop at Fred Meyer, Winco, and a local produce store. Each has great deals on various things but not usually the same).
18. Plan your meals around proteins you find on sale or already have in the freezer at home. (Unless you’re having guests of course).
19. Don’t assume brand name is the best buy. Branded products often cost a lot more for the same ingredients. Experiment and do taste test.

Household Savings

1. Keep all your change, from pennies to dimes to nickels. Whether you find these under the couch or just get spare change while shopping, these can add up over time. We keep a large jar for this. We’ve cashed it in a few times over the years. Big bucks!
2. Batch your errands. Save money on gas by planning an errand day.
3. Keep your household appliances clean and maintained. Repair costs are expensive.
4. Run your dishwasher once a day. Empty first thing in the morning and then fill it up through the day running at night. Don’t get a new clean cup every time you drink water or tea.
5. In the summertime try drying your clothes outside. Save a little on the clothes dryer bill.
6. Wait until you have a full load of laundry before washing. This saves water and electricity.
7. Get in the habit of turning off the lights when you leave a room. We also saved big with this tip.
8. Cut your credit cards. This is often a huge hidden expense in many households.
9. Collect your “trash” like used clothes, electronics and toys. Have a garage sale or sell it online.
10. Pay your bills on time. Being late a few times a year can add up to a lot of extra costs.
11. Get cash back when you shop online. Sign up with Rakuten and shop at your favorite retailers. Earn cash back on your purchases. Click here to find out more.

Of course all these tips may not work for you but even one or two could save you a nice chunk of change.

Have any other money saving tips to share? Comment below.