How To Save Money on Groceries: 13+ Tips To Cut Grocery Costs

Managing a grocery budget can feel overwhelming, especially with hectic schedules and rising costs. This is especially true now, as the all-items Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks overall inflation, rose by 0.1% from June 2024 to July 2024 and was up 2.9% compared to July 2023. 

Not sure how to save money on groceries? While it’s easy to let spending get out of control when you’re juggling work, family and other commitments, there are ways to cut grocery costs.

Saving on groceries doesn’t mean sacrificing quality or convenience. With a few smart grocery-saving tips, you can cut costs while still enjoying a variety of nutritious and delicious meals. Know how to save money on groceries with these 17 practical strategies and stretch your grocery dollars further.

1. Create a meal plan

Meal planning is key to saving on groceries. By knowing what you’ll eat each week, you can avoid impulse buys and ensure you have all the ingredients you need. Planning ahead also reduces food waste, as you buy only what you’ll use.

To start, outline your meals for the week or month. Include dietary restrictions and preferences to stay on track. This approach not only helps you stick to your budget but also streamlines grocery trips and makes cooking easier.

2. Make a shopping list

A well-organized shopping list helps you stay focused and save money. By sticking to your list, you can avoid buying things you don’t need (impulse purchases). 

Categorize items by type — like produce, dairy and grains — to streamline your shopping and reduce time spent in the store. Using the Instacart app can make your grocery shopping even easier. Our app allows you to track prices, find deals and sync lists with family members to make informed shopping decisions.

3. Check your fridge and pantry

Start by taking an inventory of what you already have to prevent buying duplicates and ensure you use up existing items before they spoil.

By planning meals based on what’s already in your kitchen, you can make the most of your current supplies and reduce food waste. This way, you can hit two birds with one stone: stretch your grocery budget and get creative with meal ideas. 

4. Use coupons

To maximize your grocery savings, leverage retailer’s weekly flyers and retailer loyalty programs. Look for discounts and coupons to stack for even deeper savings. Consider bulk buying frequently used items and explore generic brands. Plan your meals ahead to avoid impulse purchases. By combining these strategies, you can significantly reduce your grocery bill while still enjoying the products you love.

5. Sign up for loyalty programs 

Store loyalty or membership programs often provide exclusive discounts, rewards points and special offers. You can sign up either online or in-store. Make sure to provide your email or other contact information to receive updates on promotions.

To maximize the benefits, keep an eye out for bonus points or member-only deals. Also, use your loyalty card or app every time you shop to accumulate rewards. 

6. Take advantage of the sales 

Take advantage of retailer’s weekly flyers to stay on top of the best deals. Many grocery stores have regular promotions on specific items you can discover through weekly flyers. By understanding these sale cycles, you can plan your purchases to coincide with the lowest prices.

To maximize your savings, create a shopping list based on current promotions. It helps you focus on discounted items you genuinely need, reducing the temptation to make impulse buys.

7. Buy in bulk (selectively)

Buying in bulk can be a great way to save money on groceries, but it’s important to choose the right items. Consider buying non-perishable goods in bulk that have a long shelf life, such as grains, canned foods and toiletries. It will also reduce the frequency of your grocery trips.

But before you buy in bulk, consider your storage space to avoid clutter. To get an idea of your cost savings for that extra motivation, simply compare the bulk price to the regular unit price. Buying in bulk may not be a good idea if you can’t use the items before they expire. 

8. Extend food life with proper storage 

Proper storage can help you get the most out of your grocery purchases and reduce food waste. Understanding the optimal conditions for different foods — like keeping fruits and vegetables in the right crisper drawers — helps maintain their freshness.

Use airtight containers and bags to store leftovers and perishables — this prevents spoilage and keeps food safe longer. You can also label and date food items to keep track of their freshness and avoid using expired products.

9. Meal prep for the week

By planning and preparing your meals in advance, such as packed lunch boxes, you can take advantage of bulk buying. The outcome? No more last-minute grocery runs!

Meal prepping also helps with portion control, ensuring you use ingredients efficiently and avoid overeating. Prepare and portion out meals for the week in advance, and store them in individual containers — just grab and go when needed.

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Land O Lakes Eggs, Organic, Large, Brown

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Barilla Classic Blue Box Pasta Spaghetti

Dave's Killer Bread Organic Good Seed Thin Sliced Bread

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Ben's Original Original Long Grain White Rice

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10. Get creative with leftovers 

Try to think of ways to repurpose leftovers into new meals, such as turning roast chicken into soups or salads. You can also freeze leftovers for future meals to extend their life and make busy days easier.

Along the same lines, you can combine various leftovers to create new dishes, like mixing leftover vegetables with grains for a hearty stir-fry. By doing so, you can make the most of what you already have and add variety to your meals without additional cost.

11. Shop for groceries online

Online shopping helps you avoid impulse buys that can happen in-store. Online shopping often allows you to stick closely to your list, which helps manage your budget better. Plus, the convenience of not having to navigate crowded aisles can save you valuable time. 

12. Consider wholesale memberships 

While wholesale memberships can be a great way to save on bulk purchases, their benefits extend beyond that. Many wholesale clubs offer exclusive discounts on various grocery items, from pantry staples and cleaning supplies to frozen foods and snacks. Keep an eye out for member-only promotions and sales events that can offer significant savings on specific grocery categories.

Before joining a wholesale club, carefully evaluate the membership fee against the potential savings you’ll achieve on groceries. Consider factors such as how frequently you shop for groceries and the types of items you’ll purchase. Ensure you have adequate storage space to accommodate bulk purchases of groceries, especially for non-perishable items.

13. Limit your shopping trips 

Fewer trips to the store reduce the likelihood of impulse purchases, which often lead to unnecessary spending. Plan your shopping trips and stick to a list.

In addition to saving money, fewer trips save you time and effort. Consolidating your grocery runs means less time spent shopping and more time for other activities. It also helps you prevent overspending by focusing on your planned purchases and sticking to your budget.

14. Never shop when you’re hungry

Shopping while hungry can lead to emotional buying (or impulse purchases), as cravings make you more likely to grab items not on your list. It often results in spending more on snacks or convenience foods that weren’t part of your planned budget. Buying your groceries online through Instacart can help you avoid these impulsive purchases and result in saving money.

To avoid this pitfall, make sure to eat a meal or snack before heading to the store. It helps you make more rational decisions and ensures you only buy what you need.

Additional ways to save money on groceries

To save more, explore various resources designed to help you cut grocery costs. From coupon websites and apps to budgeting tools and meal-planning guides, these resources provide valuable tips and tools for managing your grocery budget effectively. 

Here are some of our ways to save money on groceries for quick reference: 

• How to Grocery Shop on a Budget: 8 Tips & Tricks
• How to Store Grocery Bags: An Instacart Guide
• When Do Grocery Stores Restock? A Simple Guide for Shoppers
• 6 Ways to Use Online Grocery Delivery to Achieve Your Health Goals
• New Ways To Save on Instacart

Start saving on groceries with Instacart

Now that you know how to save money on groceries with these 17 practical tips, it’s time to put them into action and see the savings add up. From creating a meal plan to comparing prices and exploring money-saving resources, each strategy can help you manage your budget more effectively.

Instacart can complement these strategies by making your grocery shopping experience more efficient and convenient. By ordering groceries online, you can:

• Avoid impulse purchases
• Access exclusive discounts
• Plan ahead and avoid waste

For more ways to stretch your grocery dollars, check out our detailed guide on meal prepping for the week. If you’re interested in a specific product that can help with meal planning, order it online through Instacart. Start implementing these strategies today and watch your grocery expenses shrink!

Instacart

Author

Instacart is the leading grocery technology company in North America, partnering with more than 1,400 national, regional, and local retail banners to deliver from more than 80,000 stores across more than 14,000 cities in North America. To read more Instacart posts, you can browse the company blog or search by keyword using the search bar at the top of the page.