So apparently not everyone finds the grocery store as exciting as I do. Okay most people do not find it as exciting as I do. But, if done correctly, you can save a good chunk of change AND minimize the amount of time you have to spend in the store! Hooray for student savings! Below are some simple tips to help you achieve this:
Make a grocery list
Make a grocery list. I know meal planning is not for everyone but having an outline of what you want to buy to eat for the week will not only increase the time efficiency of your shopping trip but help to deter you from impulse purchasing. Try to look at what you typically eat in a week and base your list around these items. For example, I have a banana with breakfast almost every day so I know I need to pick up those. I also know that I like having almond milk for my coffee, so I will check to see how much I have left in my fridge before I leave to go to the store. You do not have to plan out every specific meal but knowing what you need for the week will prevent you from having to visit the grocery store every two days when something in your kitchen runs out. I like to keep an ongoing list in my kitchen so I can track what is running low or empty in my kitchen. If you have a game plan before you even set foot in the store your shopping trip is going to take significantly less time than if you were to wander up and down each aisle trying to decide what you want to buy or remember what you need from home.
Buy the bargain brand
You don’t need to buy brand name food products. The bargain brand shredded cheese is going to be the exact same as the brand name shredded cheese. I am also a big coupon girl so I would recommend checking your weekly flyers to see what products and brands are on sale!
Use coupons
I know it feel like a very "suburban mom" thing to do but scan those grocery flyers! They can have some great weekly deals. If making myself apple cinnamon oatmeal rather than banana oatmeal for the week is going to save me a few bucks then why not? If you do not receive flyers at your door, most stores will post their weekly deals online for you to take advantage of! Just try not to fall into the trap of buying something ONLY because it is on sale.
Buy in bulk amounts
Buy staple products in larger amounts. Pantry items such as sugar, flour and oats last a while so buy the larger packages to save a few dollars! This may not be an option if you walk to the grocery store but if you have access to a car this is definitely good one! Another option for those without a vehicle is online grocery shopping! Some stores will deliver right to your front door which means you don’t have to walk home with a 20 kg bag of rice. This service will have a small fee dependent on where you shop but is a great option if you want to do a large order of heavier food items every once in a while!
Buy frozen foods
Frozen produce is the hidden gem of all grocery stores. The produce is picked when ripe then immediately frozen. This allows it to retain its flavour and nutrients, sometime better than the fresh produce that had to ripen while in a truck for three weeks while being shipped to the grocery store. I especially love buying frozen foods that tend to go bad quickly when bought fresh. My favourite—spinach. My fresh spinach always goes mushy in the fridge but by purchasing frozen spinach I can make it all the way through the package and reduce my overall food waste! That’s a win for the environment and your wallet!
I hope these tips help to save you both time and money at the grocery store! While grocery shopping still may not be your favourite task of the week, buying groceries to prepare your food at home is going to cost you way less in the long run than it would to buy restaurant food all week. Check out my recipes for easy egg bites and simple study snacks for fun ways to use all of your grocery store finds!
If you want even more support in your grocery shopping venture, sign up for my email list (at the very bottom of this page) by noon MST February 28, 2021 to receive a FREE grocery shopping planner!
Happy shopping!
- Jess
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