6 Secret Grocery Shopping Tips You Need To Know
If you’re like me, then you love to go grocery shopping. There’s just something about being in the store and picking out all of the fresh produce that makes me happy. But what I don’t love is spending a fortune on groceries every month. That’s why today, I’m going to share some secret grocery shopping tips with you that will help you save money. So read on, because you won’t want to miss these!
1. Plan your meals for the week and make a grocery list based on what you need.
Meal planning can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by taking inventory of what you already have in your pantry and fridge. Then, based on what you have on hand, brainstorm a few easy recipes that you can make throughout the week.
Once you have your menu planned, create a grocery list of the ingredients you’ll need to make your meals. Be sure to include staple items that you might need, like eggs, milk, or bread. Planning ahead will save you time and money in the long run, and it will help you to eat healthy, home-cooked meals all week long.
If you learn to make bread, that would be a blessing for your entire family. If you have fresh ingredients you can make bread with my no-fail recipes. Bread by Linda
2. Compare prices between different stores before buying anything – even if it’s just a few cents cheaper somewhere else, it can add up in the long run.
As any savvy shopper knows, it pays to compare prices before making a purchase. Even a small difference in price can add up over time, especially if you’re buying multiple items. For example, let’s say you’re shopping for some meat. One store has it priced at $19.99, while another store has it priced at $22.99.
If you buy the meat at the cheaper store, you’ll save $3. If you do that each time you go shopping, you’ll save $12 over the course of four trips. That might not seem like a lot, but it can quickly add up, especially if you’re buying more than one item each time you shop.
So next time you’re about to make a purchase that may be larger than usual, take a few minutes to compare prices and see if you can find a better deal. It could save you some serious money in the long run
One thing to keep in mind is the cost to go from store to store, particularly with gas prices as high as they are. If the stores are reasonably close to each other it may not be a concern. The other issue is the time. Don’t be driving all over just to save a few dollars. Use your common sense and make the trip pay off.
3. Use store loyalty cards to get discounts on your groceries.
If you want to save money on groceries, one of the best things you can do is sign up for store loyalty cards. Most major grocery chains offer some kind of loyalty program, and these programs can help you save a significant amount of money on your grocery bill.
In general, store loyalty cards provide discounts on your groceries when you use them. This can be anything from a few cents off per item to a percentage of your total purchase. Some programs also offer additional savings, such as rewards for shopping during certain times or for purchasing certain items.
A store near us tracks how much we spend using their loyalty card. They also have a gas station on the property and we qualify for discounts on gas based on how much we’ve spent between fillups. This week the discount was $.43 per gallon. I appreciate the savings and know their gas is also a good quality product.
Store loyalty cards are easy to use, and they can help you save a lot of money on your groceries. So if you’re looking to cut down on your grocery bill, make sure you sign up for a store loyalty card today.
4. Buy in bulk when items are on sale, especially things that you use regularly.
Anyone who has ever been to a bulk store knows that buying in bulk can save you a considerable amount of money. Items are often discounted when purchased in larger quantities, and this can be a great way to stock up on essentials. However, it’s important to be strategic about your bulk purchases.
Only buy items that you know you will use regularly, and make sure to have enough storage space for your new purchases. Bulk buying is also a great opportunity to save on non-perishable items that you may not need right away but could use in the future. With careful planning, bulk purchases can be a simple way to slash your grocery bill.
5. Stick to your grocery list when shopping – don’t be tempted by impulse buys.
Anyone who has ever gone grocery shopping knows that it is all too easy to be tempted by impulse buys. Whether it’s a candy bar at the checkout counter or a new kitchen gadget that catches your eye, it can be tough to stick to your shopping list. However, there are good reasons to resist the temptation of impulse buys.
First of all, they can add up quickly and end up costing you a lot of money. Second, they most often aren’t really what you need, and you may end up regretting the purchase later. Finally, if you’re trying to eat healthy foods or lose weight, impulse buys can easily sabotage your efforts. So next time you’re at the store, remember to stick to your list, your wallet and your waistline will thank you for it!
6. Check expiration dates and only buy food that will be eaten soon.
One of the easiest ways to reduce food waste is to only buy food that you will actually eat. This may seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised how often we all end up with an overflowing fridge full of food that winds up going bad before we even get around to eating it.
A good rule of thumb is to only buy food that you know you will eat within the next week or so. This ensures that you’re not overbuying and that the food you do have is fresh and won’t go to waste.
When grocery shopping, be sure to check expiration dates and only buy items that you will be able to consume before they go bad. This simple change can make a big difference in reducing your food waste. Now, this is one of my favorite secret grocery shopping tips on this list.
Final Word
It can be really helpful to have some insider tips when it comes to grocery shopping. By following the advice in this post, you can save time and money while stocking up on your favorite foods. What are your best secret grocery shopping tips at the grocery store? Share them with us in the comments below! May God Bless this world, Linda
Linda,
For those stores with gasoline discounts, like Smith’s, I take the time to fill out their online surveys and get an extra 50 points for my efforts. Doing this I can get up to 200 points per month–ie 20 cents off per gallon of gas, on top of the discounts I earned actually buying groceries. It adds up fast and I often save 40 or 50 cents per gallon.
Hi Ray, WHAT??? I did not know that about the survey!! This is a great tip! Bonus on top of the savings already!! I love this tip! Linda
Linda, here’s a link to the Kroger Customer Satisfaction survey. I think you have to have a loyalty card to do it.
https://www.krogerstoresfeedback.com/?InviteStatus=Complex&IndexBrand=Kroger
Hi Ray, Mark and I have one, thanks for the heads up! Linda
Linda, I remember learning from my Gramma to only shop the outside edges of the store. Used to be that was the meat, produce and dairy sections. Healthiest way to eat. Nowadays, some of the stores have rearranged things so that the ice cream and cookies and snacks are on the outside, but those are still the best sections!
Hi Jan, oh my gosh, I love your comment! I love ice cream!! LOL! I remember that being told to me as well. I need to check out the local grocery stores now. Love it! Linda
Store loyalty card worked really well for me a few days ago! My bill was $98.66. But…I only paid $38.54!! Rounding out the pantry with sales items and loyalty card was great!!
Hi Beth, oh my gosh, that’s huge! That’s a lot of money! Gotta love loyalty cards! Linda
I actually HATE grocery shopping…with costs going up it gets more difficult to stay within budget and get everything we need+ some things planned for splurge. I do my shopping differently, I don’t shop for a “menu”. Nor do i plan a menu for each day.
We have a prescribed diet of protein and carbs amounts, that can not vary much- or we become ill. We have a certain amount of meat every day. I buy according to meats, purchasing what is on sale,amounts for multiple meals of each meat. locally between 2 stores,every 2 weeks,
I buy ingredients.that can be used for multiple meal flavors and combo’s. come home and split those into double meal portions. When i cook those i make enough for 2 days for our family. If we do not want them back to back I will cook another meal on on day 2 eat extra from meal #1 on day 3, and Day 4 eat extra from meal #2.. additional left overs are usually for day #5. Day 6- begin again.different meat meal..
We eat a lot of green beans, a little corn, sweet peas, carrots, potatoes ,celery. almost no nightshades, One can eat almost no K1 foods.,I plan vegetable around the daysK1 is permitted in form of broccoli… Other -no Nuts, soy,or regular milk.
I buy these some of veggies in frozen bulk, celery i purchase on sales, dehydrate and powder larger pcs, and cut smaller and leaves and crumble . Carrots are canned eventually-. #10cans of corn and string beans.. (if cheaper- not always).are dehydrated. ..after i use what we need out for the 2 days..of a meal. Tomato products from #10’s are used in smaller amount for a couple recipes per week- so are re jarred. according to use. I add a little lemon juice and water bath in pints and half pints.diced, sauce, juice is simmered til it is reduced by 1/4, then jarred.
Meats purchases are for 20 meals . chicken, pork, beef, fish, polish sausage, Italian sausage, sausage, bacon,, in fresh, frozen and canned. extra left at end of shopping cycle are canned while fresh.. and replenished. yes, i buy limited amts frozen as avail.
Hi Denise, I love buying frozen vegetables. No washing, cutting, or chopping. You have a great schedule, I love it! I love grocery shopping for fresh produce only. Otherwise, I hate going to the grocery store! LOL! You are eating well-rounded foods, I love it! Linda
I can relate. I was on blood thinners a while back and couldn’t eat anything with vitamin K for a while. I asked the Dr. “What do I eat?” he said anything else, but I ate a lot of green leafy vegetables.
I do things a little backwards. Since there is alway food in my pantry, I do the sale papers first, and then base our menu on the best sales of fresh items, while also including stock up items. I try to be open minded while shopping in case I come across a good deal especially on meat. I buy bulk at BJs and we have 85 cents off a gallon due us this month when our tank gets low enough. There gas is $4.69 a gallon
Chris,Yes, always sales first. purchasing for 2-4 wks amounts continually, +shopping sales means we are our own backup..
Your right Denise, we are our own backup. I never thought of myself as a prepper in the past, more of a Pantry Person. A full pantry has always been my focus.
Hi Chris, I like that term, a Pantry Person over a being a prepper. I love that! Linda
Hi Chris, oh my gosh 85 cents off is awesome! We don’t have a BJs here. I think the most I have saved on any given fillup was 50 cents, but I will take it! LOL! I always keep my eye out for bargains on meat as well. They are not as good as they used to be, but I keep looking. Linda
Chris. I do this also.
I shop at Winco mostly and they have all their “edge” items that are expiring quickly. I don’t buy them there as I “copy can” when I shop and don’t want to end up with expired items in my pantry. I do like to shop at stores where I know where things are at. I know a big marketing strategy is to constantly move items (Costco anyone?) so people will impulse buy. Lists are a great way to not impulse buy…however, that doesn’t help me much…LOL.
I have a giant chalkboard on my pantry door (cutely decorated, no less). Whenever we run out of something or I don’t have it, it goes on the board. Top of the board is general groceries (Winco, Walmart, etc) and the bottom section is marked Costco, the right side is appts/reminders. I take a picture of it with my cellphone and then I have it with me at the store. I look through my freezers and see what we’re getting low on and buy in bulk at Costco. We repackage meats, cheese, etc. into smaller portions. My pantry is all organized with clear containers, etc. I don’t make weekly meal plans because what I feel like eating/making can change on a whim. We used to always have leftovers which go into lunches or dinner the next night but now that we have a 13yr old grandson living with us, all bets are off. Our grocery bill has gone up expotentially!
Everyone needs to do what suits them, works for them. What works for one person, wouldn’t for another. I’m just lucky in that I have my father’s “organzing genes” and LOVE to organize! It shows with the grocery store in the basement and the fabric store in my home!
Hi Robbie, oh, I love your chalkboard idea!! LOVE IT!!! It’s so fun to see how people organize their own food storage. I repackage as well. But maybe no one has thought of that before, so sharing this idea is awesome! I can only imagine having a 13-year-old grandson and having your grocery bill skyrocket! I raised 4 girls and when my first grandson would come to visit, I had no idea how much a young man can eat. OH, and if they do sports, oh my gosh, they eat all day long. LOL! You know I love hearing about your grocery store and fabric store! Life is so good!! Linda
Hi Linda:
I have a shopping list I created and printed out about 30 of them and put them on a decorated board someone gave me and my husband put everything we need on it. I don’t always shop for how many he lists because I like to have extra’s to have in my pantry. I will not be caught without something we need just because he thinks there is no need for it. I shop at Smith’s when I am in Albuquerque and also Sprouts because that is the closest we have them. It would be nice to have them here but the area already has 4 grocery stores and a Walmart so I don’t know if it would be viable for them.
I do buy things that I can get coupons from Albertsons Market and Smiths (I love the coupons they let you get 5 items per coupon and at Albertsons they have a lot of coupons they will let you get as many as you want. I usually only get 5 of those because I can put them away before Jack sees them and starts grouching about them.
Hi Jackie, I have to laugh that Jack starts grouching about them!! I’m so sorry my friend, but it sounds like you have a good handle on getting a few extras. I need to look for Albertson here, we had one in Southern Utah. I forgot I made a grocery list for my readers, I need to add that in the post. Great reminder about your grocery list! Linda
I don’t have the shopping gene. I am one of those people who hate going to the store. We buy in bulk, and every once in a while, go on a complete shopping fast. Luckily, we live in Ohio farm country, so we have farm fresh beef and chicken. If I wasn’t prepping for emergencies, I would prep to avoid the stores.
Hi Janet, you are funny, I would prep to avoid stores! I LOVE it. If we shop right we go less often, which is a blessing!! LOL! The shopping gene is, the best comment ever. It’s so easy to buy in bulk and shop less. It’s a way of life for us, Janet. I wish I could buy farm-fresh beef and chickens, I will now that I’m back up north in Utah. Or at least when our gets build. Great comment, Linda
Denise I have never shopped with a menu list either..I am so well stocked, I just say, what do I want to eat today??
I shared my new thing already–I prepare meals and freeze in one/two serving containers and take out previous night.
It is so nice. Even if it’s spaghetti, all I have to do is cook pasta.
And @ 4.29 a gallon, I buy what the one store has, not shop around.
I shop at Rulers and their prices are so low, there’s no need for a loyalty card.
We’ll get through this mess. We are smart folks.
Prep to avoid the stores…I never knew that’s what I do!! Thanks Janet!!
Hi Jay-Jay, I love your comment, if someone didn’t see how you prepped last time, maybe this time they will.Good one! Linda