KEY TAKEAWAYS:
✔ With today’s rising food prices, where you shop and what you buy are key when it comes to cutting costs on your weekly grocery bill.
✔ Building a budget, making a list, and sticking to it will help you master grocery shopping and ensure you don’t spend money on things you don’t need.
✔ There are lots of ways to save on food. From meal planning to digital couponing, to gourmet leftovers, with a little planning you can save money on groceries.
If it feels like the cost of food is going up faster than all your other household expenses, you’re right. According to Canada’s Food Price Report for 2023, a family of four will spend $16,228.41 this year on food, an increase of over $1,000 versus last year. This additional expense will make it challenging for families, but with a little planning and smarts, you can find some savings in your weekly shopping.
What does it mean for your family budget?
Where you shop and what you buy are the two things within your control when it comes to cutting costs on your grocery bill. It’s best to start with a budget so you know how much you can afford to spend relative to all of your household expenses. You’ll be able to see where you can reduce costs and where you can afford to spend by building a budget in four easy steps. Once you have a budget in place, the following tips can help you make more informed choices by starting with how you plan your grocery shopping, what you eat, and how to minimize food waste. It’s a complete menu for saving money.
1. Make meal planning fun
Meal planning makes life easier and cheaper because you can think about an entire week, or longer, and buy only what you need. This is a great idea for two reasons:
- You never have to ask, “What’s for dinner?” You have options every night so you’re less likely to pay for expensive takeout or delivery.
- You waste less food. This is the easiest way to save money. Planning lets you anticipate how leftovers can become lunches and a few ingredients can get used up in several meals.
If you find yourself with leftover food, don’t fret. There are websites devoted to helping you combine ingredients in ways you never thought of. For example, head to an app like Supercook, type in what you’ve got to work with and get instant recipe suggestions.
2. Buy in bulk— but not always
Stretch your budget further by only buying bulk items that are less likely to go bad. For example, buying larger quantities of quantities of foods that have a long shelf life such as flour, canned tomatoes, soups and sauces, pasta, and rice makes sense because you’re sure to use them at some point.
On the other hand, you’ll need to be cautious about buying too much fresh fruit and veggies because they could spoil before you use them all. Food waste not only impacts your wallet, but it also isn’t good for the environment with unused food going into landfills. If you’re worried about food going bad, find out how to store or freeze it so it doesn’t go to waste.
3. Stick to a list and avoid impulse items
You know what it’s like to stand in line at the grocery store and stare at all those chocolate bars, candies, magazines, and soft drinks. And you probably get tempted by the houseware section, where you can pick up towels or bowls advertised as a great deal. Unless any of those items were on your list before you went to the store, resist the temptation. And never shop when you’re hungry – it’s a recipe for impulse snack buying!
4. Get into online couponing
Many grocery stores have weekly flyers with deals and coupons or loyalty programs that offer rewards for buying items or give you cash back on your grocery bill. There are also many online couponing sites and apps you can download that can help you cut costs at the grocery store with digital coupons and deals. There are even some apps that gather discounts from across all grocers so you can shop around for the best deal.
5. Become a food rescuer
Through apps like Too Good to Go, Flashfood, and Feedback, you can connect with local grocery stores, bakeries, and restaurants to rescue leftovers or food nearing expiration at significant discounts. Keep it interesting by selecting a mystery bag.
The key to lowering your grocery bill is finding ways to cut costs without cutting out the foods you love. With some budgeting, a few adjustments and sticking to a plan every time you shop, you can make your money go a lot further while still being able to eat healthy.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice on any subject matter.
