7 simple hacks to save money on groceries

The rising price of groceries can be a huge burden on the monthly budget. From household staples like eggs, milk and lettuce to canned goods and just about everything in between, it feels easier than ever to rack up the bill at the grocery store if you’re not careful.

Not to mention, many of us buy food, forget about it, and then throw it out once we notice a smell wafting from the refrigerator. That perfectly good, untouched head of broccoli is now spoiled — and headed straight to the trash, (or compost bin!) meaning you've just thrown away your hard-earned money.

Those price tags can be eye-popping, but all hope is not lost when it comes to saving as you stock up. With the right budget-friendly tips, tricks and planning techniques, you can save a ton of money at the grocery store, make your shopping trips more efficient and cut down on food waste while you’re at it.

Watch this video to learn how to save money on groceries.

How to save money on groceries

• Live by the list. Take stock of what’s in your pantry before you head to the store, make a list of ingredients needed and when you get to the store, don’t deviate.
• Shop your pantry and refrigerator before buying new items. Duplicate items in your pantry can not only kill your grocery budget, but can quickly lead to food waste. 
• Use your grocery store’s app to carefully plan your shopping trip from the comfort of your own home and check all available coupons. Utilizing your grocery store’s app is one of the best ways to stay on budget and save time when you shop.

• As you add items to your cart in the app, you can see your working total which will help you carefully curate your cart to fit your budget before you shop in store.
• It’s much easier to find sale items that pertain exactly to what’s on your grocery list when shopping in the grocery store’s app. This will help you avoid getting caught in sale traps when shopping in store.
• Choose pantry staples like pasta and canned goods that not only last longer than perishables but are also more versatile for planning your weekly meals.
• When purchasing produce, make sure it's in-season. Out-of-season produce tends to be more expensive than its in-season counterparts. 

Shop top-rated related products:  

• Best-selling veggie chopper: Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8-Blade Vegetable Chopper   
• Customer-favorite cooking hack: Clip-On Pasta Strainer Silicone for All Pots and Pans  
• Ideal for leftovers: Food Vacuum Sealer Machine  
• Aesthetic mixing bowls: Cook With Color 12-Piece Mixing Bowls with TPR Lids  
• Must-have air fryer accessory: 2-Pack Air Fryer Silicone Liners Pot  
• Versatile countertop appliance:Chefman Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer+ Rotisserie, Dehydrator, Convection Oven  
• Stackable, space-saving cookware: Carote 11-Piece Cookware with Detachable Handle  
• A cult-favorite egg cooker:Dash Rapid Egg Cooker   
• Digital oven thermometer: ThermoPro TP19H Waterproof Digital Meat Thermometer 
• An excellent cutting board:OXO Good Grips Plastic Utility Cutting Board    
• Slice veggies with ease: DASH Safe Slice Mandoline Slicer 
• Easy-to-use hand grater: OXO Good Grips Grater 
• Add zest to dishes: OXO Good Grips Etched Zester and Grater 

Grocery apps

Apps can help you cut down on your food waste and get the most bang for your buck whenever you go to the grocery store. There are many different apps that can help you track the groceries you have or don’t have and suggest recipes to use them up. Plus, some will also remind you about food that you bought that is about to expire. Bute nore, that may require a subscription.

These apps do require work on your end, especially at first. For the apps to do their job, you have to input the details of all the food you have, including the little things, such as spices, oils and condiments. And, once you use up something, you’ll need to adjust your digital pantry accordingly. Some of them can even connect to your shoppers account at popular stores and automatically add the groceries you buy to your digital pantry.