Let’s just be honest: food is a necessary expense. After all, you’ve got to eat. Particularly for families, your grocery costs may seem to take up a large part of your budget.
So how do you save money on food? Does your grocery bill have to be that high every month? Where can you cut costs and spend less on groceries and the occasional meal out?
In this article, you’ll learn:
- How to reduce your grocery bill every month
- How to save money when you want to eat in restaurants
- Simple ways to eat healthy foods – for cheap
Let’s get started! Here’s how you can save money on food and still eat the foods you like.
1. Buy the whole animal.
Whether you’re shopping for fish, chicken, shrimp or even beef, it’s generally cheaper to buy the whole animal rather than a butchered portion. For instance, when you buy a boneless, skinless chicken breast, you’re paying for the process of removing the bone and the skin. Make sense?
Here are examples of how to save money on food by buying the whole animal.
- Buy a whole roaster hen rather than a butchered pack.
- Buy an entire side of beef from a local farmer.
- Buy your shrimp whole instead of deveined and shelled.
- Talk to local hunters about buying venison and other game meat.
Don’t overlook the “unusual” meats you may find at the grocery store. Game hens, rabbit and other meats may just become your new favorites!
2. Buy in bulk.
One of the best ways to save money on food is to buy commonly used items in bulk. If there are foods your family loves, consider buying them from a wholesale club to save a lot of money. There are many items that will keep well in your pantry, like rice and canned vegetables. Some other products may be frozen in a deep freezer; they’ll keep well for a year or more, depending on what they are.
It’s not usually a good idea to buy produce in bulk. Large amounts of produce won’t be used up before they spoil. That said, some produce items may freeze. For instance, frozen berries make a great addition to smoothies. Healthy and affordable!
Many breads can be stored in the freezer, too. Loaf bread freezes just fine. So do muffins and similar pastries. Be sure that your foods are packed in air-tight packaging before you freeze them to prevent frost bite.
3. Try a grocery shopping service.
You’ve likely heard the saying before: “Don’t go to the grocery store hungry.” So true! When your stomach’s growling as you walk the aisles, you’re more likely to reach for higher-priced impulse buys. That’s bad for your wallet!
To save money on food, try one of the grocery shopping services offered by many food stores. There are free options, though you may have to give your “loader” a small tip. How do they work? Well, you’ll shop online for the items you need. You’ll pay at checkout, then the store will prepare your order for you.
Shopping online also allows you to shop around for deals. For instance, you can clip digital coupons and apply them to your order. Easy peasy! Just be sure you choose one of the free shopping services.
4. Join your grocer’s loyalty club.
Most grocery stores offer a loyalty club. These clubs are easy to join. Just pick up a card at the checkout, or register online. That’s it, you’re done!
When you shop for food, loyalty cards will save you additional money. Take advantage of buy one, get one free offers, or load digital coupons to your card. The savings will automatically be applied at the register.
Pay attention to your grocery store’s local circular, too. Sometimes you’ll see great deals advertised in the flyer that aren’t obvious in the store.
5. Try restaurant loyalty clubs, too.
It’s not just grocery stores that offer loyalty rewards. Many restaurants have similar programs. For instance, you may have a pizza joint in your area that offers “points” for every dollar spent. Those points can then be used toward free food.
If your favorite restaurant doesn’t have a loyalty or rewards program, there’s still a good chance they sponsor a birthday club. There’s no need to stay home on your birthday. Join a birthday club and take advantage of free food or deep discounts on your special day.
6. Buy in season.
You can save money on food simply by shopping for produce in season. Depending on where you live, you could score some awesome deals on fruits and veggies. For instance, corn may be as little as $.10 per ear in the summer in the United States. In the winter, if can cost up to a dollar per ear.
Visit the local library and learn about what’s seasonal for your area. Is spinach a winter veggie or a summer one? What about squash? Peas? Learn what’s seasonal and save money on food year-round.
7. Always, always bring your lunch to work.
That goes for kids, too – a brown bag lunch is a great way to save money on food.
Eating out at restaurants during the week can really add up. Instead, have family members pitch in the night before to make lunches to bring. Need a few ideas?
- Chopped salad with shredded cheese and a hard boiled egg.
- Grilled chicken breast wrapped in a whole wheat tortilla.
- Don’t overlook peanut butter and jelly!
- A thermos of tomato soup and a cheese sandwich.
Use your imagination, and don’t hesitate to pack leftovers.
One thing you should avoid, however, is frozen meals. Even if you have a microwave in your workplace, frozen meals aren’t worth the money. The portion sizes are tiny and they can be quite expensive. Opt for fresh instead to save money on food.
8. Buy a second-hand slow cooker.
You can save tons of money by investing in a good slow cooker. Even new, these appliances can cost as little as twenty dollars or so, but you can find used pieces for much less than that.
Slow cookers are awesome for quite a few reasons. First, they’re going to save you time. Simply dump some ingredients into the pot in morning and supper is ready when you get home. Secondly, they’re going to help you save money on food. For instance, for just a few dollars you can pick up a few cans of beans and some tomato sauce. Add a few spices and you’re feeding your family chili for dinner – for pennies per person!
Slow cookers are so simple to use that even kids can help you cook. Help them with raw meats and similar ingredients, but then let them have fun! There are thousands of slow cooker recipes online to choose from.
9. Use group-shopping apps.
Depending upon where you live, you’ve likely heard of group-shopping apps. These apps are basically marketing tools for restaurants and other businesses to draw in new customers.
So how do they work? Well, let’s say there’s a Mexican restaurant advertising on the app. The restaurant will offer a deal like “$20 for a $50 gift card.” Customers can then buy that deal – there may be a limited number – and use the gift card any time.
While eating out is notoriously expensive, it may be okay to splurge every now and then. Group shopping apps are a good way to get the best value for your restaurant dollar.
10. Plant a garden.
You can save money on food simply by planting a garden. You don’t need a large plot of land, either. For example, did you know you can grow potatoes in a trash bag? Even if potatoes aren’t your thing, you’ve got plenty of other options. Vertical gardens can be grown indoors and don’t take much space. Patio gardens can even be grown on the balcony of your apartment.
You’ve got a large variety of plants to choose from, too. Vegetable gardens are a great way to save money on food, but you’ll also save cash with a simple herb garden. These can be grown on your kitchen windowsill for easy access to fresh herbs while you cook.
11. Don’t waste food.
Sometimes this is easier said than done. For instance, no one is going to want that leftover macaroni and cheese your toddler sneezed on. But, when possible, don’t throw food away.
Use leftovers in new and different ways. For instance, a leftover pork chop can be cut into strips and used in stir fry. Leftover roast chicken makes great chicken salad, or even fajitas. Use the carcass to make a great chicken stock or broth.
Even if no one is interested in that leftover rice, you might have someone in your family who is: your pet. Why not talk to your vet about a balanced, homemade dog food you can create using food left over after meals?
12. Eat with friends.
While eating out with friends can quickly add up, why not try eating in with friends? It’s a fun, creative way to get together with your buddies and still save money on food.
Once each week or so, get together with a group of your besties. Decide ahead of time on a new recipe you’d like to try, and have everyone pitch in for one ingredient. For example, let’s say you’d like to do taco Tuesday. One person each can bring:
- Taco shells or tortillas and seasoning mix
- Ground beef or whatever meat you prefer
- Lettuce and tomato
- Cheese and sour cream
Or, if you’ve got a smaller group, split up “Fettucine Friday” by chipping in for:
- A pound of fettucine
- A jar of sauce
- A tomato and a green pepper
Use your imagination! Splitting up the cost of a meal is fun and it really helps save money on food!
13. Plan ahead.
You’ve probably heard it said before that if you plan your menu ahead of time, you’ll save money on food. It’s so true! Creating a menu for the week is a great way to limit the items you buy (and even need to buy) at the grocery store. It also helps you use your leftovers more efficiently.
Have your family decide on a few favorite meals. For instance, chicken fajitas, tuna salad and quiche may be a few meals your squad loves. Then, simply write down the ingredients each recipe requires. You should have the staples on hand already, like seasonings and mayo. Cross out the items you already have.
Once you’ve created that list, fill in the additional meals with recipes that include “leftovers” from those favorites. Don’t forget about lunches!
14. Talk to local farmers.
Everyone knows that farmers earn their income through the foods they sell. You’ll typically meet local farmers and gardeners at your farmer’s market, and some may offer a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program that you can find through the internet. These venues are a great way to save money on food, so consider visiting the market or joining a CSA.
That said, farmers often have many cast-offs that only end up in a compost pile. After the farmer’s market closes, where does all that extra spinach go? What happens when a farmer grows too much food to support demand?
Many people have been able to score free food simply by talking to farmers. Ask your local gardeners if they’d be willing to give you their extras in exchange for, say, weeding or some other service. Most farmers will happily oblige, and many won’t ask for anything in return!
15. Learn to forage.
Okay, so this tip isn’t for everyone. If you’re living in London or Beijing, it may not be possible to forage for food.
That said, if you’re in a more rural area, foraging for food is a great way to save money on food. It’s going to take a little bit of preparation but it’s well worth it in the long term.
Talk to your local agricultural extension office, community college or other civic organization about available classes. Then, learn all about what wild foods are safe to eat. You might be surprised what you find out! For example, did you know you can find and eat:
- Wild garlic
- Seaweed
- Dandelion greens
- Wild asparagus
- Fiddlehead ferns
- Mussels
There are a few key points you’ll need to remember when you forage for food. Keep in mind that:
- In some places you’ll need a license to harvest sea life
- Not all mushrooms are safe
- You shouldn’t forage off the side of the street or other busy place
- You should be sure you’re not foraging on private property
16. Challenge yourself.
Do you think you could get by on just a $20 grocery budget for the week? How about $10?
We think you can, if you put your mind to it. Set yourself a budget, no matter how ridiculous it may seem. People have eaten well on just a few dollars each day by eating foods that are inherently inexpensive as well as discounted and in season.
Examples of inexpensive groceries that will help you meet your goal include:
- Oatmeal or porridge (not the flavored kind)
- Potatoes
- Bananas when they’re in season
- Tinned tuna
- Chicken (remember: buy the whole thing)
- Rice
- Most pasta
- Spinach and lettuce
- Eggs
When you visit the grocery stores, check for markdowns as well. For instance, the butcher will mark down meat that’s right around its “sell by” date. The baker will mark down breads when they’ve made too much, or when pastries are about to expire.
Feel free to go crazy. It’s a learning curve, so don’t get upset if you miss your budget the first week. Keep trying, and you’ll be saving money on food like a pro in no time!
17. Visit the “ethnic” section for staples.
In some areas, you’ll find some pretty awesome savings on essentials simply by shopping in the “ethnic” or “international” section of your grocery store. For example, a store may put flour tortillas in two places: with the bread and with the international foods.
By visiting the international aisle, you’ll find savings on rice, beans, spices (maybe some you’ve never tried before) and more. Go visit, and you’ll see what we mean!
18. Don’t always toss “expired” food.
Instead of tossing food when it’s past its “best by” date, use your common sense instead. Is your bread still kind of good, but a little dry? Make French toast or bread pudding. Have a bag of rice that expired last week? There’s a good chance that rice is perfectly fine.
There are plenty of resources on the internet that will help you determine the real shelf life of foods you buy at the grocery store. Most importantly, use common sense. If your eggs smell weird or your bread is green, it’s probably safe to say you can toss it.
Summary
You have to eat, plain and simple. But that’s not to say your grocery budget has to be higher than your car payment. You can absolutely save money on food if you know how to barter, take advantage of offers and shop for the right things at the right time. Use the tips on this list to get started, and you’ll be spending less on food in no time at all.
