If you are looking for How to Save Money on Groceries Without Coupons – I have a great list of methods. You don’t have to clip coupons and scour thousands of deals each week to save money. There are a few tricks to the game that will have you cutting costs in no time at all.
How to Save Money on Groceries Without Coupons
If you haven’t gone through our Extreme Couponing 101 information, you may want to check it out. Yes, this post is all about saving without the coupons, but it is still full of information that you can use in your shopping trips. You may also love this list of 30 ways to save money every day. These tips along with the ones below will have your grocery and household budget lower in no time!
Make meal plans around store sales
This is that tried and true method your mom probably taught you. Shopping the sales flyers each week will give you great savings on many items. Just be careful that you aren’t buying items that are on sale that you wouldn’t normally use. If it is on sale, that doesn’t mean it is a great deal for you and your family.
- Watch for best prices on meats you regularly use. Don’t buy fish just because it is on sale if your family doesn’t like fish. Fall and winter are often the best time for turkey and chicken prices. Ham goes on sale around Christmas and again in Spring for Easter. Steaks, ground beef, and pork chops are typically lower prices during the summer months for grilling.
- Stock up on vegetables when in season. I love picking up things like zucchini and squash or corn on the cob in summer when they are 3 or 4 for $1. I can slice, shred, or prep and freeze to use later in the year. Don’t buy out of season items for higher costs.
- Be careful about packaged food sales. One thing I notice is how the stores often reel you in with things like boxes of macaroni and cheese, or Hamburger Helper at low costs. Doing my own pricing, I have found that buying the separate ingredients and making multiple batches ends up being much cheaper in the long run.
Make a plan and stick to it
This is hard for me at times. My menu plan says we are having pork chops tonight, but my stomach says I want chicken. While it’s not always easy, it really does help to plan ahead and stick to that plan. A weekly meal plan is a perfect way to keep on track.
If you need inspiration, check out this list of favorite frugal meals.
Batch cook proteins
One way I find to save money is to buy meat in bulk and cook it ahead of time for easier meals. Cooking a huge family pack of chicken and then shredding it makes it easy for me to whip up tacos, wraps, or even soup with plenty of protein. By using the sale meat and having it cooked and in the fridge (or freezer), I can stick to my menu easier on busy weeks.
Buy items in bulk when a good savings
When you ask how to save money on groceries, one of my first answers will be to buy in bulk. There are many ways to do this that end up being beneficial. Popular methods include shopping warehouse stores like Sam’s Club, Costco, or BJ’s. Other options are to buy things like the family pack of meat in the grocery store.
Bulk items are not always priced lower. So, be careful and compare cost per unit/ounce when you are shopping. Also, remember that bulk items will have expiration dates, so if you don’t think you can use 20 cans of green beans before they expire, don’t feel guilty about spending a few cents more to buy individual cans.
Check out Costco Monthly Coupons page before you shop for even more savings!
Shop at discount stores
One of my all-time favorite places to buy groceries is Aldi. This store has amazing deals and prices you can’t beat. If you don’t have an Aldi in your area, look for other discount stores. Save-A-Lot is another great place that offers lots of low-price staple food items like flour, sugar, pasta, rice, and canned goods. Those stores can really help stretch your dollar without sacrificing quality or the foods you love.
Check out our Aldi Coupons, Lidl Coupons, and Stop & Shop Coupons for more savings!
Grow your own produce
My last tip is one that is great for those who enjoy tending to a garden. This is a dual purpose hobby and a great way to save money on groceries. If you like to garden, make sure to plant your favorite vegetables in the Spring and Summer then harvest your crop to save on produce throughout the summer. If you do home canning or freeze foods, this is another way to save money on groceries year round.
Check out our Frugal Gardening Tips for more ways to save on your garden this summer.
If you have been wondering how to save money on groceries without using coupons, the list above is full of amazing methods that are easy to incorporate into your routine.