Now that you’ve searched your pantry for ingredients and food ideas, it’s time to hit the actual store.
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Sales
If you find a killer deal on something you know you’re family will use, stock up on it. (Of course, if it’s in the budget!) I generally try to follow a rule of three. But one for now, and two for later. For example, if there is a great deal on grassfed beef at Aldi, I’ll use one package for a meal that week, and freeze the other two for sometime in the upcoming months.
Find out when your local grocery store marks down their produce/meats and try to plan your shopping trips on that day! Our Aldi marks down items every morning, so if you’re an early bird, you can snag some great deals on meat for $1-3 less than normal! Freeze or use these items ASAP and you can enjoy healthy, cheap meat for months!
What can you buy now to freeze later?
- Milk
- Cheese
- Meats and fish
- Bananas (peeled)
- Berries
- Vegetables
- Bread
- Sour cream
I usually freeze vegetables and vegetables in my Stasher bags and they store SO well! The half gallon bags work well if you are able to purchase large amounts!
Buy in Bulk
Keep an eye out for purchasing things in bulk. We don’t have a Costco membership, but I hear they’re great for bulk items! Usually the per item price is lower, there is less packaging waste, and it will save you from having to make multiple trips to refill these items. I usually make a once a month trip to a bigger city and shop at a store that has organic bulk bins to restock on certain ingredients.
What bulk items do we keep on hand?
- Sprouted rice
- Raw almonds
- Raw walnuts
- Lentils
- Popcorn
- Sunflower seeds
- Coffee beans
- Maple syrup
Make sure you go prepared! I always bring our produce bags (with work well for seeds and nuts) and half gallon mason jars with the tare weights written on the lids so the cashier knows how much weight to take off when checking out. While you’re at it, make sure to bring reusable bags so you can pass on the plastic!
When shopping for bulk, make sure you check the “Per Unit Price” box in the left hand portion of the price tag. This will help you determine which product will really give you the best deal. (It’s usually price per ounce).
Coupons
Every time I mention coupons, I know people are thinking of that show on cable a few years ago “Extreme Couponing”. Stockpiles of paper products, processed foods, and synthetic-filled cleaners. (Hey, if that’s your thing, you do you, baby.)
Unfortunately couponing and matching the coupons to store sales takes FOREVER. (ASK ME HOW I KNOW!) At one time, we did have stockpile of products in our basement from couponing. It took hours to plan, match deals, and shop at the stores to get things that we didn’t eat, use, or were extremely wasteful. From a sustainability standpoint, I don’t recommend this type of couponing.
However you choose to utilize coupons, make sure you’re purchases matter. Don’t just stock up on something because you’re getting a good deal. Many times manufacturers will offer coupons for their more expensive products to entice you to try their brand, when the store brand is just as good of quality but the same or lower cost as the product with a coupon.
If you shop at certain stores (My favorite local store is Kroger) They have regular coupons they send out for loyal customers based on your shopping habits. They have an in-store card that gives you access to extra savings and deals, and they offer electronic coupons through their website and store app. Kroger is one of the few stores near us that has a decent selection of organic, fresh, and goat milk products so I choose to do most of our shopping there (with or without coupons!).
Shopping Services
Check and see if your local grocery store offers a grocery pickup service. You order all your groceries online and a store associate does the ‘shopping’ for you. They usually will even load it into your vehicle!
The convenience alone with this is SO worth it to me! But it has been the #1 money saving tool for us. If you remember from Saving on Groceries: Part 1, my biggest budget mistake is impulse buys. (Or as Dave Ramsey calls it, “Death by $20”)
Using a grocery pickup service keeps me on track and eliminates any impulse buys that may occur!
I prefer using Kroger’s Clicklist, but many Walmarts and other stores are adding this feature, too. With Kroger there is usually a $5 fee but between the money I’m NOT spending extra, adding in their online coupons, and their sales with their membership card, I’ve found we save more. If you watch the app, they will often have deals where that fee is waived!
Utilizing Saving Apps
Apps such as Ibotta will give you rebates based on your purchases at certain stores. There was a time a few years ago when I used Ibotta regularly and by the end of the year had enough “cash” saved up to get several gift cards to use for Christmas!
I will usually check Ibotta after creating our grocery list and add any deals they offer that match my shopping list. Once you complete your grocery shopping you redeem your rewards by scanning the barcodes of your matching items followed by snapping a photo of your receipt!
Once your balance reaches $20, you can transfer that money to Paypal or have it converted into gift cards! Just as with coupons, make sure you’re only purchasing what your family will use and don’t get enticed by the cash back.
Check in with Ibotta when you shop online and at restaurants to see if there are any options at that time to get rewards, too!
You can sign up with Ibotta using my referral link! Using my link with get us BOTH extra rewards!