In case 2022 is a year of financial resolutions for you, it’s time to save some money on groceries. Apart from meal planning and writing shopping lists, there are a lot of other ways to minimize spending on groceries.
Order Online
Finding it hard to stick to the grocery shopping list in physical stores? Try shopping online. Even if the customer buys more for delivery, this method gives back in another way. Opening a tab and searching for items in the list makes it easier to stick to the initial buying plan – there’s no such thing as impulse purchases. Moreover, the website will most likely show the end price increase with every item added to the list.
Every grocery store has a different delivery fee. Make sure to search for free delivery when possible, and clip coupons for discounts. Instacart, a grocery delivery and pick-up service has several coupons for new customers ranging from $30 to $50. Kroger stores, too, give 15% off to new orders on CouponFollow.com.
Take Hold Of Frozen Goods
Seriously, stop disregarding the frozen foods aisle. Of course, some items might taste better when they are fresh. Yet, when it comes to produce, it’s usually frozen at absolute ripeness. When vegetables and produce are defrosted, they are still full of vitamins and nutrients. Furthermore, multiple studies have proven that vegetables and fruits lose nutrient value as they sit on grocery store shelves!
That said, frozen goods are always cheaper than fresh ones. Also, try to add them to freezer meals – an incredible way to stock up on pre-cooked food. It doesn’t go bad and always tastes excellent when defrosted. Be it beef and broccoli, or steak, you just have to throw them in a pan or a slow cooker at the end of the day.
Broaden Grocery Store List
Let’s be fair – shopping in one store for the whole life isn’t the best idea. Especially when the closest store is not one of the cheapest, and it’s based purely on convenience and habit. Try to broaden the horizons by seeking new stores in the city. Some of the cheapest grocery shops in the United States are Aldi, Market Basket, WinCo Foods, Food 4 Less, Costco, Walmart, and Trader Joe’s. They all vary by location and might have different prices or discounts every week. So, look out for weekly ads to fish for the best sales.
Use Self-Checkout
Yes, going through a self-checkout is a bit of a chore. Still, there’s a huge pro to beeping through groceries by yourself – it cuts out all the unnecessary spending. In fact, IHL Consulting Group conducted a study and found out that self-checkout minimized impulse buys by 32% for women, and 17% for men. Outstanding for buying essential items!
Change Your Credit Card
Consumers might be wondering: what’s wrong with their credit cards? Well, it’s simple – many cards have a reward program for their users, and that should really help on saving while grocery shopping. Check your card to make sure it still gives back enough during grocery trips.
The Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express, for example, offers 6% cashback at supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year. It’s one of the best cashback cards in the U.S. right now.
These are some of the best shopping tips and tricks – use them in 2022 as a financial challenge!
Sources: CNBC, RamseySolutions, Ktchn