Want to know how to cut your grocery bill in half? Keep more cash in your wallet with these easy money saving tricks!
Trust me… I know all about those creeping grocery bills. That’s right, I’ve got 2 hungry teenage boys and a hungry hubby to feed! Now to keep those tummies happy and those hangry moments at bay, a well-stocked pantry and delicious dinners seem to do the trick! But just how do we do that on a budget? I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve, and I’m so excited to share my favorite tips for how to cut your grocery bill in half!
Now all you need to do is start dreaming about what you’ll do with all that extra money you’ve saved! Maybe stash some away for a fun Frugal Vacation? Yes, please! I’m sure you won’t have any trouble at all finding a use for your new found savings.
So… are you ready to learn how to get your grocery bill in half and still eat healthy? Let’s get started!
Related: Couponing for Beginners!
How To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half and Still Eat Healthy
#1: Fill Your Wallet with FREE Grocery Gift Cards!
One of the best tips for how to cut your grocery bill in half fast is to start shopping with Free Grocery Gift Cards! You can find the largest selection of free grocery gift cards on Swagbucks. Gift Cards available include Safeway, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Amazon/Whole Foods, PayPal, and Visa Gift Cards.
Swagbucks also happens to be one of the best ways to earn free gift cards in general. I consistently earn several free gift cards from Swagbucks every month, and those are always fun days! Cashing out points for free gift cards just has a way of bringing a smile to your face!
Now, in addition to taking Swagbucks surveys, you can also earn free gift cards by shopping through Swagbucks, taking their daily poll, using their search engine, plus so many other ways.
Read these 16 Best Ways to Earn Swagbucks Fast to find as many ways to earn free groceries as possible!
You can never score enough free groceries…
How to Get Free Grocery Gift Cards
How to Get Free Walmart Gift Cards {+ 15 Genius Shopping Hacks}
Free Sam’s Club Gift Cards + 21 Thrifty Money Saving Tips!
How to Get Free Safeway Gift Cards + 6 More Money Saving Tips!
#2: Try 1 New Store Brand Item Each Week!
Sometimes name brand is just the way to go, but you’d be surprised at how much you might like those store brand alternatives! They sure can save a bundle, too! What I try to do is try one new store brand item each time I shop. I’ve found so many new generic items that have now become favorites! Things like Pumpkin, Evaporated Milk, Mayonnaise, Ranch, and the list goes on and on! Who knew?
So try it out this week… and add at least 1 new store brand item to your cart. You might just love it as good {or more} as the others. Just look at how much cheaper the store brand pizza sauce is here…
#3: Snatch up Dented Cans on Clearance
Swinging by the clearance rack is always a favorite stop of mine at the grocery store. I can’t tell you just how many bargains I’ve been able to score there! Whether it’s dented cans, a dented box, day old bakery items, a small tear in the plastic of a pack of napkins, or seasonal items… you can find some seriously sweet deals!
I’ve picked up mini pies for just 5 cents each {seriously… 5 cents}, boxes of plastic spoons for 25 cents {we love these for road trips}, name brand dented cans for 25 cents – 30 cents, big packs of napkins for 40 cents, and the list goes on.
Always take a minute to just swing by and have a fun little treasure hunt with that pile of random things! You may be surprised at what goodies you’ll find! And it’s just another easy trick for how to cut your grocery bill in half fast!
#4: Check the Bakery’s Clearance Rack…
Whether you’re looking for a deal on baked goods or delicious breads, make sure to swing by the Bakery’s clearance rack in your store. I always like to check and see if there is anything I can incorporate into my menu right away or freeze for later.
#5: Or Make Your Own Bread at Home!
The next time you’re at the grocery store, try skipping the bread altogether. It’s actually ridiculously easy to make your own bread at home, and it will save SO much money! Check out these recipes to get started…
Honey Wheat Sandwich Bread Recipe
Rosemary Dutch Oven Bread Recipe
Sourdough Starter Recipe
Homemade Hamburger Buns Recipe
#6: Change Up Your Eating & Drinking Habits! {like… Switch to Black Coffee}
Okay, okay… I know this one can be a bit challenging, but if you actually sit down and really think about what you eat and drink in a day… I bet there are some minor little changes you could make to save BIG!
For example, I love coffee. I mean really, really love it. Vanilla coffee creamer made my world go ’round, and I was paying $2.99 for each container. Between myself, my hubby, and one of our boys, we were probably using about 3 each week. {so about $9 per week}
One day, I thought… I’m going to try drinking my coffee black. My son decided to go for it and switch to black coffee at the same time. My thoughts were… we could save a lot of money, and a lot of calories. 🙂 And guess what… day one was terrible. Day 2 was no better. I think day 3 got worse, but I kept going, and by week 2, I was completely fine and looked forward to my black coffee every day. My hubby couldn’t go black, but he switched to a little splash of almond milk. SO all in all we were saving over $25 each month from this one little switch. And as a bonus, I lost a ton of weight just from saying farewell to my creamer. Seriously! 🙂
That was a few years ago, and I don’t miss it all, so go on and see if you can make a little changes that will affect your grocery bill in a big way.
#7: Skip That Slow Deli Counter and Save a Bundle!
Did you know you can save up to $5.00 per pound when you skip the deli counter ham and get pre-sliced ham from the meat department instead? Now that’s a sweet deal!
An added bonus, when you skip the deli counter you’ll save 5 – 10 minutes every time you need to buy lunch meat. Save money and time? Yes, please!
We use this ham for breakfast sandwiches, omelettes, eggs benedict, lunch sandwiches and Hawaiian dinner pizzas. It’s saves so much money! Talk about an another easy trick for how to cut your grocery bill in half!
#8: Stock Up on Loss Leaders & Freeze the Extras
Be sure to take advantage of the “loss leaders” each time you shop. What’s a Loss Leader? Well… Loss Leaders are the items your local grocery store prices below their own cost to entice shoppers to come to the store and buy other, more expensive groceries.
For example, if a dozen eggs are on sale for 49 cents at your local grocery store, that is likely a loss leader for the store.
The trick is to stock up on all the loss leaders and other sale items you can use, while not paying full price for other groceries.
This past summer, I scored 93% lean ground beef on sale for $2.33 a pound. Are you ready for the best part? The guy stocking the meat told me there was no limit! I purchased as much as my freezer could hold and benefited from that ultra low-cost ground beef all Summer and Fall long!
Can you say Goulash, Goulash, Goulash three times fast while patting your head and rubbing your belly? Well, neither can I, but let me tell you… we had a lot of Goulash, and it was GOOD, and knowing we had stocked up on all of the ingredients at rock-bottom prices made it taste even better! Stocking up on sales is such a simple trick for how to cut your grocery bill in half.
Ronni writes: “Shop loss leaders and sales of several stores and create a meal plan around them.”
Bridget writes: “I shop often (typically 3 days a week) and I go early, around 8:30 a.m. when store are just opening. Most stores do their markdowns for foods whose sell by/use by dates are coming up either late at night or early in the morning before opening. This way I’m early and get some good deals, especially on meats, which could easily be the biggest money culprit of a monthly food budget. Sometimes I’m able to find a month’s worth of meats for $30 – $40 (30+ lbs) so the rest of the month I just get sides and fresh produce, milk and eggs! When I get the big meat markdowns I come home, inspect the meats, weight it out and break it down into dinner portions.”
Related: 20 Clever Ways to Save Money on Meat
If you can’t use your loss leaders right away, just freeze them! Check out these tips…
How to Freeze Strawberries
How to Freeze Eggs
#9: Ask For A Rain Check
Are empty shelves all you when those sales hit? If a sale item is not in stock, don’t leave empty handed! Before you leave the store, get a Rain Check!
Simply ask any checker to give you a “Rain Check” for the sale item. Obtaining a Rain Check will allow you to still get the sale price on your next visit, even after the sale has officially expired. That’s what I’m talking about! Typically a Rain Check is valid for 30 – 60 days, but just check the date on yours and don’t forget to use it the next time you shop.
#10: Always Check the Unit Prices!
Did you know that bigger is not always better? We’ve kind of been trained that the bigger the bag or box, the better the deal, but make sure to always check those unit prices! I regularly find that the mid-size options are the best deal. Don’t let those grocery stores trick you on this one!
#11: Make a Meal Plan Every Week
Another simple way to stick to your budget and avoid overspending at the grocery store is to simply create a meal plan every week. If you stick to your meal plan, you can confidently avoid all of those extra impulse purchases that seem to be calling your name!
Kathy writes: “Make a menu and stick to it … stretch the meat out for several meals.”
Linda writes: “I’m eating out of my pantry, fridge and freezer without going grocery shopping for anything other than eggs, milk and some fresh produce. I’ve been doing this all month and the meals are starting to get a little eclectic but it’s been good to get some of those “I wonder why I bought this” items out of the pantry!”
Renee writes: “I meal plan from what I have already and only buy things that are needed.”
Bridget writes: “I do reverse meal planning. I create a master list of all the food in my house (cabinets, pantry, fridge, freezer). I break that down into categories: -Meats -Sides -Breakfast foods -Veggies Etc… From there I create a menu. Say you have chicken, rice and broccoli on the master list. Find a way you would like to cook the chicken and then have broccoli and rice as a side. There’s one meal. It can also be easier of you have meal themes. My shopping lists are usually pretty short since the meals are created by what’s already at home so the lists usually consist of fresh produce and some side dishes, and that way I’m also able to shop the current sales to use the majority of my monthly grocery budget towards future months. This method allows me to keep my grocery costs low and pre-plan for meals while making sure the items are being rotated through and nothing is wasted.”
#12: Make Your Own Baby Food!
If you’ve got a baby at home, you probably already know… those little jars of baby food can just crush the grocery budget. I don’t know why they’re so expensive, because guess what… you can actually make your own baby food for pennies. And it’s so EASY!! Check this out…
Homemade Baby Food Recipes to Stock Your Freezer
#13: Take the Pantry Challenge… and Eat From Your Pantry!
Want to know an easy way to save BIG on a meal this week? Raid your pantry! Just take the pantry challenge, and see what you can find to throw together to make a delicious meal. Get creative, have fun, and get excited about how much money you just saved!
Robyn writes: “We did the pantry challenge this month and will continue it into next month. We usually do it a couple times a year to ensure we are rotating stuff out regularly. It also helps to get a little creative.”
Darlene writes: “Next month my husband and I are doing a challenge to use everything in the house and not go grocery shopping for anything other than perishables.”
Related: Pantry Organization Ideas to Declutter Fast!
#14: Then Raid your Freezer!
Don’t forget about your freezer! In the deep depths of those icy cold shelves, there are probably some delicious things you’ve forgotten about, or have just been saving for ‘another day’. See what you can piece together using items from your freezer, and use it up before it gets that icky freezer burn going on.
Erin writes: “We are doing what we call “eating down the freezer” by consuming everything leftover from last year.”
Leslie writes: “I’m ‘shopping’ my pantry and freezer first to use more of what I have in the house instead of buying more groceries!”
Stephanie writes: “I am shopping from my pantry, fridge and freezer first, and making meals from what’s at home, even if I have to be creative.”
Eileen writes: “I am re-organizing my freezer and finding things I forgot were in there.”
#15: Skip the Boxed Mixes, and Make your Own!
Boxed mixes are convenient, but sure can cost a pretty penny. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to recreate some of my favorite boxed mixes and stock my pantry with homemade versions. As an added bonus, I’ve found that they taste SO much better than the originals. I can even pronounce all of the ingredients going into my food. 🙂 Stock your pantry this week with some of these Easy DIY Mixes…
Homemade Pancake Mix Recipe
Homemade Brownie Mix Recipe
Skillet Cornbread Mix Recipe
Hot Chocolate Mix
Copycat Nesquik Mix
#16: Go Meatless One Day A Week! {Try Meatless Mondays}
Have you ever heard of Meatless Monday? By skipping meat just one day a week, you can save up to $30 per month on your grocery bill.
When I shop for groceries, meat usually tops the list as the most expensive grocery item. For example, I pay $7.50 for a bag of frozen Chicken Tenderloins at my local Trader Joe’s. If I skip just one chicken dinner every week, I will save $30 a month!
Or… you can save even more if you plan multiple meatless meals every week!
Jane writes: “We are limiting beef to one meal a week.”
Want some easy meatless recipes to get started? Check out these delicious ideas…
One Pot Fettuccine Alfredo
Garlic Parmesan Pasta Recipe! {Tasty One Pot Wonder}
Crockpot Alfredo Tortellini
Easy Cheesy Pasta Casserole Recipe {Just 5 Ingredients}
Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole Recipe
#17: Consider Grocery Pickup to Avoid Impulse Buys!
If impulse buys always seem to be calling your name, you may want to consider trying out grocery pickup. It’s a simple way to stick to your list… and avoid all those extras that seem to find their way into our carts.
Becky writes: “I use Grocery Pick Up!!! I am an impulse shopper. If I go inside, I will definitely spend money I didn’t mean to.”
Diane writes: “I do Walmart pickup so as to not enter the store.”
Stacey writes: “Grocery pickup saves me about $50/week because I don’t see all the extra things in the store I think we need but that we can do without.”
#18: Buy Produce in Season!
Are you wondering how to cut your grocery bill in half and still eat healthy? You’ll find the best deals on fruits and vegetables that are currently in season, so be flexible as the months change, and load up on the discounted produce that’s in season now.
#19: Substitute Frozen Fruit and Veggies!
If you can’t find a deal on the fresh fruit or vegetables you’ve got on your list, make a beeline for the freezer section! Frozen fruits and veggies are still packed with nutrients, and you might be surprised at the great deals you can get! For example, I regularly buy frozen chopped white onions, and frozen chopped bell peppers. Not only are they a good deal, but the chopping has already been done for me, making weeknight dinner prep a breeze!
#20: Learn How to Can!
Canning is another one of those skills that can save you so much money! Whether you’re canning food you’ve grown in your backyard, or are canning with food you’ve scored an amazing deal on at the grocery store, you will save so much money! Plus… your food will be shelf stable, so it won’t take up any of that precious freezer space! Check out some of my favorite home Canning and Preserving Recipes here…
Strawberry Jam Recipe for Canning
Blackberry Jam Recipe for Canning
#21: Grow More Food at Home!
Another easy trick for How To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half is simply by growing more of your own food! By planting different fruits, veggies and herbs that are available for harvest at different times throughout your growing season, you can enjoy free produce all summer long. Or if you’ve got an indoor herb garden, you can have fresh herbs within hand’s reach all year long!
DIY Mason Jar Herb Garden
You don’t need a large yard when you creatively work with the space you already have (see this tutorial for creating a DIY Raised Bed Garden). Plus, there is that added satisfaction of eating something that you’ve actually planted and cultivated yourself!
To get started, check out my easy tips for:
Strawberry Growing Tips {How to Grow Strawberries In Any Sized Yard}
Tips For Growing Perfect Tomatoes
Perfect Watermelon Gardening Tips
Zucchini Growing Tips for a Huge Harvest!
Successful Corn Gardening Tips
Easy Pumpkin Growing Tips
DIY Raised Garden Bed Tutorial
#22: Grow and Dry Your Own Herbs!
Another simple trick for how to cut your grocery bill in half, is DIY Herbs! That’s right… you can make your garden fresh herbs last all year long with my easy tips for making homemade dried herbs. You’ll save BIG by not having to buy expensive herbs and dried herbs at the grocery store, too!
Check out my DIY tips for:
How To Dry Fresh Basil
How To Dry Oregano
Drying Fresh Rosemary in 60 Seconds
How to Dry Thyme Leaves in 2 Minutes!
#23: Make Your Own Seasonings
Want to know another easy trick? Bypass those expensive seasoning blends and packets, and make your own seasonings instead! And while you’re at it… start drying your own herbs. This can be a HUGE money-saver!
Amy writes: “Packets of mixes are convenient, but they’re so easy to make yourself. We also dry our own herbs, parsley, dill, mint, basil, chives, buy when it’s on sale (or use your own potted basil), clean and dry. It takes a bit of work but it’s so much cheaper than buying containers of dried herbs.”
20 DIY Seasoning Recipes You Can Make At Home! {+ How to Dry Herbs}
#24: Shop Around for the Best Deals!
You may have a favorite grocery store you love, but remember if you shop around you’ll find the best deals! I often like to hit up several grocery stores in one trip, and stock up on their loss leaders to save some serious cash!
#25: Create A Grocery Price Book
A Grocery Price Book will help you keep track of prices at your local grocery store, so that you can track sale cycles and score the best deals.
Trust me, this wonderful little book can help you save so much money!
Related: Grocery Price Book Basics {+ How To Create One}
#26: Consider Bartering… for Real!
Another way to cut back on the grocery bill is to barter… seriously!
Wanda writes: “I babysit for some farmers in my daycare so what I do is trade childcare for meat and produce.”
#27: Shop at Aldi!
If you’re lucky enough to have an Aldi nearby, you’ll be able to score some seriously sweet deals! I shop there once a week, and it really helps to slash the grocery bill! Check out these tips for how to cut your grocery bill in half by including Aldi when you shop…
Amy writes: “Aldi has some great things. Regular milk, 1 gallon, is currently $1.48, and that’s hormone and antibiotic free. They are cutting HFCS from their stuff. Big name brands sell there either under their own brand, or Aldi’s brand. Some of the Aldi brand stuff doesn’t taste the same as the name brand, and of those, some is good, some not so good. But still, they have a great selection of cheese (including imports), wine (cheap too!), ice cream is all natural and under $3.00. I love their chocolate, European and cheap, they have great vidalia onion kettle chips but they’re one of their seasonal products. Meijer carries the same thing under their own brand, year round. Aldi’s ice cream is SO GOOD! there are so many great things at Aldi, a good chunk of our pantry, if not most if it, is from Aldi. Aldi is the place you shop first, then fill in at other stores. For as great as their stuff is, and their savings, their selection is limited.”
Another Amy writes: “Aldi has a lot of good stuff and their prices are better than other stores. Aldi has good pasta and sauce. Among the many great things Aldi has is coffee, fair trade for a fraction of the price of any brand at other stores. Aldi has great organic stock in a box, 32 oz for $1.75/a box.”
#28: Watch the Register As Your Order Rings Up!
Another thing I always do is keep a close eye on the register as my order is ringing up. You’ll prevent yourself from paying double {if something accidentally gets scanned twice}, you may catch prices that ring up incorrectly {like regular price instead of the sale price}, and you’ll make sure all of your discounts and coupons come off correctly at the end.
#29: Bring Your Own Bags
My hubby has a serious aversion to ‘junk fees’, and paying for bags is just not going to happen. 🙂 Now this may not be necessary, but for certain locations {like California}, or for stores like Aldi, you may be charged for each grocery bag you use. Yikes… that can add up! If you shop at stores that charge for bags, just toss some in your car’s trunk before you head to the store. It’s such a simple way to save some extra money!
#30: Never Shop on an Empty Stomach
Have you ever noticed how many more items make their way into your shopping cart when you’re feeling a bit ravenous? Oops! It really can get a little out of hand, so make sure to eat something {maybe even a snack} before heading to the grocery store. I promise it will be SO much easier to stick to your list!
#31: Always Use Coupons! {Always}
Shopping with coupons is still one of the best ways to save extra money on groceries… every time you shop. Using coupons on items you’ll already be buying is always a good idea, and an easy trick for how to cut your grocery bill in half. And honestly, it’s always fun to check the receipt and see just how many dollars you saved using coupons… seriously, those coupons can really add up fast!
I try to use coupons at the grocery store every time I shop, and often will use about $10 in coupons per transaction. It’s always a good feeling watching that grocery bill drop down at the checkout! Need even more couponing tips and tricks? Check this ultimate couponing guide out…
Couponing for Beginners
{thanks to frugal friend Dolly for sharing this fun photo! She said Lexie gets soooo excited when she’s cleaning out her expired coupons… and loves to jump in and ‘help’ out!}
#32: Match Coupons with Weekly Sales to Double Up on Savings!
Before you head to the store, take a few minutes to review your store’s weekly sales flyer. You can plan your attack for what sales items you want to stock up on that week, and also look for coupons to match up with those sale items to sweeten your deals even more! A few minutes of planning before you go can equal BIG savings!
#33: Know Your Store’s Insider Savings Hacks!
Before you head out shopping, make sure you know all of those little known secrets and tricks for saving the most at your favorite store! Whether it’s downloading an app and adding digital coupons, signing up for a loyalty card, or getting familiar with the price adjustment policy, you’ll want to learn as much as you can about the stores you shop at! If you’re a Target shopper, check out these tips…
22 Ways to Save More at Target {Best Money Saving Hacks}
#34: Know Your Prices So You Don’t Get Tricked
It’s true… knowing your prices will save you serious money, because grocery prices can vary widely from store to store.
For example, I purchase one large container of Organic Spinach every week to put into my favorite Superfood Smoothie Recipe. That container of Organic Spinach is priced at $5.99 at both my local Fry’s Food (Kroger) and Walmart. But I can score it for $3.99 every day at Sam’s Club!
Saving 1 – 2 dollars on items you buy every single week adds up really fast. By simply keeping a record of the price you pay for items you buy weekly, you can easily save $30 – $50 every month! {and the crowd goes wild!}
#35: Shop with a FREE Visa Gift Card!
Are you ready for one last tip for How To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half? Shop with Free Visa Gift Cards! With a Visa Gift Card, you can shop at any store you want that takes Visa.
A wallet filled with Free Visa Gift Cards is always a good feeling!
How to Get a Free Visa Gift Card
So now that you know how to cut your grocery bill in half, I have even more frugal tips for How to Save Money to share with you!
Spending less and keeping more cash in your wallet is fun, so let’s keep slashing those bills and saving even more money! How To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half was just the beginning! Check out more tips here…
20 Ways to Save Money on Meat {How to Save BIG All Year Long}
Are you looking for some Easy Ways to Save Money on Meat? With grocery prices soaring, these simple tips and tricks are just what you need!
Feed a Crowd on a Budget
Whether you’re just in need of some easy recipes for the big party, or cheap family meals for those out of town guests, these Easy Recipes to Feed a Crowd on a Budget will save the day!
How I Save Money on Snacks for The Kids
Use these frugal tips for How I Save Money on Snacks for the Kids to feed your kiddo’s snack cravings!
How To Feed a Hungry Teenager Affordably
If you’ve got a teenager, then you need these helpful tips for How To Feed a Hungry Teenager Affordably!
Packed Lunch Ideas for Kids
Make lunch time the very best time of day for your kids with these creative Packed Lunch Ideas for Kids!
101 Genius Kitchen Tips and Tricks
Make your time in the kitchen a little easier when you start using these clever cooking tips and tricks.
Save Money Fast! {20 Easy Ways to Save $2200 this Month!}
I’m going to show you how to drastically cut expenses and make extra money so you can Save Money Fast for a house, for a car, for a trip, for retirement, or to simply pay off debt!
How to Pay Off Debt Fast {10 Easy Tricks}
Wondering how to pay off debt fast? These tips and tricks will have you doing a debt free dance in no time!
No Spend Challenge Ideas
Use these No Spend Challenge Ideas to help conquer your debt and to kick your savings into high gear!
Cutting Cable TV! {How to Watch TV for Free or Cheap}
Slash your monthly bills and save BIG when you use these easy tips for Cutting Cable TV and Watching TV for Free or Cheap!
40+ Ways to Save on Heating Costs and Electricity! {How to Slash your Bill}
Get ready to score some serious savings on your electric bill with these Easy Ways to Save on Heating Costs and Electricity!
Stay At Home Mom Job Ideas {6 Ways to Make Extra Money}
If you’re wondering how to make more money at home, check out my stay at home mom side job ideas!
How to Start a Blog Today and Make Money Blogging {+ Get a FREE Domain Name!}
Check out these insider tips and tricks for how to start a blog and make money blogging!
Now that you know how to cut your grocery bill in half, don’t miss out on all my other frugal money saving tips for you! Catch all the latest fun Frugal Girls Tips, Recipes + more right here…
So do you have any favorite tips for How To Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half?
Share with us in the comments below!
Maria Fazio says
I help run a produce co op. We pull our money together. Then myself and another lady go to the state farmers market and purchase cases of produce for the group. We decide it up and save a ton of money. It’s only $30 a week and we do it twice a month. We fill or over fill a laundry basket of produce each time.
Heidi says
What a great idea, Maria! My neighbors belong to a produce co op, and when we used to live next door they would always share their delicious produce with us. 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing your great tips!
Mark C. Pettway says
Thanks soo much! Thanks for all the fab money saving tips!
Heidi says
You’re very welcome, Mark… I’m so glad you’re enjoying the tips! 🙂
Su says
Thanks for all the fab money saving tips! I posted a link to your tips from my blog -TurtleDoveThoughts. Unfortunately in our community, there are no stores that accept coupons at all 🙁
Heidi says
Oh that’s so sad, Su… thankfully there are so many other ways to save BIG, too! 🙂 I’m so glad you liked the tips – and thank you so much for sharing the article!
Rachel says
If you love to make and drink coffee, a great way to save money is to roast your own coffee beans at home. It is so easy to do and saves you A LOT of cash on grocery store coffee.
PAULA says
In regards to meatless days—I usually add can chicken/roast beef to pasta & sauce or cream (sour/cheese) & milk and for my take on swedish meatballs I use frozen maple bacon pork meatballs (about 1/3 bg for myself makes about 3 servings–bag cost approx $3.50) with small can cream of mushroom and half box pasta, usually egg noodles or ditalini–then a few days later I toss the other half of pasta w/can cream of chicken,can chicken, and sour cream. My son the picky eater who doesn’t like anything white/creamy actually devoured a bowl of the chicken ditalini blend…oh,the trick is to “sauté ” the canned meat first with seasonings of your choice then add to pasta/sauce mix the last 5 mins of cooking. I usually do 1 pot/pan cooking so I prep meat then put in tupperware dish in micro/oven til ready to add.
Heidi says
Those are great tips, Paula… thanks so much for sharing your frugal recipe ideas!
Victoria says
Check your store for “double coupon days” and “double sale days”. Here in Dayton, Ohio, Fresh Thyme stores have the double sale day on Wednesday. The last day of the previous weeks sale and the current weeks sale overlap on Wednesday, allowing me to take advantage of two weeks worth of sales.
If you buy for only one or two, pooling your grocery shopping with other singles or couples allows you to take advantage of sales of bulk or bagged goods. This is especially great for bargains on bagged produce, like apples or oranges. Just dive them up among your group.
Heidi says
Those are great tips, Victoria. Thanks so much for sharing!