If you've been feeling that the cost of groceries seems too expensive and your budget is taking a hit, it may be time to reevaluate your grocery shopping strategy. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to cut down on the amount of money you’re spending on your weekly grocery bill.  

Links:

• USDA Seasonal Produce Guide

• Yummly

Transcript:

Welcome to Money Tip Tuesday from the Making Money Personal podcast.  

The price of groceries continues to climb for many Americans across the country. If you’re one of those noticing the rise in the cost of groceries, try some of these strategies to save money the next time you head to the supermarket.  

• Shop seasonal produce. Depending on where you live, you may find that certain produce is cheaper depending on its season, especially if it's local. In-season produce is more abundant and doesn’t need to be transported from distant locations. Both these factors contribute to lowering the price, which makes it easier for customers to save money when they shop. If you’re unfamiliar with when to shop for your favorite produce, the USDA published a list online to make it easier for people to recognize what seasons are the best times to buy certain produce items. You can check that link out in the show notes.   

• Use store apps and rewards programs. To increase brand loyalty, many stores roll out rewards programs for shoppers. They offer store cards or use their own branded apps to track and use rewards points, offer discounts on store brand items, and even provide manufacturers coupons on name brands. If you find yourself going to the same grocery store regularly, check to see what kind of rewards program they offer. Using a store program that provides good discounts can save you a lot of money over time.   

• Get organized to stop yourself from overbuying. Have you ever gone to the store and purchased an item you were sure you were out of only to find out you already had it stocked at home? Before shopping take a picture of your fridge or pantry to have a visual reminder of what you already have stocked. You can also create and display inventory sheets that track items in your pantry or freezer as you use them. If you keep it updated regularly, you’ll never wonder again while you’re at the store if you were out of ketchup or soy sauce. 

• Don’t underestimate the value of frozen produce. Oftentimes, frozen fruits and veggies are cheaper than their fresh counterparts and because they’re frozen at their peak freshness, they’re likely the more nutritious option. If you find yourself purchasing the same types of veggies or fruits regularly try buying them frozen instead. It could save you money, cut down on spoilage and overall help your health. 

• Commit to meal planning. Getting organized about what you’ll make during the week is an effective way to avoid the wastefulness of overbuying. Use a planner or notebook to plan out meals ahead of time. For those more technologically savvy, try an app like Yummly, Mealtime [Mealime], and Meal Prep Pro to help you stay organized with meal planning. Not only can you schedule meals, but they also automatically build shopping lists for you based on your meal selections, so you’ll know exactly what to buy next time you go to the store. They also offer additional features and tools like nutrition guidance and dietary suggestions. 

• Consider buying more dry bulk items like beans and lentils. These items are usually very low in cost, and they offer a lot of nutritional value. One part of dried beans can equal three parts cooked. This makes it easy to cook a large meal out of seemingly small ingredients. With the addition of all kinds of seasonings and spices, beans and lentils can make a flavorful dish that can last all week; ultimately a great meal prep item. Explore the internet or one of the apps mentioned earlier for a variety of recipes you can make with these affordable and nutritious ingredients.  

For anyone trying to keep their grocery shopping within a set budget, try out some of these suggestions. If you have any other tips not covered here, go ahead and share with us on social media. There might be someone out there who can benefit from it.  

If there are any other tips or topics you'd like us to cover, let us know at [email protected]. Like and follow our Making Money Personal FB and IG page, and look for our sponsor, Triangle Credit Union, on social media to share your thoughts.   

Thanks for listening to today's Money Tip Tuesday. Check out our other tips and episodes on the Making Money Personal podcast.   

Have a great day!