Smart Shopping, Big Savings: Your Guide to Saving Money on Your Groceries

Like so many households, including my own, saving money on your groceries has always been a massive expense. When you add inflation on top of that, it’s just getting worse. It’s to the point that even Cardi B is complaining about her food cost and she’s RICH! But hey on a positive note. I do believe with a bit more planning and organization we can reduce this expense, continue eating healthy and of course save some money. So If you’re struggling to cut or even maintain your grocery bill. Then this blog post is just for you.

See What You’re Workin’ With

Now the first step might shock you in the journey of saving money on your groceries. I highly recommend that you STOP, and clean out your fridge first in order to really see what you’re workin’ with. The truth is, a lot of people go to the grocery store as if they’re starting from scratch. Most likely you still have some fresh produce and half-used ingredients that need to be utilized. This is why I make it my top priority. Because it keeps me on my toes to make sure that I am maximizing what I already have. While reducing what I have to get on my next trip to the store. And the clean fridge is the icing on the cake.

Know the Sales Beforehand with Flipp

My second step is if you really want to save money, then you need a good grocery shopping routine. I am not trying to go to the store and then figure out what’s on sale or what deals are going on. I need to know all of this information beforehand. So that I can plan more strategically before I even step foot in the store. This is why my next step is to get you access to that information so that you can save money on your groceries.

Wait…What’s Flipp and How Do You Use it?

About 5 Years ago, I discovered a free app called Flipp. I’ve mentioned it a few times on my blog, and it’s quickly become one of my favorite apps. I use it every week to help me save money on my grocery bill. You can simply download the app or go to their website. I personally use it to quickly browse all of the weekly ads from different stores. It can also help you prepare a shopping list, and even clip digital coupons right from your phone. I highly recommend checking it out.

When you first log in, you’ll put your zip code in. Then get ready, because you’re going to be shocked to see how many grocery stores you didn’t even know existed in your neighborhood. But don’t let this overwhelm you. What I like to do is focus on “my” favorite stores and see what deals “they” have going on. They often have deals that I probably wouldn’t have noticed like Double Ad days, Weekend Specials, and Friday Frenzy. Yeah I know, it’s a little corny. But normally, it takes me about 5-10 minutes to browse all of the ads. So I find it to be a very good use of my time.

I Love a Good Meal Plan

From there, you want to create a weekly meal plan based on what ingredients you have and what’s on sale. If you don’t have a meal plan, that’s alright. This is the step where you need to start thinking about what you want to eat that week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I personally keep a simple breakfast and lunch plan and focus most of my energy on my dinner plans.

Now because I’ve been meal planning for years. I’ve built up a good arsenal of go-to recipes based on Pinterest, my favorite cookbooks, and of course some family recipes. But if you need a good push in the right direction. Every Sunday, if you follow me on IG. You can catch my weekly meal plan/meal prep in my stories for some inspiration.

You Need a Grocery Shopping List

Once your meal plan is in place, then you want to create a shopping list that mimics all of the ingredients that you need for that week’s meals. This way you can solidify a game plan to make sure that you are only buying what you absolutely need. Now, I personally create my shopping list on the notes app on my phone, which I share with my husband. But, what a lot of people don’t know is that you can create a shopping list right on the Flipp App as well.

If You Want to See Improvements, You Have to Execute!

Now that you’ve cleaned out your fridge, you know what you have, browse the deals, created a meal plan, and have a grocery list. The last step is to execute and track. Don’t drop the ball here. Remember to:

Not go grocery shopping on an empty stomach,
Stick to your list,
Clip any digital coupons that are available, and
Go shopping early if possible.

Track Your Spending

When it comes to tracking, I recommend pulling out your receipts and logging them into your budget before you forget. This is a great way to keep track of how much you’re spending on groceries. Plus see if you’re making any improvement.

Track Your Food Waste

Also at the end of the week when it’s time to clean out your fridge, this is a great time to track your food waste. Many people don’t realize that they overbuy and end up throwing away a lot of food because of this habit. This is something that you’re going to have to keep an eye out for. Continue tracking and improving how much food you are wasting each week until you find your rhythm.