Ways to Cut Grocery Costs

Are you suffering from inflation-induced sticker shock at the grocery store?  Here are some tips to save money!!

1. Cook from scratch

Ready-made meals at the supermarket are quick and easy, but they can get expensive. Cooking from scratch is cheaper and often a healthier alternative, with fewer additives and preservatives.

When you cook from scratch, you tend to use the same basic ingredients over and over. If you buy those items in bulk, you can save even more. Often, there are leftovers that can be used for additional meals or lunches. The key to saving when cooking from scratch is to also understand the concept of cross-utilization, when you have one ingredient that is applied in multiple ways.

Take fruit. Fruit can be eaten at breakfast, added to a salad, and used in a smoothie. “There are tons of ways to use ingredients, aside from restricting them to one meal or one type of cuisine.

2. Plan meals in advance

Meal planning is a great way to save at the grocery store. If you have a strategy for the week as to what meals you will make and list the ingredients you need, you aren’t as likely to overspend. Buying only what you have listed and need to make the planned meals and for snacks is critical to saving money.

When meal planning, consider how one ingredient can be used multiple times throughout the week. A pound of pasta isn’t going to set you back too much and can be prepared in different ways. Resist the temptation to shop while hungry. You might end up with a cart full of unnecessary food and impulse buys some of which may get wasted.

3. You don’t need to pay someone to prepackage food for you!

Yes, it’s convenient but it’s more expensive. Don’t buy personal packages of cookies, pre-sliced cheese, apple slices, or individual packages of pretzels. Either do it yourself or find an alternative option! For example, put together your own oatmeal packages, slice or grate a pound of cheese at the beginning of the week, separate a big bag of crackers, nuts, or pretzels into mini baggies, and take 30 seconds to slice an apple for an afternoon snack.

3. Be organized

The organization of your pantry, fridge, and freezer plays a major role in saving. When everything is organized, you can see what you have and keep better track of it so it doesn’t expire or go bad. Good organization will help you cut down on food waste and will help you to use what you have, which saves on unnecessary food purchases.

4. Buy frozen fruits, vegetables, and sides

Buying fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats is great, so long as you eat them before they go bad. A cheaper alternative is to buy some from the frozen foods section. Frozen foods can be an effective way to save, and can allow you to take one or two out and do more with less.” Meatballs, fruits, and vegetables are just a few examples of nutritious frozen foods that can be consumed piecemeal.

Older adults, typically ages 55+, can save on grocery bills by shopping on senior discount days. Available at supermarkets nationwide, these special days offer shoppers a percentage discount on their purchases.

Senior Citizen Discounts at Grocery Stores in Washington, WA

(Discounts at grocery stores often change over time. Please first contact your local grocery store in Washington to verify which senior citizen discounts are available.

Fred Meyerhas a 10% senior discount for seniors 55+ one day a month (please contact your local Fred Meyer directly to verify this senior discount)

New Seasons Markethas a 10% discount available for seniors one day a week (please contact your local New Seasons Market directly to verify this senior discount)

Washington, WA Senior Citizen Discount List to Local Restaurants, Retail Stores, and Travel

6. Look for discounts and deals

Signing up for your local supermarket’s loyalty program and clipping coupons can also save you money at checkout. Most grocery stores have moved their coupons online, making it easy to either load them to your account or print them before you enter the store. Anyone can use store rewards cards, which give you access to the sale prices. AARP members have access to a bevy of coupons and discounts that can be used at supermarkets nationwide.

Many supermarkets and retailers also sell their own store-brand products that offer comparable quality to name brands but at a lower price. In the past, the term “generic” carried a stigma. But retailers have realized that it’s a big moneymaker, and, as a result, have improved the quality of many of their generic brands. So it may be worth trying and comparing.

When you notice that a non-perishable item that your family uses a lot of is on sale, or if you have coupons, stock up! Filling your pantry and buying some extra household products will help you save money on these items over time.

7. Use a vacuum sealer

Freezing meats and prepared foods in freezer-safe bags can extend their shelf life and reduce your grocery bill. To extend food shelf life, consider investing in a food vacuum sealer. It can cost anywhere from $25 to $200, but it lets you buy bulk meat or produce, cut it up, seal it, and store it for later. Air trapped in freezer bags causes freezer burn. With a vacuum sealer, you remove the excess air. That preserves the meat’s flavor and quality for longer.

8. Cook in Bulk

Perhaps double or triple your recipes. By cooking in bulk, you can take advantage of sales and reduce food waste. Freezing leftovers for later provides quick, ready meals or lunches that help you resist the urge to go out for food.

Use your crockpot or Dutch oven to make your own pot of chili, chicken pot pie soup, or navy bean soup.  For example, one night could be chili and cornbread, and then you could use the chili the next night on a baked potato.

9. Use Meat as a Condiment, not the Star

There’s no way around it. Meat is expensive and continues to increase in price. Limit your meals where meat is the star of the dish (grilled steak, baked chicken breasts, even curries where meat is the only ingredient) to once every week or two. On a regular basis, use recipes in which meat is used more as a condiment or one of many ingredients.

Consider meals such as stir-fries, fajitas, salads, soups, burritos, casseroles, and sheet-pan dinners, where you can reduce meat and replace it with more vegetables or beans. Cheaper and better for you!

Consider making at least one meatless dinner each week.

10. Consider applying for Meals on Wheels if you’re over age 60 and struggling with buying food.

Nine million senior and elderly Americans face a daily threat of going hungry.  That means 1 in 6 older adults struggles with hunger. Meals on Wheels operates in virtually every community in America through a network of more than 5,000 independently run local programs. Only 15% of the people they feed qualify for SNAP.  While the services and operations of each local program may vary based on the needs and resources of their communities, all are committed to supporting their senior neighbors in living healthier, more nourished lives in their own homes. Meals on Wheels America

11. Search for some Depression Era Recipes.

Yes, some of them are quite good. They may also help you find more creative ways to stretch your ingredients. Check our blog for a few recipes.