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You made the decision to live a healthier lifestyle and eat cleaner. You are motivated and ready to become a better version of yourself. But like so many others, you become discouraged when you think about how much healthy food is going to hurt your wallet.
And it’s true, across both healthy eaters and junk foodies, the number one place where people overspend in their budget is on food! But I’m going to let you in on a secret that not many people know..
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive.
Living a healthy diet and lifestyle can actually help you save money! Here are 10 of the best food hacks and grocery shopping tips to EASILY slash you grocery bill today.
HOW TO SAVE MONEY AT THE GROCERY STORE
1. ONLY BUY FOOD YOU KNOW YOU WILL EAT
Everyone knows this, it is one of the most basic grocery shopping rules in the book. But it’s easy to get carried away at the store and end up with your bill being WAY more than you initially expected.
Go in with the mentality of only buying what you need. Even if something is marked down, two for $5, four for $8, etc., this doesn’t mean you have to buy that many items. You usually can even get the same discounted price if you buy just one.
Pro tip: Make a quick note (or mental note) of all the meals you generally would make in a week. Personally I have about 5-7 meals that I consistently rotate throughout the semester in my weekly meal preps, and by making note of this you can much more easily avoid buying food that you just don’t need.
2. BUY IN BULK ITEMS THAT YOU KNOW YOU GO THROUGH
It wasn’t until recently that I began to understand the beauty of buying in bulk at warehouse clubs. I personally like shopping at BJ’s and Costco because of the amazing selection of organic produce and other items like plant based protein. These are great places to fill up once a month or so on the essentials that you know you will need throughout the month.
If you warehouse clubs and paid memberships aren’t your thing, don’t worry because there are PLENTY of other options.
Pro tip: To avoid paying the membership fee, find a friend who has a wholesale club membership and ask to go shopping with them! Not only do they enjoy helping you out by sharing their membership, but it also becomes a fun grocery shopping trip.
3. UTILIZE ONLINE STORES
Online stores are tricky, sometimes they can be a lifesaver, and other times they can be a drain on your bank account. The best way to strategically use online store is in replacement to a Whole Foods or your local health food store. Whether your area doesn’t have one, or you are just searching for the best deals, online stores may be the place for you.
A couple of my favorite online retailers for reasonably priced, higher quality products are Amazon and Brandless. My experience with ordering food and pantry products from these companies has been mainly positive, as I focus on scouting out the best deals from each website. I would encourage anyone who is interested to check out the offers and see if there’s any deals that you’re interested in.
Here’s a couple examples of what I like to purchase from Brandless:
- Virgin Coconut Oil (10oz/$3) – Totally worth buying. A comparable product is 14oz/$8.
- Organic Blue Corn Taco Shells (12 ct/$3) – Tacos are one of my favorite foods. Need I say more? The non-organic blue corn taco shells that are usually at the grocery store are 12ct/$4.19.
Here are couple of items that I typically order on Amazon:
- Dates (less than $15 for 2 pounds)
- Rolled Oats (less than $25 for a pack of 4)
- Mixed Nuts (less than $17 for for a 54oz
4. AVOID SPENDING EXTRA $$ ON NAME BRANDS AND OPT FOR STORE BRAND
Often people don’t realize that all of their name-brand groceries, although aesthetic, are emptying their bank account. I can honestly say that I am guilty of this, getting distracted by bright colors and clever marketing, I end up buying expensive name-brand items that I could have EASILY avoided by purchasing the much less expensive store brand item.
The great thing about shopping store brand is you don’t lose out on quality. For reputable companies, i.e. Publix, Target, etc. their store-brand items are the same quality as the similar name-brand item. The best part about purchasing store brand is that they save you on average $1 to $2 per item. That really adds up!
Pro tip: Stores generally discount their store-brand products more often, so be sure to keep your eyes open to spot those deals!
5. BUY MORE FRESH AND FROZEN FRUITS AND VEGGIES
I love both fresh and frozen fruits and veggies, they are so versatile, and by having the majority of your food be produce you will save so much money. But I have to be honest here, I generally use more frozen produce than I do fresh.
I try to always have frozen produce stocked in my freezer, because it makes eating healthy so much more convenient! Even more important than that, frozen produce is more more cost effective, on average saving you $0.40 to $0.50 per item when compared to fresh.
Another great benefit of buying frozen produce is that generally there are no fungicides sprayed on them because it is being frozen. This means that you will be saving money, eating healthier, and eating fungicide free food… all by buying frozen!
Pro tip: try combining the last two tips, buying frozen store-brand produce will double up your savings!
6. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF COUPONS AND DISCOUNTS
People tend to disregard coupons, as they say things such as “I can find sales while I’m shopping” and “This grocery store builds in their discounts in the price.”
While they may be right about finding good savings in the store, which many stores do run promotions so keep a lookout for that, but what they forget is that there is also power in couponing. By using some simple tips, you can save some serious $$ when grocery shopping for healthy food.
You can always utilize coupon books, but for me that tends to be too much hassle. What I have begun using is company apps that provide coupons, which requires very little work other than just downloading the free app. I personally use the Target’s Cartwheel app to save money on my weekly grocery shopping.
I also love using Ibotta for cash back! I generally make about $20 in rebates by using Ibotta. FInd out more in tip #10!
Pro tip: An additional way to save at the grocery store is by signing up for a store credit card. Many stores offer discounts if you sign up for their credit card, for example I just signed up for the Target Redcard and they provide an additional 5% savings on all purchases. I will be doing a review on this card and my shopping experience with it very soon.
I also recommend that before signing up for a store card you do a little research to make sure you are happy with the card and the benefits it provides.
7. BUY AND EAT MORE BEANS AND LEGUMES
Not only are beans and legumes healthy, they are easy to prepare, they are full of plant based protein, and they are inexpensive! I always try to have both canned and dry beans and legumes in my home (but if I’m being honest, I use cans way more often. They are so much more convenient and EASY!
Next time you go to the store, stock up on multiple cans of your favorite beans! Some of my favorites are chickpeas, pinto beans, and lentils (lentils are usually dry but are SO easy and cheap to cook.) By incorporating beans and legumes as a staple in your diet, you will see your grocery bill SLASH dramatically!
Pro tip: Look up some recipes and get more acquainted with beans and legumes, they can literally be used in ANY situation. Eating a salad? Throw in some chickpeas! Making soup? Black beans are a must! Looking for a cheap meat replacement? Lentils are awesome for replacing meat in recipes!
There are so many ways to enjoy beans and legumes, try them out and I promise you won’t regret it!
8. TRY MAKING MEATLESS MEALS A FEW TIMES A WEEK
Did you know that by shopping meatless you can actually save money? As many of my readers know, I promote eating a whole food plant-based diet, yet I know that for many people it can be difficult to achieve this 100% of the time. That is why I suggest starting small, try to incorporate a few meatless meals a week into your meal schedule which can save some major grocery money.
There’s no arguing that meat is expensive, that is why occasionally using easy plant-based replacements for meat in your meals throughout the week is a great idea! Lentils, mushrooms, black beans, etc. are all delicious whole food options that will make both you and your wallet feel good.
Pro tip: Start small by simply doing a “Meatless Monday.” It doesn’t have to be a whole day devoted to it either, you can even just make a meatless lunch or dinner and still save money!
9. BUY AN INSTANT POT
I know what you are thinking, “This is an article about groceries on a budget, but an Instant Pot is expensive!?” You are not wrong, the initial investment of an Instant Pot can sting, but let me explain how you will make up that money in no time.
The Instant Pot is not just a pressure cooker, it actually encompasses the functions of ten different appliances, including the option to sauté, keep warm, steam, etc.. Here is where the real fun begins, see even though you will be already saving money from not having to purchase other appliances, you will be saving even more money from being able to buy your ingredients in bulk! By having ample opportunities for massive and easy couponing, while also taking advantage of the previous points, you will be saving some serious $$.
Pro tip: Plan out 3-4 lunch and dinner meals that you know you will make for a certain period of time. For me I like to plan these meals out for my entire semester. This will make grocery shopping so much easier, as you can buy the ingredients you need in bulk, as well as not overspend on food that you know will go to waste.
10. SUBMIT A REBATE AT IBOTTA TO SAVE EVEN MORE
I will admit, I am pretty new to using the Ibotta app. I always have felt like couponing and rebate apps like these were a scam and weren’t worth my time. But I’ve heard so many stories of families easily saving $500 – $2,000 every YEAR just by using this app. I decided to finally move past my skepticism and sign up for the app, and I am so glad I did. My only regret is not starting sooner!
Ibotta is a rebate app that will give you money after you have purchased your items from one of the many qualifying shopping locations. All you do is add coupon deals that you want to use and take a photo of your receipt, it is that easy! The best part about Ibotta is that it will frequently have produce items, as well as healthy snack items that you can’t find coupons for! Perfect for healthy cooking and lifestyle!
If you are interested in getting started with Ibotta, get your first $10 by signing up here.
Well, that is it! I truly hope this post was useful and that you will begin saving money on your grocery bill! With the new money you will be saving, I encourage you to continue on your journey of personal wellness and use it in a way that aligns best with your goals!😀