18 Ways to Save Money on Groceries

1. Set a Grocery Budget

First, get a handle on your overall financial situation by adding up all your monthly expenses, including essential and nonessential spending. Compare that number to your monthly take-home income. If your expenses exceed your income, you'll need to reduce spending. Nonessential costs such as streaming subscriptions or dining out are generally the easiest place to cut back.

Once you've got a general budget in place, establish a grocery-specific budget.

Your grocery budget should focus on basic, nutritious foods, such as:

• Produce
• Meat
• Grains
• Dairy products

Any money left over can go toward nonessentials, such as soda, snacks or desserts.

How big should your grocery budget be? The official food plans developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can be a good guideline. Updated each month to adjust for inflation, these plans suggest an appropriate food budget based on your household size and the gender and age of each family member. (The USDA plans don't include household items such as paper products, cleaning supplies or toiletries, so you'll need to come up with your own budget for those.)

2. Shop the Sales

Before heading to the store, check the supermarket's website, app or mailer for special weekly deals and coupons. You can save time scanning ads with Flipp, an app that gathers weekly sales and promotions for major supermarkets in one place.

Supermarket sales can be a good time to stock up on items you use a lot of. You may also see ways to swap out pricier products for similar items that are on sale for less. For instance, maybe you were planning to cook with chicken breasts, but chicken thighs are on sale this week.

3. Plan Menus

Check your family's schedule for the upcoming week and create menus based on your activities, what's already in your pantry or fridge, and what's on sale that week. Save even more money and time by working leftovers into your menu plan. For example, plan to make a big pot of stew on Sunday and have leftovers throughout the week, or make extra rice one night and use it for stir-fry the next evening.

Dinner will probably be your primary focus, but planning for breakfast and lunch helps prevent unforeseen expenses. When you have plenty of breakfast food on hand, for example, you're less apt to spend $10 on coffee and a bagel on the way to work.

4. Shop With a List

Shopping with a grocery list helps you avoid making impulse purchases or forgetting important items. Using Google Keep or Google Tasks (for Android phones) or Apple Notes or Apple Reminders (for iPhones) is an easy way to maintain a running shopping list and share it with the family. If you prefer a dedicated shopping list app, try AnyList, Out of Milk or OurGroceries. Many supermarket websites and apps have a shopping list feature too.

5. Join Store Loyalty Programs

Most supermarkets and big box retailers have loyalty programs that qualify you for lower prices. These loyalty programs are typically free to join and easy to use. You usually scan a loyalty card, input your phone number or use the store's app to claim your savings at the checkstand.

6. Clip Coupons

Supermarket websites and loyalty apps make it easy to clip coupons digitally. Just tap or click on the coupons you want, scan your loyalty card or app and get the discount at the register. Many supermarkets tailor your coupons to your shopping habits, offering you special discounts on the products you buy most often. Some stores also let you stack paper manufacturers' coupons with digital store coupons for even more savings.

7. Time It Right

Knowing when certain foods typically go on sale can lower your grocery costs. Here are some seasonal savings to keep in mind:

• Meats and baking ingredients usually go on sale around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
• Chocolates tend to get marked down around Easter and Valentine's Day.
• The weeks leading up to the Super Bowl, Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day generally feature deals on sodas, beer, snacks and party foods.
• August and September are a good time to save on lunchbox staples such as peanut butter, pre-packaged snacks and granola bars.

Tip: Are you 55 or older? Many supermarkets, including Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter and Hy-Vee, have monthly senior discount days, typically with savings of 5% to 10%.

8. Compare Store Prices

When it comes to grocery shopping, playing the field could save you money. For example, your local grocery chain may be the best place to get produce and specialty foods, while big box stores like Walmart or Target often have lower prices on canned goods, paper products or cleaning supplies. Rotating among a few different stores can help you maximize savings. As you become familiar with each store's average prices, it will also get easier to tell a real deal from a minimal markdown, so you'll know when to stock up.

9. Minimize Food Waste

The average U.S. family wastes $1,500 of uneaten food each year, according to the USDA. Are you tired of throwing out rotten lettuce and moldy hamburger buns? Use what you have at home before you head to the supermarket. Go through your refrigerator once a week, gathering unused odds and ends before they go bad.

Tip: Reduce food waste using apps like Cooklist, Frigo Magic, SuperCook or SideChef, which suggest recipes based on what's in your pantry.

10. Buy Generic or Store Brand Items

Choosing generic or store brand products instead of brand names can mean big savings. You'll often find that the generic version provides the same quality (or better) at a fraction of the price. Are there more expensive brands you love? Use the savings from store brands to splurge on a few of these specialty items without blowing your budget.

11. Buy in Bulk

Purchasing nonperishable items or household products like paper goods in bulk can mean significant savings. Before buying, consider the product's shelf life and whether you have enough space to store it. Per-unit prices (such as the price per ounce) must be listed on store shelves by law in many states. Checking per-unit costs is a quick way to see if the 18-ounce box of cereal priced at $7.99 is really a good deal compared to the 12-ounce box for $4.99.

12. Meal Prep

Meal prepping can save you money by reducing the amount of food you waste. Meal prepping simply involves planning your meals for the week, making them in a big batch ahead of time (such as on Sunday evening) and freezing or refrigerating them for later. While it takes a little extra time upfront, meal prepping can save time and money in the long run. Plus, you'll have healthy meals ready to eat whenever you want.

13. Order Grocery Pickup

You can order groceries online for pickup at many supermarkets and big box stores. Typically, an employee shops from your list, bags your items and brings them out to your car at a time you choose. Grocery pickup is generally free for purchases over a certain amount, and you can usually use coupons just as you would in-store. Since you never enter the store, you avoid impulse buys that can waste money.

14. Shop Seasonal Produce

These days, most fruits and vegetables are available all year long. However, that doesn't mean they're at their peak of flavor—or their lowest prices. Plentiful supplies generally mean savings, so you'll usually get the best deals on produce by shopping when items are in season.

15. Buy Frozen Foods

Highly processed frozen foods tend to be pricey and full of preservatives. But frozen fruits and vegetables are typically cheaper—and sometimes even healthier—than fresh produce. They also last longer, which can reduce food waste. Because they're typically pre-washed, portioned and chopped, they're often easier to prepare. Compare the prices of frozen fish, meat and poultry to the fresh versions, and you're likely to find savings too.

16. Limit Pre-Prepared Items and Meals

Pre-prepared fresh foods such as cut-up vegetables and fruit, precooked side dishes or preseasoned meats may look tempting after a long day at work. These dishes can be a healthier alternative to hitting the fast-food drive-thru, but they're generally much more expensive than doing the prep work yourself. In general, it's best to avoid pre-prepared items when you're trying to save money.

17. Pay With a Rewards Credit Card

Using rewards credit cards can earn you cash back at the grocery store. Some cards reward you with cash back on all purchases up to a certain spending limit. Others have rotating bonus categories, so you earn extra rewards in specific categories each quarter. For example, you might earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in grocery purchases during the first quarter.

You'll need to activate the bonus category by the card's deadline to earn rewards. In addition, eligible purchases must usually be made at a grocery store or supermarket, not a warehouse club, big box store or convenience store. Check your card's terms and conditions to see which stores qualify.

Tip: Buying groceries with a rewards credit card can save money if you pay off the balance immediately; otherwise, the interest may cost you more than you earn.

18. Use Cash Back Apps

Whether or not you use a rewards credit card for grocery shopping, you can earn cash back on your grocery purchases with cash back apps. Ibotta, Checkout 51 and Upside are among the apps that offer cash back for purchases at food stores including supermarkets and big box stores. Typically, you use the app to choose offers before you shop, then scan your receipts to get cash back.

What to Do if You Can't Afford Groceries

If you're struggling to afford groceries, these resources may be able to help.

• Dial 211 for referrals to food assistance programs in your area. The service is available 24/7.
• Search for local food pantries.
• Call the USDA's Hunger Hotline at 866-3-HUNGRY or 877-8-HAMBRE for help finding food resources in your area.
• Investigate the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to help low-income households buy groceries. Learn more and apply for benefits through your local SNAP office.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) helps parents with infants and young children get food. Find your state WIC agency to learn more and apply.
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides temporary financial assistance to families experiencing financial hardship. Funds are distributed by states; you can find your state's TANF office using the state finder tool on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
• Low-income adults ages 60 and up may qualify for food assistance for seniors through the USDA.
• Children may qualify for free school lunch, breakfast or milk during the school year. Check with your child's school for eligibility and to apply.
• During summer breaks, the Summer Food Service Program (SUN Meals) offers free meals to children 18 and under, with no income limits or application required. Find a summer meal site in your area.
• The SUN Bucks program gives eligible families benefits of $120 per child to buy food during summer breaks. Learn how to get SUN Bucks.
• Contact local community or religious organizations, such as the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities USA, to find out about emergency food assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bottom Line

There are lots of things you can do to save money on groceries, including sticking to a budget, clipping coupons and using cash back apps or rewards credit cards. Are you looking to make cash back rewards cards part of your supermarket savings strategy? Start by checking your Experian credit report and FICO^® Score^☉ for free. Then get matched with personalized cash back credit card offers that fit your credit profile.