great value green beans can
great value green beans can

How To Make Your Grocery Budget Go Further

If you've been to the grocery store lately, you've probably noticed the same thing I have.

It doesn't seem like your cart is getting fuller, but somehow the total at the register keeps getting higher.

While we can't control grocery prices, we can make better use of the money we spend. Over the years, I've learned that saving money at the grocery store isn't always about buying less. Sometimes it's about using what you buy more wisely.

Here are a few simple habits that can help your grocery budget go a little further.

Buy for the Life You Have Today

This one took me a while to learn.

For years, many of us cooked for growing families. We automatically bought the larger packages of meat, made huge pots of spaghetti, and filled every casserole dish because that's what our families needed.

Then life changed.

The kids moved out.

Maybe it became just you and your spouse.

Maybe it became just you.

But sometimes our grocery habits don't change as quickly as our lives do.

That doesn't always mean you should buy the smallest package on the shelf, though.

Sometimes the larger family pack is actually the better value.

For example, let's say boneless chicken breasts are normally $5.99 per pound, but this week a large family pack of chicken breast strips is on sale for $2.99 per pound. Even if you're only cooking for one or two people, the larger package could save you a significant amount of money.

The key is having a plan.

When you get home, separate the chicken into meal-sized portions. Place each portion in a freezer bag or airtight container, label it if you'd like, and freeze it.

Now you've taken advantage of the lower price without feeling like you have to cook all of it at once.

The same idea works for ground beef, pork chops, sausage, bacon, and many other meats.

Sometimes spending a little more today saves you much more over the next several weeks.

That's not buying more.

That's buying smarter.

Think in Planned Leftovers

One of the easiest ways to save money is to stop thinking of leftovers as leftovers.

Instead, think of them as a completely new meal.

If you're making taco salad tonight, plan on loaded nachos tomorrow.

If you're cooking rice, make a little extra and turn it into fried rice later in the week.

Roast chicken can become chicken salad, chicken quesadillas, chicken soup, or chicken wraps.

When you plan for leftovers instead of hoping you'll eat them, they become part of your grocery strategy instead of something forgotten in the back of the refrigerator.

Your Freezer Can Save You Money

Your freezer isn't just for frozen pizza and ice cream.

It's one of the best money-saving tools in your kitchen.

If you know you won't eat something within the next day or two, freeze it while it's still fresh.

Many foods freeze well, including:

  • Cooked rice

  • Chili

  • Soup

  • Taco meat

  • Cooked chicken

  • Spaghetti sauce

  • Bread

  • Muffins

Freezing food before it spoils means you're saving both the food and the money you spent on it.

Shop Your Kitchen Before You Shop the Store

Before you make your grocery list, spend a few minutes looking through your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer.

You may already have the ingredients for several meals.

It's surprisingly easy to buy another box of pasta or another bag of shredded cheese simply because you forgot you already had one at home.

Using what you already have is one of the simplest ways to lower your grocery bill.

Buy Produce You'll Actually Eat

We've all done it.

We buy fruits and vegetables with the best intentions.

Then life gets busy, and a week later we're throwing away wilted lettuce or cucumbers that never got used.

Instead of buying the produce you wish you had time to eat, buy the produce you know you'll enjoy. If you have the ability & the energy, start a garden from home & save even more money.

As your routine changes, you can always add more variety later.

Rotate Your Food

When you put away groceries, move older items to the front and place newer items behind them.

Do the same thing in your refrigerator and freezer.

This simple habit helps you use food before it expires and reduces waste without much extra effort.

Small Changes Add Up

Saving money on groceries usually isn't about one big change.

It's about a lot of small habits that work together over time.

Planning leftovers.

Using your freezer.

Shopping your pantry first.

Buying the best value instead of automatically buying the smallest package.

Cooking for the life you have today instead of the life you had ten years ago.

None of these ideas are complicated, & together they can help your grocery budget go further and reduce the amount of food that ends up in the trash.

A Note from Aunt Susie

I know what it's like to watch grocery prices climb while trying to make every dollar count.

This isn't about being perfect, and it certainly isn't about feeling guilty if something goes bad in the refrigerator once in a while. Life happens.

The goal is simply to become a little more intentional with the food you buy. If one idea from this article helps you save a few dollars each week or keeps one more meal from ending up in the trash, that's a win in my book.

Learn More

If you'd like to learn more about reducing food waste and making your grocery budget go further, these trusted resources are a great place to start.