I’m calling them ‘habits’ instead of grocery shopping hacks because a) these are only slightly unconventional and b) habits help you do the right thing with minimal effort. And also – these only really add up to big savings when you do them over and over.
Once you’ve set a realistic grocery budget and learned your target prices, it’s time to develop the shopping habits that have you saving week after week. These aren’t extreme couponing tactics or complicated systems — they’re the simple, real-world practices that make grocery shopping less stressful and way more affordable.
And they definitely aren’t here to make you feel bad about what you’re not doing. Choose a few that work and skip the hard ones. (But I highly recommend #4, #6, & #7.)
1. Have (something like) a Meal Plan
I almost hate to start with this, since “meal plan” sounds so structured. Some people thrive on detailed meal plans where every dinner is mapped out for the week, complete with recipes and shopping lists. If that’s you, great! That kind of structure can absolutely save you money by eliminating waste and impulse purchases.
Me? I barely meal plan in the traditional sense. I don’t sit down every Sunday and map out seven dinners with matching shopping lists.
Instead, I keep a rough idea of what needs to be used up. If I have leftover rotisserie chicken, I know I need to make chicken soup, chicken salad, or chicken enchiladas before it goes bad. Because I keep a well-stocked pantry, I have options for whatever protein or produce needs using.
Your meal plan can be as detailed or as simple as you need:
- A full week of specific recipes with ingredients lists
- What’s in the fridge that needs priority?
- What meat is on sale this week?
- What three or four dinners sound good?
Find what works for your brain and your schedule. The goal is just to have some idea of what you’re eating so you’re not wandering the store aimlessly or ordering takeout because you forgot to plan.
2. Meal Prep (the easy way)
I don’t spend hours on Sunday prepping a week’s worth of meals in matching containers. I love that idea; it just doesn’t happen.
What I do is make double batches when I’m already cooking. If I’m making rice for tonight, I’ll make extra for later in the week. If I’m chopping half an onion, I’ll chop the whole thing and put the other half in a small food storage container in the fridge for the next time I need chopped onion (which is always).
I also make things from scratch and store them in the fridge or freezer for later – this saves me money because I’m not buying these items at the store:
- Chicken stock from veggie scraps and bones (almost free, goes in the freezer, and tastes SO much better than carton broth)
- Double batches of soups, casseroles, or chili for the freezer
The point isn’t Instagram-worthy meal prep. It’s just thinking ahead a little so you’re not desperate at dinner time.
3. Shop More Than One Store (when it makes sense)
I shop at Kroger, Food Lion, Aldi, Sam’s Club, and sometimes Walmart. Soon I’ll add BJ’s to the rotation. That sounds like a lot, but I don’t hit all of them in one week — usually just two per trip unless everyone has amazing deals.
Most of my stores are close together, which makes this doable. I wouldn’t drive all over town to save 50 cents.
First, I look at the sale ads each Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. I’ll take note of who has the deals I’m most excited about. Then, I also know where to find the regular groceries I buy cheapest, like coffee and bread. Here are some examples:
Aldi and Walmart: 100% whole wheat bread for under $2, many produce items, canned tomatoes, tuna, flour, sugar, etc.
Kroger: Sales that beat Aldi prices, like cheese, ice cream, butter, eggs, etc. Also they have the beans and brown rice I can’t always get at Aldi.
Sam’s Club: Member’s Mark coffee, On the Border chips and Sam’s Club fresh salsa, organic baby spinach, six-pack Romaine lettuce (lasts forever), raw coleslaw mix, hummus, trash bags, frozen blueberries, carbonated water.
Food Lion: I’m still learning this store, but they sometimes have really good sales! It’s right by my house, but I keep on driving if something’s not on sale, because their regular prices are too high for me.
You don’t need to memorize price lists for everything. Just know where the 10-15 items you buy most often are cheapest.
4. Sign Up for (pretty much all) Store Loyalty Programs
I didn’t want apps and loyalty programs, but they’re a fact of life. And annoying. And they track your purchases. But here’s the reality: you cannot save money at most stores without the loyalty program.
All the good sales are tied to the app now — especially at Kroger. Even Sam’s Club has Scan & Go savings that reduce your total at checkout.
Plus, there are some pretty good perks:
Free item coupons: I have a Kroger coupon right now for a free dozen eggs, free ice cream, and a few other things I buy regularly.
Loyalty rewards: The other day, Food Lion took $8 off my $19 purchase because I had activated some loyalty rewards (which just meant clicking through an email to their app and hitting “Activate”).
Personalized deals: The more you shop, the more targeted coupons you get for things you actually buy.
Fuel points: Many programs give you cents off per gallon at the pump.
The Walmart app? I use it just to look up prices because some Walmarts don’t label shelves well.
This isn’t optional if you want to save money. Download the apps, sign up for the programs, and load the digital coupons.
5. Stick to Your List (unless you shouldn’t)
When I was a young wife and mother, I learned a perspective-changing lesson. I was shopping at Walmart, being careful, and everything in my cart was under $8 or $9 — most things were just $1 to $3. Nothing felt extravagant.
Then I got to the checkout and my total was over $100. I was shocked. Thankfully I had the money, so nothing embarrassing happened, but inwardly I was a little embarrassed because I thought I was a pretty frugal shopper.
That lesson taught me two things: Small amounts add up fast when you’re spending. But small amounts also add up fast when you’re saving. If I could accidentally overspend by a lot, I could also intentionally save a lot by being careful with those small purchases.
Before you toss something in your cart, ask yourself: Did I plan to buy this? Is it on sale? Do I actually need it this week?
Before you walk away from a deal because it isn’t on your list, ask this: Is this a good price? (See #7) Will I buy this later when it isn’t on sale? Do I have the extra room in today’s grocery budget? Will it keep until we can get around to using it?
So, while you don’t want to just mindlessly throw things in your cart, or give in to impulse buying, you don’t want to be so stringent you miss out on a genuinely good deal. Cut yourself some slack.
6. Stock Up When Things Go on Sale (mini-stockpiling)
This is how I keep my grocery costs down even when prices fluctuate. When something I regularly use goes on sale, I buy extra — sometimes a LOT extra. (Not armageddon amounts. Just warehouse-store amounts.) And there are some things I just almost never buy unless they’re on sale.
It is time to stock up when you know:
- It’s a legitimately good price (see #7)
- It’s something you would buy when it’s not on sale
- You have (or can make) room in today’s grocery budget
- It will keep until you can get around to using it (in other words, it won’t spoil before you get the use out of it)
- You have room for it
When you have the green light on every bullet point, feel good about buying enough extra to last you until the next sale.
What I almost always stock up on:
Butter: Goes straight into the freezer in the package. When it’s $2.99 instead of $4.99, I buy five pounds.
Cheese: If it’s $2.50/lb or less, I buy multiple bags. Shredded cheese freezes beautifully.
Ground beef: Last year, when Aldi had it for $2.49/lb, I’d buy 15 lbs, portion it into 1-lb bags, date them, and freeze. (It’s perfect for casseroles and soups, though not as great for burger patties after freezing.) I’m crying about that price. I remember being so upset that it wasn’t $1.99 a pound anymore.
Eggs: This Thanksgiving, when Kroger had 18-count eggs for $1.99, I bought four cartons. It’s just my husband and me, but I found a lot of uses for those eggs! (Hard-boiled for breakfast or on salad, breakfast for dinner, baked goods, etc.)
Beans, canned tomatoes, pasta, and other shelf-stable staples: Their prices are usually pretty consistent, but when there’s a sale you can bet I stock up.
Where I store it:
- A small closet food pantry with deep shelves
- A small freezer in the garage
- A bathroom closet for toiletries and paper goods
- A few shelves in the garage for paper towels and other large packages
- Here and there throughout the house where it makes sense. I’ve even heard of people who store extras under the bed.
This isn’t extreme prepper stockpiling. It’s just buying low and having enough on hand so you’re not forced to pay full price when you run out.
7. Know Your Target Prices (aka your “buy” prices)
I have a whole article about this (How to Know Your Target Prices), but here’s the short version: you need to know what things should cost so you can recognize a real deal.
Most of my prices are in my head now:
- Boneless meat: $1.99/lb (though ground beef is SO much higher these days)
- Bone-in meat: $0.99/lb or less
- Most produce (apples, lettuce, cucumbers, bell peppers): $0.99/lb
- Butter: $1.99/lb is my dream (lately it’s been more like $2.99+)
- Peanut butter: $0.99 for a regular jar
- Mayo: $3.99 for a regular jar
- Cheese: $2.50/lb or less
Please note that I realize these prices are hard to find now, but I just got deals like those last week. You can still find them.
I’ve tried keeping digital spreadsheets and printed price books, but paying attention over time and generalizing works best for me. I keep thinking someone will make an app I like.
8. Be Willing to Substitute (try new things)
If you’re stuck in your ways, you won’t have as many opportunities to save. To get the most for your money, it helps to be willing to venture out of your comfort zone. But it can be fun!
Almost all my recipes are built around substitutions. You can swap:
- White meat for dark meat (or vice versa)
- Spinach for kale
- Brand names for generic
- Fresh produce for frozen when prices are high
With Google these days, it’s easy to see if your substitution idea is likely to work. (You probably wouldn’t substitute a lobster tail for beef roast.) But try things!
Flexibility saves you money. If chicken breasts are expensive this week, buy chicken thighs. If bell peppers are $1.99/lb instead of the usual 99 cents, skip them and use something else.
9. Make Things From Scratch (but just the easy stuff)
I make so many things from scratch – not because I’m a perfectionist (I’m definitely not), but because it’s cheaper and it gives me flexibility. When you have basic ingredients on hand, you’re never stuck.
Out of brownie mix? No problem – I have flour, sugar, butter, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Air fryer works if the oven’s out. (See #8 – Be Flexible!) Out of vanilla? Three drops of mint extract makes mint brownies. Want pudding instead? That same cocoa powder and some cornstarch (or eggs, or maybe arrowroot powder) makes chocolate pudding. I don’t even need a box.
That’s the real benefit of cooking from scratch: You have ingredients, not products. And ingredients can become anything.
It’s also cheaper. And yes, I’ll admit it – I like being able to say “I made this from scratch.”
You might be surprised how easy these things are to make from scratch:
- Chicken stock: Veggie scraps + bones + water. Almost free, tastes amazing.
- Chocolate syrup: Cocoa powder, sugar, water, vanilla. No chocolate chips needed.
- Cream soups: Once you learn a simple bechamel (butter + flour + milk), you can make any cream soup.
- Spice mixes: I buy Williams Chili Seasoning in bulk and use it as a base for taco seasoning, BBQ rub, and more.
- Tomato sauce: Cook down diced tomatoes until it’s saucy.
- Spaghetti sauce: Tomato sauce (or diced tomatoes), garlic, onion, oregano, basil.
- Biscuits: Flour, baking soda, salt, milk, and butter. Cheaper and better than Pillsbury pop-ups.
- Brownies and pudding: Why buy boxes when you already have all the ingredients?
- Frosting: Butter and powdered sugar. Done.
- Whipped cream: Real cream, whipped. (Unless it’s a party — then spray cans are easier.)
One thing I DON’T make from scratch: Pie crust. My recent attempts have been embarrassing, and you need a lot of clean counter space to roll it out. So I buy the refrigerated kind.
The point isn’t to make everything yourself. Just pick one or two things and start there. French toast instead of frozen. Honey mustard dressing instead of bottled. You’ll be surprised how easy some things are.
10. A Few More Quick Tips (because I keep thinking of things)
Check unit prices: The price per ounce or pound is usually displayed on the shelf tag. Sometimes the “family size” costs more per ounce than buying two regular sizes. Always check.
Shop seasonal produce: Produce costs less and tastes better when it’s in season. Strawberries in June cost half what they do in January.
Plan to avoid waste: If you buy fresh spinach, plan to use it in multiple meals before it goes bad. If you’re cutting half an onion, chop the whole thing and save the rest for later in the week.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need extreme couponing or complicated spreadsheets to save money on groceries. These are just practical, real-world habits that make shopping less stressful and more affordable.
Start with one or two habits, stick with them until they’re second nature, then add another. Before long, you’ll be saving hundreds without even thinking about it.
Related Posts:
- How to Save Money on Groceries — The hub article with all the strategies
- How to Know Your Target Prices — Learn what things should cost
- How Much Should You Spend on Groceries? — Set a realistic budget
- Grocery Shopping Apps That Actually Save You Money — Which apps are worth it
- Well-Stocked Pantry Essentials: Cooking with Staples for Budget-Friendly Meals — Build a mini-stockpile for frugal everyday cooking
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