Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

Episode 133

21 Ways to Save Money at the Supermarket

Since I have been self employed for many years, I always have a certain amount of year-end accounting work to do in order to prepare for my tax return. Whenever I do this it is a perfect time for me to look over the past year and review where my money came from as well as where it went. Then I modify my budget accordingly in order to save money. 

This year I decided to take a much close look at just how much money I was spending on food. I reviewed my grocery budget over a period of 6 months.  I was completely surprised at what I found and those findings were the motivation for this episode. So the focus of episode 133 is 21 ways to save money at the supermarket.

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E133 which is called 21 Ways to Save Money at the Supermarket. 

Living at the cabin and being off grid has certainly taught me a lot. And the time spent working on the podcast and my blog has been a learning experience even for me. As clever and creative as I try to be I still find things that I am doing completely wrong. Because we have the ability to produce much of our own food I never really paid that much attention to how much money I spent at the supermarket. 

In some respects, we are shielded from the fluctuating costs of commodities. This is because we purchase in bulk, we depend on the chickens and turkeys, we get a significant amount of meat from a local ranch, we have the green house, we home can, and tend to keep a nice stock pile of food in storage. But once I really looked at what I was spending at the supermarket, I realized maybe I wasn’t so shielded after all. Maybe that is what I get for thinking I was such a clever guy and not paying attention to what I was doing. The result is that on a monthly basis I was spending hundreds of dollars more than I thought. Obviously I was not so clever after all and I needed to make some changes. 

So I decided to do just that. A big part of being off grid and sustainable is taking responsibility for every thing you choose to do and everything you choose not to do. And that includes how you spend your money. Due to this, at times convenience goes completely out the window. Obviously the local supermarket is a huge convenience. But when we get accustomed to convenience we also tend to pay less attention to how much we are spending. 

I first started with a little research. What I found is that Americans and Europeans spend an average of $438 USD every month on groceries. But of course what you spend on a monthly basis is going to depend  on the number of people in the household, what you buy and where you shop. 

But regardless of what you spend there are numerous simple things you can do to save money and off set the increased cost of food. If you are like most people and live on a budget, then spending less at the supermarket frees up some dollars that you can devote to other things such as debt repayment, emergency savings, and even your retirement fund. But, you can also reward yourself in other ways such as a nice trip to your favorite restaurant or gourmet coffee shop. Enough savings over time may also be enough to take a nice vacation. 

You will find that these tips are truly nothing amazing. It is just a matter of paying attention to what you are doing. So, let’s take a look at 21 ways to save money at the supermarket. 

Look in your refrigerator or pantry first

The best place to start before you even go to the supermarket is look in your refrigerator and cupboard to see what you already have. This will help you to avoid unnecessary purchases. Secondly, you can plan new meals around the leftovers already in the refrigerator. Both of which will save you money. 

This is something that I do all the time. I often look at the veggies in the refrigerator that are starting to age and I then plan meals around that. This is a great way to avoid food waste and I have come up with some my best soups by simply using left overs. 

Limit Your Trips to the Supermarket

When you get ready to go to the supermarket plan on buying enough food to last a week or two at a time. If you are shopping several times per week then you are more likely to purchase unnecessary items. Limiting the number of trips to the supermarket will save gas, time, and taxes. 

When I started focusing more on saving money at the supermarket I realize I was typically making 3 or 4 trips per week and buying only a few items. This was partly because I always stop on my way to work so I don’t have to make a special trip. But once I changed this I immediately reduced what I was spending.

Go in with a list and stick to it. 

And I think it goes without saying that if you are purchase enough food to last a week or two, you need to plan ahead. So, the next tip is to go to the supermarket with a specific list and stick to it. Additionally if you are aware of what you already have in the cup board and in your refrigerator, then it should be easy. It is also helpful to plan your meals for the week and then make the list. Going in with a specific list will also save you time.  

Set a Specific Budget

When you do get ready to go shopping be sure to set a specific budget. Not setting a grocery budget is a big mistake because it is one of the best ways to financially keep yourself on track. Limiting the amount of money you are going to spend makes you more aware of what is in your shopping cart and helps you to make wiser purchases.  

This was actually one of the biggest mistakes I made and one of the first thing I changed once I realized exactly how much I was spending on food month after month. Now that I limit what I am willing to spend I make better choices and purchase healthier food. 

Take a calculator

Right along with limiting what you are going to spend, use a calculator or your smart phone to keep track. If you are going over budget either put some things back, make different choices, or reduce the amount of money you spend the following week.

Eat before you go

When you do get ready to go grocery shopping, eat before you go. You should make an effort to not shop for food when you are hungry. Otherwise you tend to purchase items that are not needed. 

Shop alone if possible 

If it is an option it is also a good idea to shop alone if at all possible. Going to the supermarket with the kids can and will result in purchasing things that are just not needed.

Sign up for loyalty programs

Most supermarkets also have loyalty programs that are free to join. By doing so, you can get discounts on items every time you shop. Some of the larger supermarkets also own convenience stores. If they do you get points every time you purchase and you can take advantage of this to get discounts on gasoline.

Shop during the quietest time of the week

When you finally get ready to go to the supermarket, it is worth the effort to plan you trip around the quietest time of the week. Believe it or not, crowds of people can have a negative impact on what you spend. When there are people circling around you it is almost impossible to focus on something and find the best bargain. 

On that note, I commonly go to the supermarket at 6 am. The closest supermarket to the cabin is 22 miles away so I typically go early in the morning on my way to work. It is rare for me to see more than 4 or 5 customers in the store.  

Use Coupons

When you are finally in the store, be sure to take your coupons along. This is an extremely easy way to save money. Once you are signed up for their loyalty programs, many supermarkets will offer a weekly online coupon program by way of email or their mobile app.

If you shop using coupons take the time to still check prices against generic and store brand items to make sure you are actually saving money. 

Buy generic

Besides coupons another easy way to rack up the savings is to buy generic. Supermarkets will often put more expensive, name brand items at eye level. When people are in a hurry they will often grab the first thing they see. Take the time to check out the top and bottom shelves for generic items. Often the larger supermarket chains have their own brand that tastes just as good but costs a lot less. 

Shop for items on sale and go to the discount corner

Another easy tip is to purchase items while they are on sale. Additionally, most supermarkets have some place in the store where they place discount items. Often times these are items that may be less popular or that are close to their expiration date. 

My local supermarket has a discount corner that I visit every time I am in the store. I often find premium bread for a fraction of the price. I either freeze it to use at a later date or I will make home made croutons that are far better and cost far less than what you pay for pre-made. 

Avoid prepackaged items

Another great way to save dollars is to avoid prepackaged items. I know that it is so tempting to purchase precut vegetables, fruits, cheeses, meats and snack trays, but it is so much less expensive to prepare these at home. If supermarkets prepare these items they are going to increase the price to cover their labor cost. 

This is something that I see all the time with coworkers. They always comment about how good my food smells or how I always have fresh vegetables. Yet when I tell them they can easily prepare these things at home instead of purchasing prepackage items that are wasteful and a lot more expensive, they just comment on how they just do not have the time.

This is just another one of those things I do on the weekends, cooking projects, and chopping veggies. 

Eat more vegetables

Another good way to save money is to eat more vegetables. Besides eating more veggies is better for the environment. Let’s face it, meat is far more expensive. By making meat a side dish instead of the main event of the meal, you will save a considerable amount of money. 

Case in point: I went to the supermarket the other day to purchase some veggies that were going to the main part of several meals. I took those veggies and turned them into 5 different meals. I spent $6.23.

Shop by unit price

One thing that I’ve been doing for a long time, and by the way it is a good way to save yourself up to 50% on an item, it to look at the unit price. This is often listed on the shelf label in the left hand corner. This is the best way to find out which version of a product actually does cost less. A difference in $2 versus $3 per pound is a savings of 50%. So pay attention. 

Buy what is in season

My next tip is to buy what is in season. There is no doubt that we are addicted to convenience. We want what we want when we want it. We want a huge variety of food available all the time. Unfortunately, that means you are going to spend more. 

When I was a kid, we ate only what was in season. The reason we did so much canning and freezing was that in the winter we could eat what was not in season. These days most people just pay a higher price. Most of the out of season produce is imported so you are going to pay more.

Join a wholesale club

The next easiest way to save money on groceries is to join a wholesale club such as Costco or Sam’s club and take advantage to buying in bulk. According to a study done by ShopSmart, Costco and Sam’s Club beat supermarket prices on most grocery items by at least  20%.

The down side is that there are membership fees. But if you purchase enough things in bulk you will make that money back and then some. Another disadvantage is that you will spend more money up front and this may not work if you are on a tight budget. You also need to remember that buying in bulk means bulk. Everything is oversized and you have to have the ability to store all the extra. But if you have plenty of freezer space then take advantage to that to avoid waste. 

Use discount stores for non-consumable items. 

Joining a wholesale club is also a good way to take advantage of bulk discounts for non-consumable items such as cleaning products, toilet paper, soap, as well as many other things. 

Shop Online

Many businesses these days, including local supermarkets, offer online shopping. Check you local supermarket chain to see if they allow online shopping with a later pick up time. If you have the option of not going into the supermarket then you will not be tempted to purchase unnecessary items. 

Also, I will often shop online to find deals on bulk items. This is especially true for things I purchase more frequently. I will compare prices between 4 to 6 different businesses to find the best deals. I typically compare prices between two local supermarket chains, Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Amazon, as well as other bulk vendors depending on the product. 

Use up everything you buy more

One other tip that some people suggest about saving money is to first use up everything you buy before you make another trip to the supermarket. I think this is sound advice if you are considering perishable items. Often times I will look in the refrigerator and see what vegetables I need to use first prior to another trip to the supermarket. 

However this is certainly not the case when it comes to dry goods. What you should be doing is purchasing dry good and non-perishable items in bulk and keeping extras around the house in the event of an emergency. Besides, there is a long list of off-the-shelf dry goods, if stored properly, that will keep for 10 to 15 years. So put a little thought into planning ahead and being prepared. 

Learn to make things yourself

Now, by far one of the best things you can do for yourself to save money is to learn to make things at home. Many of you know by now that I am the king of DIY. 

Snack packs, sandwich bread, snack breads and muffins, even things such as summer sausage. You will save yourself a ton of money by doing this one simple thing. 

I have a whole list of things that I no longer purchase at the supermarket. Things such as home made granola, English muffins, flat breads, crackers, breakfast burritos, spaghetti sauce, pizza, spice mixes, and the list goes on.  

Typically I have a big cooking project on the weekends so that we have home made convenience foods during the work week. For example,  I might make a batch of pizza sauce and freeze the extra because this is the most time consuming part of making home made pizza. I will often make English muffins, zucchini bread, or home made crackers or croutons. At times I may cook a whole chicken, make a pot of soup or chili, or simply make rice and a pot of beans to compliment meals. All these tricks save time during the work week and prevent me from purchasing less healthy supermarket convenience foods. 

Some other things that are super easy to do is to make some home made cleaning products and soaps. These are so much less expensive, less toxic, and the ingredients almost always come in containers that can be recycled. There is a lot of information on the internet regarding home made cleaning products and it is easy to find. I would suggest starting with home made laundry detergent. It contains three inexpensive ingredients and I can vouch from personal experience that it is a much more effective detergent than commercial brands. 

Bottom Line

The bottom line here is that the food we eat is often a significant portion of our monthly budgets. As I stated earlier, because we buy in bulk and produce so much of our own food, I never thought much about what we spent at the supermarket. When I took a closer look at this part of my monthly budget I got a huge surprise. And of course this is just another example of despite how clever I try to be with how we live I am just not perfect and still have some lessons to learn. Once I started paying attention, the first month I cut the grocery bill by $200. The following month I was able to cut it down by another $200. And that adds up to significant savings over the course of a year. 

Now more than ever it is important to save money on the things that we cannot do without and food is one of those things. By the end of 2022 food prices in the US went up by 13.8%. That is enough to put a big dent in your monthly budget.  But despite skyrocketing inflation there are numerous ways to spend less. 

One of the tried and true ways to save money is to eat at home. But one other next best ways to spend less is to waste less. In the United States approximately 40% of the food in our supply chain goes to waste. It is estimated that 130 to 160 billion pounds of food goes to waste each year. And much of this food is perfectly edible and nutritious. This wasted food cost this country about $218 billion a year.  

Of all the food that is wasted household food waste accounts for 40% to 50% of annual waste. Household food waste accounts for 76 billion pounds of food per year. On average, each one of us wastes 238 pounds of food per year at a cost of $1,800 annually.

All it truly takes to save money at the supermarket is a little forethought and planning. But this is also a big part of living sustainably. And remember you can take the money you save and put it towards a nice gourmet meal, a mini vacation, put it in your emergency fund or even save it for retirement. In the end you don’t have to do without anything, you are just being smart, be prepared and being sustainable. 

Well folks I think that’s about it for this week. I hope these tips have been helpful and will get you further on your way to live debt free and sustainable. I hope you will join me again next week for another great episode. Until then this is your host Patrick signing off. Always remember to live sustainably because this is how we build a better future. 

Patrick