After a recent visit to the grocery store, my total spending amounted to $128.44, which I found to be quite reasonable considering the items I purchased and my average weekly grocery bill of $250.00. The receipt proudly displayed a savings of $62.11, equating to a significant discount of 48%. As I roamed the aisles, I was both astonished by certain prices and grateful for the various buy-one-get-one (BOGO) offers and clearance items I managed to score. Inspired by this experience, I took to Facebook and asked my friends, “What are some strategies ya’ll use for shopping on a budget?” The post garnered 21 insightful comments, discussing their tried-and-true budget-friendly shopping strategies. In this article, I will share the details of my shopping trip, discuss my personal shopping strategies, and highlight some of the valuable strategies suggested by fellow commenters. Join me as I present ten effective ways to make the most of your grocery budget!

10 Effective Ways to Make the Most of Your Grocery Budget!

(1) Shop from Home: The idea is to maintain a well-stocked pantry and freezer, allowing you to conveniently “shop from home” and prepare meals using the ingredients you already have. By taking advantage of sales and keeping your pantry stocked, you can save money and effortlessly create delicious meals. I recently wrote an article titled The Essential Pantry: Checklist and Video Tour discussing the importance of a properly stocked pantry. In this article, you’ll find a helpful checklist and valuable tips. Because of my well-prepared pantry, I only needed 8 additional items to make this 1930’s & 40’s Inspired Meal Plan come together.

(2) Buy-one-get-one (BOGO): Publix is my favorite store. It’s clean, well-staffed with friendly employees, and there are cashiers at registers (unless you prefer to use self-checkout). What I love most about Publix is their BOGO offers. While the regular prices may be a bit high, the BOGO deals more than make up for it. In Georgia, you don’t even have to buy both items; you can simply get one for half-price. I often take advantage of this and stock up on pantry essentials like cereal, peanut butter, crackers, broth, and pasta. For instance, Cheerios (Family size) are usually priced at $8.59, but during the BOGO offer, they’re only $4.30 each. Cheeze-It 12 packs, normally $8.49, are available for $4.25 each. I recently purchased Peter Pan Peanut Butter for just $2.05 per jar, Swanson’s Broth for $1.53 per carton, and Mueller Pasta for only $0.95 per package – prices that are hard to beat even at the Dollar Store. The savings are remarkable! I couldn’t resist grabbing a loaf of Pumpkin Bread for $2.35 since it cost me more to make it from scratch. Publix’s BOGO offers are simply irresistible, and I’m always thrilled to take advantage of them. Winn-Dixie also has some great BOGO deals this week, including Nature’s Own Bread, Kraft Salad Dressings and Mayonnaise, and even some Dole salad kits.

(3) Store Sales: Before going shopping, make sure to check out the sales ads online. Aside from the buy-one-get-one deals, there are plenty of other great sales to take advantage of. This week, I was able to find organic beef for just $6.99, a significant discount from its regular price of $9.90. Given the superior quality, I decided to stock up on two packages and store them in the freezer. Additionally, Winn-Dixi is currently offering 7-ounce boxes of Cheeze-its for only $1.25, which is much cheaper compared to prices at Publix or Walmart. Almost all stores have sales ads.

(4) Coupons. Who remembers the days of extreme couponing? I used to eagerly grab the Sunday paper, diligently clipping coupons to fill up my trusty binder. Hours would be spent searching the internet for the best deals, stacking coupons to maximize savings, and more. While the golden age of extreme couponing may have faded, there are still opportunities to find discounts. The reliance on paper coupons has significantly reduced, with digital options taking over. Nowadays, you can find digital coupons online or conveniently displayed near the products in-store. This week, I spotted some fantastic offers at Publix. They have online coupons for $1.00 off Publix chicken and sausage, as well as $1.50 off Silk Almond Milk. Meanwhile, Winn-Dixi is giving away a free gallon of sweet tea! Both stores also feature coupons for General Mills cereals and Cottonelle toilet paper. While the coupon frenzy might not be as extravagant as it once was, saving money is still very much possible.

(5) Ibotta App. “Ibotta is a free cash back rewards web and mobile app that offers real cash for everyday purchases when you shop. By partnering with more than 2,700 brands and retailers, Ibotta provides thousands of opportunities for consumers to earn cash on their purchases.” I used to use this app frequently. At one point, I even used it to redeem an entire Thanksgiving dinner. However, some significant changes occurred in my life, which led to a decrease in my interest in using the app. Recently, after I shared a post on Facebook about money-saving tips, a couple of friends reminded me about the Ibotta app. Intrigued, I decided to redownload it and scanned my Publix receipt, earning $0.85 cents in cash back. If you’d like to give it a try, you can click here to use my referral link, and you’ll receive $5 in your Ibotta account. As evidenced by my lifetime earnings of $128.03, the app practically could have paid for my recent grocery trip to Publix!

(6) Clearance Bin: Most stores have a clearance bin where you can find great deals. When I visit Publix, Winn-Dixi, or Walmart, I check to see what they have on clearance. During my last trip to Publix, I discovered some amazing bargains. I found seafood boil priced at just $0.99, large containers of ground pepper, garlic, and chia seeds for around $5, which is similar to the price of smaller containers in the spice aisle. Chia seeds are incredibly nutritious, packed with antioxidants, minerals, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. I love using them to make overnight chia pudding or as an egg replacer in my recipes. Although I didn’t really need oil, I couldn’t resist picking up a bottle since it was much more affordable than the competitors’ at $5-6 for a similar size and type. Overall, I was quite pleased with the items I found on the clearance rack during this shopping trip. If you’re looking for similar deals, I recommend checking out the clearance sections at Winn-Dixi and Walmart as well. They often have a variety of items, ranging from food to household products, at discounted prices.

(7) Aldi deserves a special mention when it comes to shopping tactics. It’s no secret that they have a strong following, as evidenced by the enthusiastic comments on Facebook. For six consecutive years, they have been ranked number one in terms of affordability. Personally, I also find myself occasionally enjoying the shopping experience at Aldi. One aspect that I particularly appreciate is their reasonably priced fresh produce, as well as their selection of non-perishable and frozen goods. The abundance of fruits and vegetables available at such incredible prices is truly noteworthy. Moreover, Aldi’s commitment to excluding products containing red dye 40 indicates their dedication to providing healthier options. However, I must confess that I am not as enthusiastic about their meat and dairy products. Another minor inconvenience is that Aldi stores are not conveniently located near me, so I often find myself having to travel to a neighboring state just to shop there. Furthermore, I frequently forget to bring my reusable Aldi bags since it is not part of my regular routine, resulting in the need to purchase additional bags. Nevertheless, the savings in cost make up for these inconveniences. Additionally, Aldi offers discounted household items, further adding to their appeal.

(8) Discount Outlets. I enjoy visiting discount retailers like Ollies, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx, where I can find incredible deals on various items. From organic broth priced at just $0.99 to shelf-stable milks at $1.99, these stores offer a wide range of affordable products. One of my favorite aspects is their ability to obtain case lots of luxury items at significantly reduced prices. In the past, I used to frequent Big Lots as well when I lived closer to one.

(9) Discount Clubs. One great aspect of Sam’s Club is the option to share your membership. Personally, I benefit from this feature as my oldest daughter shares her membership with me. It’s easy to spend a significant amount of money on bulk-sized items at Sam’s Club. However, I usually only purchase essential items there, such as organic chicken, ground beef, frozen fish, butter, water, oils, flour, canned vegetables, seasonal produce, and select household cleaning products. Recently, they had an amazing sale on large containers of strawberries, so I took advantage of it and ended up preserving 12 jars of delicious strawberry jam for the summer. There are two clubs within about a half hour drive of me. They also now offer service through Instacart. First-time users can enjoy free delivery and a discount code off their purchase through Instacart. I managed to get these benefits when I used it for the first time. Click here for $10 off of Instacart.

(10) Save Time and Money with Meal Boxes. As a busy homemaker and homeschool mom, I know how valuable time is. With a never-ending list of responsibilities, from cooking meals to running errands, and more, I often crave convenience without sacrificing quality. During especially busy seasons, I like to order meal boxes utilizing discount codes.

One of my favorite meal kit services is Hello Fresh. Not only do they provide pre-portioned packages, minimizing food waste and saving time on meal planning, but they also offer a week’s worth of free meals as an introductory offer. The first few boxes are also heavily discounted, making it an excellent way to save money while enjoying delicious meals. The last time I used this service, I received a code from my mother-in-law. She had also used them due to a busy season in her life and to try something new.

If you’re looking for a variety of healthy options, Hungry Root is a fantastic choice. They operate on a credit system, allowing you to pay a flat price and use credits for your meal choices. Plus, by using the provided link, you can get a generous $50 off your first order, giving you even more savings.

For those on a tight budget, EveryPlate offers incredible affordability with meals priced as low as $1.49 per serving. With their $105 off promotion, you can save a significant amount of money while enjoying delicious homemade meals.

In conclusion, by putting in some effort and being mindful of our choices, we can reap the benefits of saving money. Taking the time to compare sales ads, clip digital coupons, and shop at multiple stores can make a significant difference in our family’s budget, especially considering the rising cost of food. While it requires some legwork to find the best deals, scanning receipts and utilizing savings apps like Ibotta can add to the savings. So, let’s take the initiative to compare ads, make smart shopping decisions, and be diligent in seeking out discounts. It may require some time, but the end result will be worth it as we save money in the long run.