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The first time we went grocery shopping after becoming newly minted Florida Residents, I was shocked. Milk…at $3.79 a gallon? You’ve got to be kidding, right?
I hail from the land that is literally overflowing with dairy farms and Holsteins {Upstate NY}, and it wasn’t uncommon for me to pick up a gallon for only $1.99 at our local Aldi. Looking back, I really took that price for granted. Now I know why the cows are so skinny down here!
It took a while for our grocery budget to adapt to these new, and more expensive prices, and when we finally thought we had it all figured out, milk steadily climbed to $4.05.
Other than eradicate milk from our entire diet, I wasn’t quite sure what to do. Thankfully, I can usually offset the high dairy costs with our much lower produce….particularly when it’s in season. But then I realized, there are multiple foods no matter where you live that can really put a strain on the grocery budget.
Here are a few ways you can save…
1. Dairy Products
Milk, of course, is my grocery nemesis, which is why I’m ecstatic when I can find it for less than $4.00. Sometimes, it’s available at CVS for $3.69 with $1 Extrabucks back, which essentially makes it only $2.69.
How to Save: Check out your local Aldi and Save-A-Lot for cheaper prices on milk, but make sure to check those expiration dates! Some are still selling same day products for the same price. Try to negotiate a lower deal, then freeze to use in baking.
We also go through quite a bit ofCheese in this house – from pizza, to calzones, to cheesy casseroles, and toppings on our soup – we love cheese, but we don’t love the price.
How to Save: Buy cheese blocks in bulk versus pre-shredded packages and thenshred your own. I like to freeze mine in airtight freezer bags for later use.
2. Fruits and Veggies
I enjoy eating fruit, and I don’t mind certain kinds of vegetables, but I rarely spend time in the produce section because everything is always so expensive. We usually stick with the frozen kind, but nothing is truly better than fresh.
How to Save: Find out what is in season and when, then shop the sales. The price difference is pretty incredible when you do this.
3. Meat
Oh yes, meat. I could probably live without it, but my hubby sure can’t. And if I’m truly honest, I would really miss all that bacon. However, I can almost always pinpoint a higher grocery bill expense in relation to buying meat…even if it’s on sale.
How to Save: I think the biggest impact to saving on meat is to eat less of it. Go meatless at least 2-3 times a week, and you will notice such a difference! Fill in those meals with pasta, pancakes & waffles, veggie-based soup, etc.For more tips on how to save money on meat, you may want to referencemy guest post at Living Well Spending Less.
4. Pantry Items
The food I store in my pantry probably takes up the most space – spices, baking items, cereal, canned food, etc. Although I would say each individual item on it’s own isn’t so expensive, things can really add up.
How to Save: Experiment with making your own items. Make homemade granola, granola bars, condensed soups, peanut butter, crackers, and more. If you can think of it, there’s definitely a recipe to help you make it…..and for a lot cheaper too.
5. Brand Names
I am not a complete brand name snob, but the fake creme filled chocolate cookies can never compare to the infamous Oreos. I’m also a stickler for Cottonelle toilet paper, and can not stand thin strips of cheaper brands that feel like tissue paper. But brand names do come with a price.
How to Save: Match coupons with sales to get the best deal on your favorite items. Diligently search for coupons {here is my list of the best sites}, then watch for store sales and use them to stock up. I also find quite a few items for lesson Amazon.
I encourage you to take a look at your grocery budget right now, and see which one of these items are costing you the most.Then work hard to reduce each expense using the tips I’ve shared here. Even a simple Google search with How to Save Money On “….” will bring up hundreds of resources to help!
FYI: I highly recommend going throughSlash Your Grocery Bill if you’re really serious about getting your grocery budget under control. This eBook gives you tips and strategies even seasoned bargain shoppers don’t know. Learn more HERE.
Are you ready to significantly cut down on your grocery bill?It’s time to get to work starting with the biggest grocery nemesis in your budget. I know you can do it!
Where do you spend most of your grocery budget?
Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.Read my full disclosure policy here.
Just One More Thing:
Whether you need extra room in your budget, or just want to find more money put towards a future goal, 31 Days to Radically Reduce Your Expenses is your must-have resource to tackle both! Get a peek at the Table of Contents and download a sample chapter HERE.
