10 Ways You’re Wasting Money at the Grocery Store

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We all know that grocery prices are rising, rising, rising. And the end is not in sight. We also know that even when farmers’ costs go down, our prices at the store rarely follow.

So we need to learn how to make sure that we’re doing the best thing for our wallets and know how NOT to waste money at the grocery store.

1. Shopping Without a List/Plan

Always go to the store with a list in hand and make sure that you’ve checked your freezer, refrigerator, and pantry to see what you’ve got and what you need before making that list.

Once you know what you need, only put those items in your shopping cart. I know it’s hard, but at least try to stick to your list.

If you’ve got a list, you’ll avoid most impulse purchases (notice I said most). You’ll be less likely to duplicate items, and you probably won’t buy food that goes to waste.

If you’ve got a plan, it’s also easier to take advantage of sales by buying the ingredients that fit the meals you’re going to have than just grabbing something because it’s a deal.

2. Shopping When You’re Hungry

You’ve heard it before. “Never go grocery shopping when you’re hungry. You’ll buy more than you need.”

That’s true. Everything you see looks good when you’re. hungry and you’ll spend more money on things you don’t really need.

You know: look back at number 1: Shopping Without a List/Plan

It makes a lot of sense.

3. Only Buying Brand Name Products

There are certain brand names that we all favor. My favorite is Nabisco Vanilla Wafers. Those other brands are not Nilla Wafers, so I stick to my favorites.

But there are many products that have a store brand or “off” name brand that are exactly the same as the brand names.

I had a neighbor who worked at Frito Lay. He told me that they produce and package their nacho chips and put them in the Frito Lay bags, then switch the bags out to the no-name brands and just load those bags up with the same chips as before.

No, you might not know which ones are the exact same as the name-brand items, but it doesn’t hurt to try them out.

Most stores have a policy that if you try their store brand and don’t like it, there’s a money-back guarantee.

4. Not Using Coupons

Coupon binders are a thing of the past, but there are a lot of apps out there that let you download coupons or print them. They also have cash back policies.

If you have a favorite store, download its app. You’ll be surprised what coupons they have available.

P&G Saver

The Crazy Coupon Lady

SmartSource.com

Coupons.com

Arm & Hammer

Kellog’s

Procter & Gamble

5. Buying Prepared Foods

Yes, if it’s already prepared for you, there’s less work and sometimes at the end of a long day that’s a good thing. But they also cost a lot more than buying them and preparing them yourself.

Making your own meals gives you more control over what goes into your meals and if you buy those prepared items, they usually contain more sodium, sugars, and preservatives.

There are going to be some times when you need to get those prepared foods, but only when you need to. But if you really want to cut your grocery bill, cutting prepared foods is a great way to save money.

6. Not Buying in Bulk

Buying in bulk can save you a lot of money. If you eat a lot of meat, buy in bulk and freeze some.

Many people don’t know but you can ask someone in the meat department to reduce the size of the meat in a package if there is too much for you or it’s too expensive.

The best things to buy in bulk are:

Extra virgin olive oil
Paper towels and toilet paper
Canned tuna
Meat (especially if you have freezer space)
Pet food and cat litter
Oatmeal
Raw almonds
Dry goods like flour and sugar
Spices and herbs
Batteries and other household essentials

…

7. Buying Non-Grocery Items at the Grocery Store

If you need some lotion or makeup, light bulbs or party supplies, don’t get them at the grocery store. Go to someplace like Walmart or a dollar store or even a warehouse club. The prices are much cheaper and you’re not spending your grocery budget on things that aren’t groceries.

8. Ignoring Unit Prices

The unit price is what the item costs per ounce. You’ll find a small paper label attached to the shelf right below or next to the item you’re looking at. On that, there’s a bold number: that’s the total price. The tiny number: that shows the cost per ounce, pound or single item.

The bigger box isn’t always cheaper. Unit price is the real price. Most people never look for it.

9. Ignoring What You Already Have

Before you go to the grocery store, check your pantry, fridge, and freezer. See what you already have and don’t buy duplicates.

This is something you need to do when you’re making your list.

If you just make a list without checking, you’ll come home with another large peanut butter and an extra mayo.

I bought two on sale and when I got home, I already had two in the pantry where I didn’t check before on a previous grocery run. I definitely check now!

10. Only Shopping at One Store

Yes, it’s convenient. Yes, you know where everything is. Yes, you know the people there.

But you’re trying to save money and going to different stores after reading their sales flyers; you can save money by getting items on sale there instead of paying full price at your favorite store.

And prices vary for items that aren’t on sale across different stores. At your favorite store, the large peanut butter is $4.95, but at another store, the same peanut butter, regularly priced, is $3.95.

You just saved $1. I know, you’re thinking of the gas you’ll use when you go to different stores.

That’s something you’ll have to decide yourself by seeing how far the other stores are from your house and how much you save.

Saving money on your grocery bill isn’t about giving up what you love to eat; it’s basically learning new habits and getting rid of bad habits to help you save money.

Making that list, comparing unit prices, filling your stomach before you go, and not forgetting to check the pantry and freezer before you go are just a few of the things that will help you save money at the store.

You don’t have to do all of these at once. You don’t even have to do any of these, really. But trying one or even two of them will save you money at the grocery store. And saving money is always good.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.