I don’t know about you, but I am betting you are facing the same problems I am having when I go to do some grocery shopping; the increase in prices for just about everything in the store. I have been shopping at different stores like Smart & Final and Costco which are overall discount stores that have great bargains… BUT!!! You have to buy in big quantities to get those deals. Do I really need 2 gallons of liquid dish detergent? That amount of dish detergent could last me about 2 years. (EEK!) I have tried shopping stores that have products that are on sale. The problem with that idea is that I have to visit about 4-5 stores to get most of the items that I need. Considering the price of gas in California these days, I am sticking with going to 1 or 2 stores and not 5!

Thanks to DealNews.com, they are allowing me to share some of their tips and tricks to reduce your spending at the market and show you how to save money!!

With inflation hitting a 40-year high, shoppers are looking for ways to save wherever they can. One of the biggest — and potentially easiest — categories to save money on is groceries.
Grocery shopping is an activity we all do, so it makes sense that this is one of the categories that people can and should adjust.

If you’re looking to lessen your grocery spending, check out the DealNews ideas on supermarket money-saving below.

10 Tips to Save Money on Groceries from DEALNEWS.com

Julie Ramhold

Senior Staff Writer/Spokesperson

1. Embrace Generics

If you believe that name-brand items are better, it may be time to change tactics. Generic brands have improved over time, and many retailers have their own house brands now that are more affordable than the national brands, but also are just as good as — if not better than — the names everyone knows. For instance, be sure to check out Good & Gather at Target or Great Value at Walmart. Of course, regional grocery chains like Wegmans, Publix, Kroger and others have their own brands, as well.

2. Join Loyalty Programs

Loyalty programs have been around for years at this point, but gone are the days of having a separate key ring for all the cards you have to scan. Most are tied to consumers’ phone numbers now or can be used via retailer apps, making shopping a little easier overall.

Before joining one of these programs, see what perks they offer. For instance, Target Circle provides 1% earnings to be redeemed later, as well as tailored deals, 5% off on your birthday, and other benefits. While not all stores have loyalty programs, it’s worth checking to see if your favorite ones do and sign up. The programs are typically free to join, so you don’t lose anything by trying them out!

3. Meal Plan Around the Sales

It’s easy to overspend on groceries when you don’t have any plan in place. Many families find meal planning to be helpful for organization and budgeting purposes, but it really pays off when you do so around the weekly sales.

Weekly ads are usually released on Sundays or Wednesdays, depending on the store, but the drop dates may differ in your area. Find out when your local sales ads arrive, and then make a routine to check them out as soon as they do. Couple that with meal planning and you can make your grocery shopping trips more efficient, and you’ll be saving money by focusing on shopping for items that are on sale that week.

4. Stock Up During Sales

For items that you purchase regularly, stock up when they’re on sale. This may seem like a no-brainer, but lots of shoppers only buy products when they need them. If they’re on sale, they take it as a win, but if not, they just shrug and pay full price. The truth is if you check out the weekly ads, you can stock up on nonperishable items when they’re discounted, rather than waiting to buy them only when you’re desperate.

5. Use Apps for Cash Back on Groceries

Cash-back apps are growing in popularity, and well-known ones are expanding their partnerships all the time. Because of that, their scope has reached far beyond traditional online shopping and now reaches into everyday activities like grocery shopping.

Investigate cashback apps like Ibotta and Checkout 51 before heading out on your next grocery run. With Ibotta, you’ll need to take some time to browse the app and add offers that you’re interested in. Then you’ll link your grocery account or just shop as normal and submit a receipt afterwards. After that, you’ll earn cash back on your eligible purchases.
Checkout 51 works in a pretty similar manner: add offers for groceries (and gas!), plus everyday items. Then shop as normal, and take a picture of your receipt afterward to earn cash back.

6. Shop Around

You may have a go-to grocery store, but you could be saving more by shopping around and seeing what the competitors are offering. Honestly, the way to get the best deal may come down to shopping several stores to take advantage of the lowest prices, though that may take too much time for some people.

Still, it can be worth checking the sale ads of the stores nearest to you to see if it’s worth spreading out your shopping. While most ads are online, you may not even need to check different websites. Instead, try to use a site like MyGroceryDeals to see what kinds of items are on offer each week. You can sort by category, store, and input your location to ensure that you’re getting the most relevant deals.

You can also give the Basket app a try to save yourself time shopping around. Essentially, you’ll create a shopping list, then be able to compare prices both locally for in-store purchases as well as online. You’ll know where to shop to save on you grocery bill with real-time results.

7. Use Coupons

Paper coupons are still a thing, but that doesn’t mean you have to hunt down a Sunday paper and spend an afternoon clipping and organizing. Grocery stores have digital coupons now that you can load onto a loyalty card, or save to your account or the app; then you just redeem them during checkout. The big caveat has to do with manufacturer coupons. While some of these can show up in grocery ads, you may need to look for them online or on the manufacturer’s website.

SEE ALSO: How Do I Find Amazon Coupons?

Speaking of manufacturers, if there’s a particular product you buy frequently, consider signing up for a newsletter if it’s available. Not only will you periodically receive special offers, but you’ll also be in the early groups to know about new product releases.

8. Consider Joining a Warehouse Club

There aren’t a ton of warehouse clubs — basically, you have Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale Club, depending on your area. While it may not make sense to always shop at a warehouse club, in many instances it can really help to save you money — especially if you know the best purchases to make in bulk. For example, if you’re living in a small household, buying a ton of fresh produce may not be the wisest move, as you may not be able to finish it before it goes bad. However, if you’re planning to make a lot of apple butter, sure, buy the pallet of apples at Costco. Other valid purchases at warehouse clubs may be products like office supplies, select electronics, furniture, and small kitchen appliances.

Before joining a club, make sure you’ll be able to get sufficient use out of it. Think you won’t buy enough there on your own? Try roping in friends or family for some purchases, and split the amount and cost with them to save more money.

9. Pay With a Rewards Card

If you have a rewards credit or debit card, use it! You’ll earn cash back or rewards points on everything you buy to some degree, and that can help you save in the long run.

Even if a card doesn’t help you immediately save on groceries, it can still help you save more money in the long run.

10. Stick to Your List

Creating a list and then actually sticking to it is one of the easiest ways to save on groceries — as long as your list is practical, anyway. If you find yourself prone to impulse purchases, though, making a careful list ahead of time and then not deviating from it is a good way to stay within your grocery budget, whatever it may be.

When to Shop for Groceries In-Person vs. Online

Many grocery shopping methods exist, including in-person, online, and via delivery services. But which of these is best?

The short answer is it depends on your preferences and personal situation.

Shop for Groceries In-Person If…

You’re picky about produce
You need the perfect package of raw meat
You want items like fresh flowers or alcohol

Shop for Groceries Online If…

You’re purchasing nonperishables
You’re buying on sites like Amazon
You don’t have an immediate need

Use a Grocery Delivery Service If…

You don’t have time to shop yourself
You aren’t picky about others choosing items for you
You don’t have a lot of demands

These aren’t the be-all and end-all of parameters you must meet to opt for any of these ways to shop. Just keep them in mind when deciding where and how you want to do your grocery shopping.

Feel like saving on groceries right now? Then check out the best grocery deals currently available.

LA-Story.com would like to thank Julie Ramhold for her very helpful tips and tricks on saving money at grocery stores. I have already done some of them on my own and now ready to add on some DEALNEWS.com tips and tricks to my current shopping style.

Also a big THANK YOU to Heather Lovett/DealNews.com for allowing me to feature this very smart article that you will find essential.

Stevie’s Tip!

I hope you find these tips and tricks helpful to you. I have one tip for you that will be useful if you shop at a Kroger store. Kroger has rewards credit cards so that the more you shop at that Kroger store, the greater discounts and deals that you will find coming to you if you sign up for that card.

I use a Ralphs credit card along with my membership card to their rewards program. If I shop enough from Ralph’s store, they will send me a booklet every month with discounts on several items and a $20 coupon to be used against the grand total of your groceries. I use my Ralph’s discount coupons and the $20 coupon every time I get them. I can save at least $20 and often it’s closer to $50. And if I am really smart and have checked off the digital coupons available (it hits my rewards discount card) then I save even more. There have been many times when I have saved more than $50 on my groceries.

Stevie Wilson
LA-Story.com

DEALS and STEALS (Affiliate Links)

I curate deals that offer bonuses, bargains, and great products –and some are specifically for this site to feature to my audience because I want my audience to get amazing products from great brands!
Disclosure: some of the links on this post might have affiliate links! It costs you nothing. If you buy something, the brand pays me a small percentage.
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