16 Easy Shopping Hacks to Help You Save on Groceries in the Store

We’re on week 5 of the money-saving grocery shopping challenge. This week you’ll learn some amazing shopping hacks to help you save on groceries while you’re already in the store.

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Welcome to Week 5 of the money-saving grocery shopping challenge! Click on the links below if you need to catch up.

Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4

How is the grocery shopping challenge going for you so far? Did you see a price decrease on your most recent grocery shopping trip?

It seems that no matter how much we try to save, grocery prices just keep increasing.

But the number on our paychecks is staying the same.

That’s doesn’t sound very fair to me.

However, we still have to eat!

Here’s some good news – it is possible to save on groceries!

Just keep reading to see some amazing shopping hacks that will keep money in your pocket while you’re already out shopping for groceries.

Shopping Hacks to Help You Save on Groceries

1. Shop with a calculator

More than likely, you’re grocery shopping with a budget in mind. Make it easy to stick to your budget by shopping with a calculator. If you plan to only spend $80 on groceries one week, using a calculator will help you hold yourself accountable. Every time you add an item to your cart put the price in your calculator.

If you made a physical list, write the price down beside the item on your list and total it up at the end. This is also a great way to remember the prices to add to your price book later.

2. Use a basket

Have you noticed that grocery cart sizes have gotten bigger over the years? There’s a reason for that! It’s another one of those grocery store tricks to get you to buy more.

If you only need a few things, use a basket instead of a cart. Carrying a basket around will help you limit how much you’re putting into it – and limit your spending.

3. Buy in bulk

One great way to save on groceries is to buy certain items in bulk. Items that are great for buying in bulk include:

• coffee
• nuts (you can freeze them)
• pasta (it will last up to 2 years when stored in a cool, dry place)
• rice
• cereal
• canned goods

Keep in mind that not everything bought in bulk is a better price.

Make sure that you only buy items that you use often so they don’t expire before you get to them. Also, make sure you’re comparing prices so you don’t overpay for items you don’t really need.

4. Shop top and bottom shelves

Grocery stores put their expensive items at eye level. When you’re shopping, look for the item on the top shelf or bottom shelf.

Certain cereals, fruit snacks, and cookies are placed at eye level so kids can see them easier. And of course, beg you for them.

5. Don’t shop end caps

Have you noticed that during football season, the end caps are filled with chips and dips and other tailgating foods?

Around Thanksgiving, they’re filled with canned green beans, mushroom soup, and fried onions. And at Christmastime, they’re stocked with baking supplies.

You would think because these items are displayed that they are on sale, but usually, they’re not. And if they are, you can still find better prices by going down the aisle and searching for the items you need.

6. Buy generic

Most generic products are very similar to brand names in quality and taste. That’s not true for everything, of course.

For example, store brand condiments will cost you up to 25% less than the brand name. They can be cheaper because:

• They don’t have developmental costs. Store brands just stick a new label on an already developed product. They’re not concerned with researching and developing new products. There’s no need to test different recipes.
• Marketing costs are cheaper. Brand name companies spend a lot of money on advertising. Every product that store brands sell has the same label. They focus on the store advertising, not each generic item they sell.

7. Shop the sales ads

Always take a look at what’s on sale before you head to the grocery store. Stock up on your favorite items when they’re on sale.

Make sure you know the start and end dates of the sale. Some stores start on Sunday and others on Wednesday.

8. Stick to your list

I’m pretty sure I’ve said this just about every week, but it needs to be said one more time.

Stick. To. The. List!

Even if you have to stare at your list the entire time you’re in the store to avoid making direct eye contact with those little elves on the cookie packages.

Grabbing extra items will end up costing you more than your budget will allow.

9. Eat before you shop

Going to the grocery store while you’re hungry is not a good idea. You’ll end up putting everything that looks good at the time in your cart. Then when you get home, you’ll wonder what in the world you were thinking.

If you want to save on groceries, eat before you enter the store.

10. Know the sales cycles

Start paying attention to when your favorite items go on sale. Make note of how much the price drops, too. You can keep this information in your price book. Soon you’ll be able to see exactly when those items are going on sale so you can plan ahead.

11. Compare prices

Make sure you’re looking for the unit price when you’re shopping for groceries. The cheapest price isn’t always the best deal.

Learn more about comparison shopping in this guide.

12. Buy baked goods in the frozen section

Baked goods from the grocery store’s bakery section usually cost more than the varieties in the frozen food section. Look for bagels, breads, cakes, pies, and other bakery goods in the freezer to save.

13. Pay attention to the cashier

Cahiers make mistakes and so do machines. Pay attention to every item’s price as it’s being rung up.

At our local Kroger, there was a cashier lady that I always tried to avoid. She almost always rang up something of mine twice and I would have to call her out on it. Then she would get snippy and complain about the “stupid machine” for the rest of the checkout. It drove me crazy!

14. Shop early

There are fewer people shopping earlier hours, especially during the weekdays. This means that employees have more time to go through their inventory and determine what’s getting ready to expire. Therefore, they’ll be discounting all those items. If you’re shopping early, you can be the first to grab the deals!

15. Avoid pre-packaged items

Pre-packaged items may save you time, but grocery stores charge extra for this convenience. Instead, buy fresh items and make the meal yourself. Not only is this a great way to save on groceries, but it’s also a healthier option.

16. Get cash-back when you shop

Of course spending money isn’t fun, but using a cash-back app like Ibotta or Rakuten will put some of that money back in your pocket!

With Rakuten, you can get 1% cashback when you shop at Kroger and $2 cashback per order at Food Lion.

Sign up for Rakuten free here.

With Ibotta, you can get cash back on certain items at Kroger, Food Lion, Walmart, Target, and many more stores!

Sign up for Ibotta free here.

What are your best tips for saving money while you’re at the grocery store? How do like to save on groceries?

Click here to go to Week 6!