11 Clever Tips for Grocery Shopping On a Budget

Today’s pandemic situation presents an entirely new way of looking at our health. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be costly or difficult. If you’ve recently had to scramble in order to pay the grocery bills, it makes sense to shop smart and make your dollar stretch further. Here are our 11 Clever Tips for Grocery Shopping On a Budget in order to save your money.

Table of Contents

Prepare a Budget

In order to know how to grocery shop healthy on a budget, prepare your budget. Dodge the unnecessary spending of money, and time by strictly following your set budget.

Also remember, if you don’t need any item or if you weren’t planning to buy it, then it really isn’t a giveaway for you no matter whatever is the price. Prioritize only those kinds of stuff that you have a need for and you regularly use.

Shop With Budget Grocery Shopping List

Nothing can ruin your grocery budget faster than shopping without a list. Create a detailed list of the things that you want to purchase before you go to the store and, while at the store, stick to your list.

If you’ve forgotten to include something, grab it; if you’re tossing things in the cart simply because they look yummy; put them back.

Shop at The Right Time

Organize and target your shopping time for a particular period. You can easily avoid the heavy crowds at peak hours which may hinder your task. This generally happens on Sundays.

Generally, in the evening when everyone has just gotten off work and on the weekends, the grocery stores are the most crowded. Avoid these particular times to grocery shop.

In order to get in and out of the grocery shop as quickly as possible, consider the grocery stores which are staying open 24 hours a day. Plan your late night and early morning trips when the aisle and check-out lanes are practically bare.

Shop Online for Non-Perishable Foods

Online shopping is one of the best and most rapid methods of shopping as you can do it cozily staying at home and you don’t need to go out in any store or any market. For non-perishable foodstuffs like pulses, dry-fruits, etc., you can consider online shopping options and find discount grocery shopping sites. It allows a person to save a lot of money.

You can do the research, obtain the information, and find out the best deals just with a simple click of the mouse by comparing the different prices of the various things you want to purchase. Various sites on the internet like Amazon offer different prices, discounts for grocery shopping online and sometimes they make a large difference.

Also Checkout: Top 21 Best Stores For Online Grocery Shopping in India

Buy Generic

The important thing to remember while grocery shopping on a budget is to avoid focusing on all the fancy advertising and slogans promoting the product. Rather pay attention to the price of the product. Take out some time to find out if there is a better deal with the other brands.

Almost every store has its own brand name. Stores will often run specials on their own products which are already cheaper than the big brands.

Buy Fresh Vegetables and Fruits

Bags of fresh vegetables and fruits are cheaper than their canned counterparts and often taste better. Not only are they cheaper but they last longer as they are fresh.

Also, fresh vegetables and fruits are healthier than the frozen version of them. Not only during this pandemic situation but also all the time, we need to stay fit and healthy to avoid getting yourself infected from undesirable diseases.

Buy in Bulk

Whenever you can, buy in bulk. For instance, a large tub of peanut butter will cost you less in the long run than several smaller-sized jars. If there are foods you consume frequently, buying in bulk is almost always a more cost-effective option.

Before grabbing the smallest box of a product, take the time to calculate the per unit or per weight cost. More often than you would expect, larger packages of an item are actually a better deal than buying the same item in a smaller package.

Skip the Junk

It may sound obvious, but even snacks that are marketed as healthy and natural really aren’t. Skip anything that comes in a bag or a box: crackers, chips, and cookies to be specific. If you need something crunchy, try raw fruits and veggies.

Don’t Shop Hungry

When we’re hungry, we’re more apt to buy on impulse. In order to combat this, try to visit the store you have had a meal and are full. Shop on a full stomach and you’ll find yourself better able to stick to your shopping list.

If time doesn’t permit you to do this, before proceeding for shopping, at least have a couple of glasses of water. While shopping, resisting the great smelling temptations that the grocery store will flaunt in front of you will be easier while you are full.

Use Coupons

Clipping coupons and using your store’s rewards card will save you quite a bit of money. Get in the habit of clipping coupons and asking friends to save you coupons they would otherwise throw away.

There are so many types of coupons and discounts. You can get benefit from these special offers for saving money. Look what special discounts are available to you, and you can also utilize the online coupons to save money.

Shop Close

Even if you find better sales at a grocery store on the other side of town, consider the gas you will use to get there and the time you can’t get back after you’ve traveled, shopped, and come home.

Summing Up

Remember that eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank. Utilize the suggestions about grocery shopping tips to save money and you will be able to control your grocery spending to a much greater extent and should have a much easier time keeping to your monthly food budget while staying healthy.