As prices have continued to rise with inflation, we have found it to be more important than ever to save money whenever we can. That’s why I’ve rounded up my top 5 tips to save money on groceries as a busy mom and wife.
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Sure, coupons are great and can save you a lot of money when used correctly. but what if you don’t have the time (or patience) to put into searching for coupons and deals? If you’re anything like me, then you know how hard it can be to find time to make grocery list, let alone search for coupons.
If I had more time, I would love to search for and use more coupons. That’s a goal of mine. But for now, as a busy mom to 2 little girls, I need fast and convenient.
That’s why I have found these 5 ways to save money on groceries to be so beneficial – they’re fast, easy to plan and I can be consistent in doing them.
5 tips to save money on groceries
1) Meal Plan
I can’t stress enough how important it is to plan your meals. Not only does this save you money, it also cuts down on the headache of deciding what to make for dinner.
I like to plan our meals out each week, some people like to plan for 2 or more weeks at a time. Do what works for you. I typically make a list of meals on Saturday afternoon, followed by a grocery list. This allows me to plan out what we will be eating so that I can get the ingredients we need, while also ensuring that I use as much of what we have on hand as possible.
Don’t get bogged down in this step though. Your meals don’t need to be fancy or super intricate….heck, they don’t even really need to vary that much from week to week! Just make a list of your family’s favorite meals, maybe a few you’d like to try, then pull a few from the list to make each week.
2) Meal prep
Along the same lines as meal planning, I recommend meal prepping as much as possible. This ensures that the majority of the work is already done for the week and you have no excuse to not make what you’ve planned.
I find it helpful to chop all veggies for the week, take meat out of the freezer, cut chicken, sometimes even marinate meat when I have time.
Granted, I don’t always have time on the weekend to prep very much for the week ahead, but I like to do what I can to set myself up for success. Sometimes that simply looks like chopping up some veggies, prepping snacks for the week, or even washing fruit. Whatever can save me time during the week to ensure I stick to whatever plan we’ve laid out.
3) Buy in bulk
We have bounced between a Sam’s Club and Costco membership at different times. We have found it very beneficial to stock up on things when we’re able. This saves us from running to grab paper towel, laundry detergent or other products that we run out of, saving us money in the long run.
Granted, not everything is easy to purchase in bulk. And not everything is a great deal when purchased in bulk. But things like flour, sugar, seasonings and paper products are great things to stock up on when you get the chance. They are a great investment that will keep your pantry (and wallet!) full when done correctly.
I recommend planning what things you will be purchasing and choose how often you will be purchasing those things. This might need to be adjusted until you figure out what works for your family, but it’s a great way to save money in the long run.
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4) Eat seasonally
This is such a great piece of advice I once received. When you are planning your meals, try to incorporate dishes and produce that is in season. Not only does this cut down on cost because those things will likely be cheaper, it’s also a great way to get many vitamins and minerals your body needs.
Think about it, why do we see a lot of squash, soup, stew and root vegetable dishes in the fall / winter? Because those things are most readily available and nourishing in the colder months. Likewise, we tend to see lots of salads and fresh fruit & vegetable dishes in the warmer months; when those things are in season.
Eating what is in season is a great way to save money and make sure your family is getting nourishing foods all year round.
5) Buy meat locally
This could probably be included in tip number 3 to buy in bulk, but I felt it deserved its own place.
The price of meat has skyrocketed in recent years (like everything else) and it can seem impossible to purchase at a decent price when you’re shopping for it week by week.
I cannot recommend purchasing local meat in bulk enough! We typically purchase half a cow and half a pig at a time, along with several chickens. This way our freezer is stocked with meat and always ready for whatever meal we plan.
I know it can be a bit of an investment when you purchase a large amount of meat at a time. But this is such a great way to save money in the long run. Plus, locally raised meat is so much better for you (and it tastes 100x better too!).
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There you have it. My top 5 tips for saving money on groceries. Whatever tips you implement, these are great ways to save money and nourish your family.
I’d love to hear what steps you might add to this list, as well as any you found helpful!
Recipes you might enjoy:
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