Beat Grocery Prices: 13 Tips to Create the Best Grocery Budget

It’s no secret that grocery prices are through the roof. I’ve spent well over $50 for just one bag of groceries way too many times.

The only way to beat the prices is to budget, but it isn’t as easy as it seems. Creating the perfect grocery budget takes a lot of planning and thinking. Calculating exactly how much you’ll spend a month on food is difficult – but not impossible. I’ve been there, struggling to put meals on the table without exceeding the budget. But, with practice and insight from friends, I finally developed a system.

To help you out, I’ve curated thirteen tips I use to create and modify my grocery budget. These tips come straight from my firsthand experience or were shared with me by a loved one. What do you think? Have I missed any?

Consider Dietary Restrictions

The easiest way to mess up a budget is to not write down everything, including any dietary restrictions.

It’s so easy to tell yourself you’ll only spend $300 a month on groceries for one, but what if you are lactose intolerant? Or can you only eat gluten-free foods? Dietary restrictions can make budgeting a bit harder.

Create Monthly and Weekly Budgets

I’ve never had the best luck creating monthly budgets, even for just groceries. Instead, making them bite-sized has helped me create and stick to budgets.

It’s much easier to balance a weekly grocery budget than a monthly one. We usually plan meals by the week, not the month! Still, it doesn’t hurt to have both.

Modify Your Budget as Needed

Don’t torture yourself. Budgets are supposed to help you, not hurt you. I never recommend creating an overly strict budget. It’s easy to burn out when you’re forced to sustain yourself on a small grocery budget.

One of the best tips for creating a grocery budget is to have grace with yourself. It’s okay to modify your budget. It doesn’t have to stay the same each month.

Meal Prep/Plan

How can you begin to create an incredible grocery budget without meal prepping? I promise you, meal prepping is a game changer. Or I should say, meal planning.

Take one day a week to sit and plan for the next 2 to 3 days. Some people plan an entire week’s meals in one sitting.

Order Online for Pick Up

One of the best ways to plan and stick to a budget is using your resources. Does your favorite local grocery store offer free pick-up or delivery? This might be a better option for you.

When you order online, you’re more in control. There are fewer temptations. When shopping in person, I always grab something I didn’t mean to and have unfortunately gone over budget way too many times. Ordering online makes it easier to stick to your budget, as you can track your total with each added item.

Check Your Pantry Before Writing a List

This is probably common sense, but it needs to be said. Before hopping into your car and planning your grocery trip, look in your kitchen. What are you missing? What do you have a lot of?

Checking your pantry, fridge, and freezer before creating a weekly grocery budget helps you stay within budget. This way, you don’t accidentally buy another bag of pasta or a can of beans.

Don’t Forget About Household Supplies

It’s easy to forget things you usually buy in bulk, like household supplies. Every few months, I buy a box of trash bags that feel like they last forever – until they don’t. This unexpected cost can leave you drained.

I really feel it when I unexpectedly run out of paper towels or toilet paper—definitely budget for household supplies, not just groceries.

Buy in Bulk

Absolute transparency – I don’t buy items in bulk, but that’s because my family consists of me, my husband, and our adorable cat. But buying groceries in bulk is helpful if you have a larger family.

My dad, for instance, buys things like ground beef, toilet paper, rice, and vegetable oil in bulk. It can be cheaper than buying each item over and over again. Of course, this only makes sense if you have the space.

Make Your Favorite Restaurant Dishes at Home

Eating out can leave you broke. Instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars a month on convenience, consider cooking your favorite meals at home.

My husband is a sucker for Olive Garden’s lasagna. But I can make it even better and way cheaper at home. There are recipes all over the internet for just about anything!

Track Spending

Budgets aren’t meant to be made and forgotten. I recommend reviewing your grocery budget at least once a month and tracking your spending. This way, there are no surprises.

You don’t need to write down each expense or keep each recipe. If you mainly use your debit card, I recommend downloading a spending tracker app.

Use Coupon and Receipt Apps for Cash Back and Savings

Once you have your budget and general meal plans, look for coupons. I love couponing. Granted, I’m not as knowledgeable nor as intense as the participants of TLC’s Extreme Couponing.

Still, I love a good deal when I see one. If you’re looking for the cheapest ground turkey, check out the grocery stores around you for coupons. I also like looking online. Digital coupons work the same. Some apps allow you to scan receipts to earn points, which you can then cash out for gift cards.

Choose Generic

While I agree that some brands are much better than generic or store brands (cough: Oreo), most are just as good. I’m a sucker for Aldi. That is one of my favorite grocery stores to frequent.

Aldi has some of the most affordable and delicious store-brand items I’ve ever purchased. Their Clancy snacks are the best.

Pay With Cash Only

Last but not least is to switch to using cash. If you have a budget of $600 monthly, consider taking this amount out in cash. When you shop, only use the cash.

You’ll feel more motivated to stick to your budget and grocery list. For some reason, I struggle to spend cash, but swiping my card feels like nothing

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In this era of profound social division and discord, one thing everyone can agree on is worsening conditions for healthy personal finance. Whether it’s the dream of homeownership, the goal of building a robust investment portfolio, or simply affording necessities like food, individuals across the spectrum struggle to overcome the decline in their financial well-being due to economic changes.