I don’t know about the rest of y’all, but I have been getting killed at the grocery store lately. Egg prices have finally come back down, but everything else seems to be getting more expensive. I spent over $100 at the grocery store this week without even buying any ground beef, chicken, or other ‘high dollar’ items. It’s ridiculous!

Since the inflation rate doesn’t seem to be getting any better, and the foreshadowing of supply chain and transportation issues after the collapse on I95, let’s talk about how we can all save a little money at the checkout. Because we all know that every bit helps, and if you watch your pennies, the dollars tend to take care of themselves.

Make a Meal Plan

If you know what you are going to make all week long, it helps to keep your shopping in check. It also helps you to avoid those last-second mid-week trips to the store where you spend extra money. Pre-planning your meals for the week also lets you plan based on what’s on sale.

Shop Alone if You Can

I know this isn’t feasible for everyone, but designate one person to go to the store if you can. This is a ‘too many cooks in the kitchen’ situation. Too many people lead to extraneous purchases and extra money spent. Rather than bringing your family members with you to the grocery store, add their requested items to your shopping list in advance so they’ll still get some of their favorite snacks without the risk of added impulse buys.

Buy Generic or Store Brand

There’s no denying that brand-name products are more expensive than their generic counterparts. While saving an extra $2 or $3 may not seem like much, saving a few extra bucks on 20 items can add up.

Also, many generic products are manufactured in the same facilities as your favorite name-brand products.

I also understand that there are some name brands that y’all don’t want to give up (like me with my mayonnaise), but give some of the generic brands a shot. Often there is no difference.

Don’t Forget Your Rewards

Both Giant and Weis offer pretty good rewards programs that you should take advantage of. It’s simple to sign up (and free!), and it’s silly not to take advantage of it. Look through fliers to see what products can get you extra rewards for stuff you already need too! I currently have around 400 reward points on my Giant card, which will take $4 off my next trip. It’s not a huge amount, but 4 bucks is 4 bucks.

Use Curbside Pick Up

There is no easier way to staunch impulse buying than not going into the store at all.
Store Hop

We are lucky to have several grocery stores in our area that are reasonably close together. Check the fliers, see what’s cheap and on sale where, and hit a couple to get the best deals. I’m not saying to run all over tarnation to save 50¢ on eggs, but if you do most of your shopping at Giant, but Aldi has chicken breasts on sale for $1.79/lb., it’s worth the trip up the road! Also, do y’all remember when you could buy chicken breasts for $1.79/lb.?!

Pay attention to prices

Passive shopping ain’t gettin’ it done with this inflation. You should actively assess the prices of the items you buy regularly to know when to pounce on a deal or pass. This technique is as simple as being mindful of what you do while shopping. Pay attention to prices at multiple local stores to learn where deals on certain products are better.

Don’t Forget Your Coupons

Whether you clip them from the Sunday paper or utilize online coupons, USE THEM! That grocery trip I mentioned earlier? My original price for what I bought was $144.05. After my coupons, rewards, and pairing up what I needed with what was on sale, my final cost was $122.74. That’s just over $20 in savings. The whole process took me like 10 minutes! Most stores have an app, so you can add coupons directly to your card without having to clip or cut anything! And don’t forget non-grocery stores. Dollar General offers a $5 off $25 coupon in their app every Saturday, which is great for buying cleaning supplies and household items. They also usually have a ton of coupons in their app for cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, toilet paper, and other household essentials.

These are just a few things that can help you save some money at the grocery store. It may not save you a ton of money, but as I said before, every little bit helps right now!