Saving money before you go to the grocery store

With the cost of living increasing each week, everyone is looking for ways to cut back on their monthly outgoings. One of the most expensive outgoings is the weekly food shop. There are many ways you can cut the cost of your weekly food bill before you even go to the supermarket. All it needs is a little planning and preparation.

The extra money you save will help, pay for other bills, put in an emergency fund or save for something you want such as a holiday for the family.

Here are 16 practical tips to help you save money on groceries before you even step foot in the supermarket.

Number One - Have a shopping list notepad

The first thing I do is start my shopping list immediately after the grocery run. When I come back from my weekly grocery shop I place a small notepad on the kitchen counter to jot down items throughout the week.

If there is anything I may have forgotten or if something was not in stock I add the item to my list for the following week. This is great when cooking as I can write things down straight away.

Alternatively, use the notes app on your phone to keep track.

Number Two - Keep an updated price book.

Create and maintain a price book for items you regularly buy. This helps you monitor price increases and stick to your budget. This only takes a few minutes and can really help you save money. To help with this save your receipts to keep updated.

Number Three - Check your fridge, freezer and pantry

Before planning your shopping list, check what you already have. Check the fridge, freezer and pantry/cupboard to see what there is to make meals. What meals are quick and easy on those busy days and what do I have that may take a little more time.

Checking what you have stops you buying extras as you know what you have at home stopping you having tins of chopped tomatoes in your cupboard.

Number Four - Meal plan

Write a meal plan for the week. Include regular meals and a couple of new recipes for variety. This helps prevent impulse buys and reduces the likelihood of resorting to takeaways.

Having a meal plan will keep costs down and if you want to try a new meal add it into your meal plan and budget.

A meal plan helps on those rushed days, if you’re prepared you can have something ready and quick, which stops you from spending on takeaways. The last thing you want is to save money on groceries only to spend that money on a takeaway that wasn’t planned for.

Number Five - Write a staples list

List your family's essentials such as bread, milk, and lunchbox items, and anything that your family eats on a regular basis. Add these to your shopping list as soon as they run out to avoid multiple trips to the store.

Number Six - Shopping List

Combine your meal plan, staples list, and items from your notepad into one comprehensive shopping list. This keeps you focused and prevents unnecessary purchases.

Taking a shopping list with you stops you buying extra. Going without a shopping list means remembering what you need and we already have much to remember we don’t need anything else taking up room.

I’m old school and prefer to have my shopping list written down. However, I do also write it on my phone to know I have a backup.

Number Seven - Check food prices

Check food prices with websites such aswww.trolley.co.uk orwww.mysupermarketcompare.co.ukto compare food prices and find the cheapest place to shop. If you are not in the UK I am sure there are some sites in your country and a quick google search will show you the ones for you.

Number Eight - Online offers and vouchers

Check online offers and vouchers. This could be a discount on food delivery, an online shop, in-store offers or coupons/vouchers to print or save on your phone to scan at the store.

Browse sites likeMoneySavingExpert for discounts, vouchers, and deals on groceries. These can provide significant savings on your shopping bill.

Number Nine - Use Cashback Apps

Download cashback apps like Shopmium, GreenJinn, and CheckoutSmart. Scan your receipts to earn money back on purchases.

This will save money on your groceries. You purchase the item at full price, when you get home open the app, scan the receipt and receive all or some of your money back. (Some do points and once you have enough points they can be redeemed for vouchers)

Number Ten - Download the free or cheap food apps

Apps like Olio and Too Good to Go offer free or heavily discounted food items that are near their expiration date. These are great for reducing waste and saving money.

One app I like is Olio. People put food on the app in the local area, which is either about to go past the use by date or it wasn’t to their taste and they give it away to reduce food waste.

The Too Good to Go app is where local supermarkets, bakeries and others offer bags of food about to be thrown away. These are usually worth over £10 - £20 however you can buy them for £3 - £5. You can always put things in the freezer for another day.

Number Eleven - Don’t forget your bags

Avoid buying new bags each time by keeping your reusable shopping bags in your car. Place them in the front seat so you don’t forget to take them into the store.

Once you have put your shopping away, take that 30 seconds to put shopping bags back in your car or leave your keys on top of your bags for when you next go out.

Number Twelve - Set your budget

Establish a budget before shopping. This is an important thing to do. Once you have your shopping list, your price comparison and checked offers available it’s time to set a budget.

Add a buffer for price fluctuations.

A budget keeps you from impulse buying. If you don’t have a budget, you may buy something that you don’t need. If it doesn’t fit in your budget you are more likely to leave it.

When I set a budget I add an extra bit of money to cover increased costs. I call this my “emergency shopping fund" which I try not to use if I can help it.

Number Thirteen - Eat First

Shopping on an empty stomach leads to unnecessary purchases. Have a snack or meal before heading to the store to avoid this. This is one we hear a lot, when we are hungry and shop, everything looks delicious and you pick up not just one extra item but several.

Number Fourteen - Go Alone

Shopping with children or partners can lead to higher bills due to added items. If possible, shop alone to stay focused and stick to your list.

Taking your children shopping is more of a challenge. Children see all the bright colours and delicious food and want to have them, usually leading to the item being put in the trolley without you noticing or they can scream the shop down and throw a tantrum.

Number Fifteen - Find the right time to shop

Find out when your supermarket marks down clearance items. Shopping during these times can save you a lot on groceries.

Most supermarkets have clearance items. Find the time your supermarket puts out these items to grab the bargains and cut your costs. This is trial and error and going at different times, it doesn’t hurt to ask someone in store when they put them out.

Number Sixteen - Make a Plan

Know your store’s layout and plan your shopping trip accordingly. Write your list in the order of the store’s aisles to avoid backtracking and unnecessary purchases.

If you shop every week in the same stores you know the layout, make a plan of what foods to grab as you go around the store. Having a plan and writing your list in an order of the layout of the supermarket stops you picking more things up.

And remember to stay away from those middle isles.

Finally - BONUS TIP - Price check as you shop

Track your spending as you shop using a calculator or if the supermarket has a store scanner use it to keep track of your spending. This ensures you stay within your budget.

I’m sure there are many other ideas that will help you save money on your grocery bill and if you do have any more ideas then do let me know in the comments. It may not only help others but I love to learn from you all too.

I hope you found these tips helpful in saving money on your grocery bill. If you have any more ideas, please share them in the comments. Let's save together!

Until next time,

Rachel x