Budget Hacks for Grocery Shopping: Saving Money Without Sacrificing Nutrition
When it comes to grocery shopping on a budget, strategic planning and smart choices can make a significant difference. By utilizing a combination of money-saving techniques you can stretch your dollar while still enjoying healthy meals. In this blog post, we will explore various budget hacks for grocery shopping, ranging from buying in bulk to utilizing coupons and taking advantage of local resources. Let's dive in!
BUY WHAT’S ON SALE
This is a no brainer. Visit your local grocery store, buy what is on sale, then plan your meals from there. This means that you won’t be able to plan your meals ahead of shopping, but rather after you buy groceries for the week. This route won’t allow you to be picky with your eating for the week either, but the savings will be well worth it. Check the newspaper or online ads to identify the best deals on meat and produce that week. By doing this, you can have somewhat of a plan prior to getting to the store.
BUY IN BULK
Screw Disneyland, Costco is literally the happiest place on earth, especially for the broke and hungry athlete or anyone trying to feed a family. Buying staple items in bulk, such as condiments, rice, oats, oils, spices, and nuts, and other bulk foods are sold in large quantities for the same price you would pay at the grocery store for half the amount. There are entire websites dedicated to helping buyers shop at Costco (and similar stores), do your research and start saving.
BUY LOCAL
Supporting local farmers and growers not only benefits your community, but also offers the advantage of fresh and often more affordable produce. Consider visiting local farms for direct purchases or explore nearby farmers' markets to stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables. By buying directly from the source, you bypass the additional costs typically associated with supermarket markups, while enjoying superior quality and flavor.
GET COMFORTABLE WITH COUPONS
There are entire websites dedicated to saving money with coupons and the savings that can take place will rip a hole in your mind. Extreme couponing is a thing, and although we don’t expect you to get that crazy with it, it’s worth learning the basics. You can find coupons in the newspaper, at the grocery store, online for immediate download, through loyalty programs and grocery store apps. Incorporate coupons into your shopping routine for consistent savings throughout the year.
USE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CODES AND SALES
Utilize social media platforms to your advantage when seeking discounts on sports nutrition products, supplements, and protein bars. Many athletes and fitness celebrities have discount codes associated with the brands they endorse. Athlete codes can offer anywhere from 10-20% off your favorite products. Visit your favorite company’s website to find the sponsored athletes. From there, head to their Instagram accounts and search for a post relating to the product you are after. You will usually be able to locate their code. If you can’t find a code anywhere, message them and they will gladly fork it over as they get credit for their sales.
Beyond athlete codes, set alerts on Facebook and Instagram to be notified when your favorite companies make posts, this way you will catch a post about a sale. Lastly, ALWAYS check for holiday sales, as that’s when the biggest ones go down. Stock up on Black Friday and Christmas if you have the funds at the time.
FIND A CSA OR MEAT SHARE
“Community Supported Agriculture” is an extremely underused service. This is a membership service where you pay a fee to get a share of a local harvest. Your produce is typically delivered weekly or biweekly and you will receive your share periodically throughout the harvest. By taking the CSA route you are getting fresh produce that is in season as well as supporting local growers and farmers. Another advantage to CSA is that you get an accurate list of what you will be given and when, thus making meal planning easier. Many CSA organizations also offer tips on how to prepare certain produce, making this a fun way to learn how to cook. You can find a local CSA here: localharvest.org/csa/. Many CSA services also offer dairy, eggs, or meat. If your CSA does not offer meat, seek out a local meat share. You will usually pay a monthly fee and be given one large variety of fresh meat cuts from multiple animal sources. Meat shares support humane animal slaughter and make sure that none of the animal goes to waste.
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN YOU’RE AT THE GROCERY STORE
PRODUCE
Compare prices between fresh, frozen, and canned options, choosing the most cost-effective one.
Purchase in-season fruits and vegetables, as they are generally cheaper.
Buy the right amount of produce for your weekly meals to minimize waste.
PROTEIN
Consider canned options like tuna, salmon, and sardines, which are often cheaper than whole fish fillets.
Look at family-sized or value packs and freeze what you don’t use.
Beans and peas such as kidney beans, split peas, and lentils can be lower cost supplemental protein sources.
Whole eggs are a great low-cost option.
DAIRY
Ultra-pasteurized products have longer expiration dates and won’t spoil as quickly.
Buy plain yogurt rather than flavored. Plain yogurt is generally cheaper and has less added sugar. You can add in fruit to create flavor.
Buy milk, yogurt, and cheese in the largest possible container that you can use before it spoils. Larger containers cost less per serving than smaller ones.
GRAINS
Opt for regular varieties of rice, quinoa, and oatmeal instead of instant options, which tend to be more expensive and have more calories, sugar, and salt in them.
ADDITIONAL GROCERY SHOPPING TIPS
Eat before you shop. It’s easier to buy more food than you need when you’re hungry.
Scan the top, middle, and bottom shelves for cheaper brands and savings. Stores often place the priciest foods at eye level.
Compare the prices of store brand items to name brands. Many stores offer their own brand of products that are more affordable.
Locate the “unit price” on the shelf right below the product. The unit price tells you how much the item costs per pound, ounce, quart, etc. It’s very useful when comparing different brands or different sizes of the same brand.
Search the back of the shelves. Older food items are usually up front, whereas newer food items tend to be in the back.
Check “sell by” or “use by” dates and buy the freshest foods possible
Consider buying in bulk if you have the storage space.
Don’t purchase perishable food in bulk if you won’t be able to use it or freeze it before it expires.
Grocery shopping on a budget doesn't mean sacrificing nutrition. By implementing these budget hacks, such as buying what's on sale, purchasing in bulk, supporting local sources, using coupons and social media codes, and considering CSA or meat share programs, you can save money while still enjoying nutritious meals. Combine these strategies with smart shopping tips, and you'll be well on your way to maximizing your budget and maintaining a healthy diet. Happy shopping and happy savings!