How to save money on groceries?

Price Match

Some groceries stores offer price matching with nearby competitors, which saves you time and money, on gas and the things you would buy anyways. Here in Canada, grocery stores like No Frills, FreshCo, Giant Tiger, and Real Canadian Superstore will price-match items that a competitor is advertising for that week. Price matching is super simple, I use an app called Flipp (which shows you all the flyers) and all you have to do is show the cashier the on-sale item and bam, money in your pocket.

Focus on Per Unit/Weight

Oftentimes, the lowest-priced item isn't the best deal. It's easy to decide between two items with the same weight; the lower-priced item is definitely a better deal. But it gets tricky when they are of different weights AND price points! Let's take an example where you have product A at $2.99 for 454g, while product B at $1.99 for 250g, at first take it seems that product B is a better deal, but if you crunch the numbers, product A is actually more than 17% cheaper per gram!

Coupons, cashback, and loyalty programs

Making use of coupons and cashback sounds time-consuming, but it's actually quite easy nowadays! I use a website called https://websaver.ca/ which makes it super easy; all you have to do is take a picture of your receipt and upload it. You can even request coupons to be mailed to you, or print it out yourself! Another cashback app I like to use is checkout51, which lets you take a picture of your receipt to claim the qualifying purchase. Additionally, make sure you take advantage of loyalty programs that the grocery store has, for example, Loblaws (and subsidiaries) have PC Optimum, Metro (and subsidiaries) has Airmiles, Sobeys (and subsidiaries) with Scene, etc. which further saves you money every week!

Tip: don't let these programs make you spend more money than you have to, as they are designed to influence your purchase decision. Be smart, and only use them to compliment things that you would get regardless!

Eat before you go

Junk food is not only bad for our health, but with rising inflation, the cost of these non-essential treats can really add up too. Not doing grocery shopping when you're hungry is not only good for your wallet, but your health will thank you as well. When we're hungry our willpower goes down and cravings take over. So every bag of chips, every pack of cookies and cupcakes will look extremely enticing. A couple of bucks here, a couple of bucks there, it adds up! So next time you go grocery shopping, do it after a meal!

Shop with a list

Being prepared is just as important as going to the grocery store with a full stomach. Make a list of the essentials to keep yourself on track by only spending money on what you actually need. And as an added bonus, use the Flipp app to compare prices ahead of time so you know exactly where to go for what!

Stock up on non-perishables when it's on sale

Many items can be safely stored for a long time. Items like canned food, dried pasta, dried beans, rice etc. can last for years. Body wash, shampoo, toothpaste etc. can last for months. Some other things can even last indefinitely, such as toilet paper, paper towels, tissue etc. So the next time they go on sale, don't be afraid to stock up so that you'll always have them on hand because you'll be using them anyways.

Tip: do not waste money by stocking up on items that you think you might need, such as a new product you just tried, or food related to a new diet you're trying out, because tastes and preferences do change over time. Focus on the staples, like toilet paper, rice, pasta, etc.

Buy bulk and freeze

Meat is one of the most expensive parts of a meal for those that eat meat. So when it goes on sale, I suggest buying them in bulk and freezing them. They can easily last 6 months in the freezer (most of the time, even much longer than that), without degrading the flavour or texture. Tip: before freezing, pre-portion them individually so that when you're ready to cook them, just defrost the exact portion you need!

Eat with the season

Not only will you find better deals on in-season food, but they will also be fresher especially when it comes to vegetables! Field strawberries and watermelons during the summer, and Brussels sprouts in the fall just to name a few. Depending on where you live, there might be in-season food guides by local agricultural associations to help you shop better. For example, in Ontario, there is a produce availability guide https://www.ontario.ca/foodland/page/availability-guide

Reducing food waste

A staggering 30% of food is wasted each year, which not only is bad for the environment (through greenhouse gas emissions, resources to grow them in the first place etc.), but it's also bad for your wallet! To help reduce food waste, first, only buy what you need when it comes to perishables like fruits and vegetables. Consider only getting enough for a day or two, so they are also fresher! Second, eat your leftovers because they are perfectly fine for a day or two when stored properly in the fridge! Finally, use your judgement when food is past its "best before" date, which is more like a suggestion of a prime time, rather than "food is bad after this date". https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/ecology-news/global-food-waste-in-2022

Adjusting your diet

Did you know that by changing to a plant-focused diet, not only will you save money, but it can also help promote better health and be better for the environment? Not only is meat expensive, but from an environmental standpoint, it accounts for over 60% of the greenhouse gas emissions from all food production. Health-wise, red meat consumption has been linked to an increased risk of cancer ( https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/cancer-carcinogenicity-of-the-consumption-of-red-meat-and-processed-meat). By simply reducing the amount of meat we consume each meal, and adding a bit more colourful vegetables we can be healthier and help the planet while saving a few bucks along the way!