6 low effort ways to save on groceries

A few months ago, I was pulling a Home Run Inn pizza out of the Safeway freezer when I recoiled in horror. My beloved pizza suddenly cost over $10. In fact, a lot of the pizzas did. 

Whether it’s eggs or lettuce, you’ve probably noticed a spike in grocery prices too. Supply chain and environmental issues are to blame for some of it, but it has been widely acknowledged that companies are using global events as an excuse for price gouging.

Is it unfair? Yes.

Is it figure-out-able ? Also yes.

Instead of offering labor-intensive strategies like meal prep and meal kits that most of us won’t do, here are 6 easy ways to bring your grocery bill down. 

1. Shop by unit price
   Instead of looking at the overall price, check out the little number on the price sticker that lists cost per unit/ounce/sheet. You’ll find the bigger package is often cheaper per unit than the smaller one. For items you restock frequently, like paper towels or olive oil, it’s cheaper to shop by unit.

2. Do grocery delivery or curbside pickup
   Studies show that impulse buying accounts for up to 62% of supermarket sales. By shopping online, you remove the temptation, making it much easier to stick to your list. I was skeptical until I actually tried Instacart and found my bill to be less or the same as what I’d spend in-store, even with a 20% tip.

3. Use grocery rewards credit cards 
   Certain credit cards give you cash back or rewards just by shopping, saving you hundreds per year. I personally use the Chase Sapphire Preferred, which is especially advantageous for Instacart/online shoppers. 

4. Water things down
   This doesn’t mean compromising quality. It just means that highly saturated items like juice and dish soap are just as tasty or effective, respectively, when you dilute them. Honestly, mixing dish soap and water in a spray bottle has been a dishwashing game changer for me.

5. Overlap recipes  
   Ok this one takes some planning, but not too much. Check out the NYT’s “I Made you a Meal Plan” series, which gives Venn diagrams of grocery items you can combine into 3 different recipes.

6. Know thyself
   Have you ever bought a ton of groceries with the intention of making your own meals and then find yourself ordering sushi anyway? Yes, getting takeout is generally more expensive than cooking, but if you take an honest look at your eating habits and factor in the inevitable treat yo’self nights, you’ll probably save money and reduce food waste overall.

A few small habits can make a big difference over time—helping you spend less, save more, and hopefully, not stress about money so much. If you’re looking for even more ways to budget for your life, check out the Brightfin app :)

Photo by No Revisions on Unsplash