Grocery Shopping Like a BAMF- How to Save Money at the Store

I know this topic might be self-explanatory to some, but after some conversations with friends, I’ve realized not everyone knows how to tackle their weekly shopping trip with ease. Some get overwhelmed and don’t know what to buy, others end up spending way too much in a panic. Remember, saving money is making money, and I’m all about that saving money life. Here’s how to tackle the grocery store like a pro and save the maximum amount of money every time you go.

Assess your cooking level

Do you set your food on fire every time you crack the burner? Do you put plastic pans in the oven by accident? Does your kitchen look like a horror movie after you’re done chopping onions? The best way to save money in the kitchen is to cook as much as possible, but not everyone is prepared to go from takeout daily to cooking daily. It’s important to assess your current skill level, because you won’t be saving money if you have to throw away half of your creations. If this sounds like you, I’m going to challenge you to start cooking one new meal from scratch every week. It’s okay to cook frozen meals until you get your skill level up to par. That being said, let’s move on with the assumption that you know how to cook.

Make a game plan

What do you need? What’s on sale? You need to be able to answer these questions before you go to the store. Go into your kitchen and assess what you’re running low on, what you’re out of, and what you’d like to try.

Principals of saving money at the grocery store

• Bulk is usually cheaper, but do the math to be sure
• Don’t be afraid to skip on an item you need if you know you can get a better price at a different store
• If it’s in your area, shops like Aldi or Costco are great for deals
• Generic brand is usually cheaper, but look out for coupons or sales on name brands
• It is typically cheaper to make something from scratch than to buy it at the store. However, if you’re not confident in your abilities to make an item from scratch, it’s okay to get some help. After all, it’s cheaper to make pasta from a box, than fail to make pasta from scratch and have to throw it away.
• Dried beans and lentils are typically cheaper and last longer than the canned equivalent. Get them in bulk and soak them yourself.
• Find out if your store doubles coupons.
• Utilize your freezer! It’s a great idea to double or triple your recipes and freeze whatever you won’t eat soon. For example, I make extra dumplings and freeze them, and pop them into soups or fry them up when I need a quick snack.
• Fresh produce is usually pretty cheap, but be careful and only buy what you know you’re going to use up soon.
• Cans go on sale pretty often. Try to look for discounts.
• It’s okay to have some cheap “fuck it” meals. The goal is to eat in as much as possible, so it’s great to have options for when you don’t have the time or energy to cook something. For example- chili in a can, frozen meals, a microwaved potato, leftovers- these are great to have available.
• Pack lunches as often as possible.

Staples to stock up on

Here’s a great list of staples that don’t expire quickly and can be used in many dishes. Pick and choose the things that you know you’ll use. If you see a sale, snatch these things up.

• Spices (Salt, Pepper, Spice Mixes, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Chili Flakes, Cayenne, Turmeric, Berbere, Oregano, Cumin, Coriander, Cinnamon, Nutmeg)
• Baking materials (Flour, Sugar, Baking Soda, Baking Powder, Yeast, Vanilla Extract)
• Frozen Vegetables (Broccoli, spinach, cauliflower)
• Eggs
• Stock (Chicken stock, beef stock, vegetable stock)
• Frozen Meat (Chicken pieces, seafood)
• Oils (Neutral vegetable oils like Canola, Coconut Oil, Pam, Olive Oil, Sesame Oil)
• Beans, Lentils
• Pasta, Noodles
• Sauces (Pasta sauce, tomato paste, ketchup, mustard, mayo, sriracha)
• Rice
• Cans (tuna, beans, meats, soup, chili)