In the final part of this series, I’m bringing my best in-store tips for making sure there are no surprises on your grocery bill! I’ve saved two of my most important techniques for last: planning ahead and self control!

If you missed Parts 1 and 2, you can find them here and here.

Plan Ahead

Meal planning and saving on groceries go hand in hand. I plan my meals for the week at the same time I make my grocery list. That way, I know I have everything covered, and won’t fall into doubt (and impulse buying) at the grocery store.

Likewise, making a list before you go to the store is non-negotiable! I make my list a day or two before I shop, so I have time to tweak it or add things I may have forgotten.

Self Control

All the other practical tips are useless if you don’t plan ahead, and then exercise self control at the store. Stick to your list like a cocklebur on a collie.

Along with this, grocery shop ONLY once per week. Period. Full stop. End of story.

DO NOT go back to the store. Who wants to spend more time in a grocery store anyway? If you forgot something, get creative. Find a substitute from your pantry. Add it to next week’s list. Ask your neighbor. Whatever you do, do NOT go back to that store.

ALWAYS check your receipts.

I am still shocked at how often I am overcharged for items. Sometimes an item rings up incorrectly, or produce is input incorrectly. Or sometimes I forget to add the digital deal on my app (whoops!). Simply checking my receipt before I leave the store saves me a significant amount of money.

Ask Questions

Ask questions while you’re shopping! If you don’t see the item you want (that item that’s on sale for a stellar price), ask an associate. Often they can find it in the back, or make a substitution for you. Or if something is confusing in the signage in the store, make sure you understand it correctly before you get to the checkout and find out you grabbed the wrong item, or the deal wasn’t what you thought it was.

Manager’s Special

Know what the “Manager’s Special” type tags look like in the stores you frequent, and keep an eye out for them while shopping! I often save a lot of money on items I was planning to buy anyway by spotting the tags for discounted ones. Also, most stores have a clearance/closeout area. Find it, and give it a scan. It usually doesn’t take more than a quick glance to know if there’s anything worthwhile there.

Things I DON’T Do

Cash-back apps like Ibotta seem very popular, but I have never gotten much out of them. In my experience, they are mostly for brand-name items. But even getting money back through these apps usually does not make those items cheaper than generic, so that is a no go. And saving ten cents per week on one or two generic items is just not worth the effort!

I also don’t bother with paper coupons. As stated in Part 1, most coupons have moved to digital. I have found a newspaper subscription to not be worth the cost, and I also have largely stopped printing off coupons at home, for the same reason. I found myself spending thirty minutes and a lot of ink to print something that would save me fifty cents or less. Not worth it.

This one will be controversial, but I have to say it: I avoid doing grocery pickup. (Don’t even get me started on paying fees for services like that…) But I avoid it for many other reasons as well. It is too much of a gamble. There is always the chance of getting an awesome substitution (ie., 24oz of cranberries instead of the 6oz you ordered. Woohoo!) But along with that comes the risk of not getting anything at all.  Like the time I ordered 4 dozen eggs, and they tried to send me home with none. Whoever filled that order doesn’t understand life with toddlers. Too often I end up wishing I had just gone in the store myself, so I could make my own substitutions.  Moreover, if there is an item you need but don’t know what the best deal is currently, if you are in the store, you can easily scan the shelf and make that determination.  It’s much harder to do that online.  And you miss out on the joy of finding those “manager’s special” tags! 

You Can’t Win ‘Em All

As you can probably tell, I am competitive when it comes to the grocery game. But I would be remiss if I didn’t make it clear that I don’t do it perfectly every time! I frequently tell my perfectionist self this phrase: “You can’t win ’em all.” Being conscientious and implementing these techniques diligently will save you tons of money over time. But also know that there are exceptions to every rule, and worthy occasions for splurging! Plus, there will be no reason to feel guilty about those splurges when you have been stewarding your money!

I hope this series has inspired you to take a closer look at how you spend your grocery budget, and areas where you can save money!  We’ve covered a lot of ground. (I warned you that I am passionate about this!) If it seems overwhelming at first, just pick a couple techniques and begin working them into your weekly routine. Many of these methods are intertwined, and as you implement one, others will fall into place.

Please leave a comment below, and let me know which tips you’ve tried, any questions you may have, or other ways you save money on groceries!