Plan Out Your Meals

This may seem obvious but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t plan out their meals before they get to work on their grocery list. If you want to save money on your groceries, then planning is non-negotiable. The best way that you can plan is by picking one day before you go grocery shopping that you’ll plan out all your meals for the upcoming week.

Make sure that you take a look at your cabinets and fridge before grocery shopping so that you know what you already have and what you need to purchase. Only purchase exactly the ingredients that you need for the meals. This way you won’t be throwing away food that you don’t use if you only have what you need. You can choose recipes that are healthy and include nutritious food to make sure that you’re eating clean.

Cook From Scratch

When it comes to not having enough hours in the day and cooking from scratch, trust me when I say that I understand. It can be time-consuming when you’re making meals from scratch, which often means taking extra time that you don’t have on your hands. But if you have the proper planning, you can manage to make a few home-cooked meals every week to enjoy. Cook on weekends and freeze portions to reheat later in the week, or bake bread at the beginning of the week and use it for meals. Also plan to prep fruits and veggies when you get home from the grocery store so they’re ready for recipes or ready for snacking. With the right recipes and the right planning in advance, you can have healthy and delicious home-cooked meals that won’t take too long to make!

Make Large Portions

Instead of making the serving size that you know you’ll eat, make larger portions and even double or triple the recipe at times. This is helpful for a variety of reasons, two reasons being that it will save you time making another meal and that you can get multiple meals out of the one meal. It can also keep you from eating out on days where you don’t have the time or energy to make an entire meal from scratch. You can also reuse the meals in different ways if you don’t want to repeat the same meal, using it in stir-fries, soups, or stews.

Use Those Coupons

I know it’s a hassle when you’re spending all those hours going through coupons, but when it comes to saving money, coupons can start to add up. Typically you’ll find that there will be coupons offered for money or percentage off your entire purchase, which can save you quite a bit. A lot of stores will give you coupons based on what you buy often, and online coupons are linked to your store loyalty card so you don’t have to keep track of paper coupons. Keep your eyes open for deals and coupons and make sure to save them when you see them!

Don’t Grocery Shop When You’re Hungry

If you shop when you’re hungry, you’re far more apt to stray from your grocery list and are more apt to reach for unhealthy processed foods. Been there, done that. Guilty on all counts! Ha! Not only is straying from your list and buying on impulse unhealthy for eating clean, but it’s also bad for your budget. Things can quickly add up if you’re not sticking to your list. Try to eat a healthy snack before you leave the house to go shopping to keep you full until your next meal or at least until you’re done shopping.