Budget Friendly Grocery Shopping Tips

Some love to do it and others absolutely hate doing it — that’s right, we’re talking about grocery shopping. 

A trip to the grocery store may cost you a bit more these days. With rising prices and availability issues it's more challenging than ever to bring home the ingredients you need for balanced meals. 

No need to stress… with a little advanced planning and creativity, you can eat healthy meals that your whole family loves WITHOUT breaking the bank. Here are some tips to get started: 

Buy In-season Produce

Seasonal food is produce that is purchased and consumed around the time that it is harvested. Not only will buying in-season save you money, but it will also taste better too. Not sure what foods are in season where you’re located? Click here to find out! 

Try Meatless Monday

Meat is often the most expensive component of the meal and there has been a dramatic increase in the price of meat, poultry and eggs, which has risen nearly 16% from August 2019 to August 2021. Ditch the meat at least once a week to save money and reduce your environmental impact. Some plant-based sources of protein include beans & lentils, tofu, tempeh, nuts, seeds, and quinoa. 

Don’t Fear Frozen

For items that aren’t in season, buy frozen. Did you know that frozen produce is flash-frozen at the peak ripeness so you’re getting all the healthy nutrients at around 20 to 30 percent less than fresh produce? These items can also come in handy for quick meals that don’t require planning, like adding frozen fruit to a blender to create a smoothie or adding frozen veggies to a pan to create a stir-fry. 

Buy Generic

While generic brands can get a bad rap, store-brand options have come a long way in recent years. Store brands are often as good (or better) than the pricier name brand. Compare ingredients lists and Nutrition Facts labels to see if there is a big difference, if there isn’t go with the generic! 

I hope this post helped you to find some strategies to make your grocery shopping more budget friendly and remember to never go grocery shopping when hungry!