Tools to Help You Save Money On Groceries
A college finance blog.
So many options! How can we shop smarter?
Grocery shopping can be so stressful! Food isn’t cheap, and it can be hard to budget out meals for the month. According to the USDA website, a typical college student will usually spend between $163 and $367 a month on food. CRAZY RIGHT? If you are like me, you are constantly looking for the best quality item for the lowest price. So, let’s go shopping on a budget!
It is important to make take a full inventory of your refrigerator and pantry at home before heading to the store. Memorize what you already have so you don’t buy more than what you need. Next, make a list! A list allows you to stay on track when you are in the store. My list is my first line of defense when I get distracted in the cookie aisle! I like to believe, “If it’s not on the list, I don’t need it!”
Saving Tip: Keep your condiment packets from your take-out meals! They are good on-the-go and are great to use if you don’t want to buy a full ketchup bottle.
Set aside a budget! Setting a budget for yourself will help you become more cautious about the items you want to buy. If there are multiple options for one item, go for the cheaper one! Personally, I set aside 3 items I will pay the “brand” price for. My items are cereal, dairy (milk and cheese), and coffee pods. For all the other items on my list, I go for the store brand! Even though some items may only have a price difference of a couple of cents, those do add up! Save in any way you can.
Download grocery apps! In recent years we have seen grocery apps and food/grocery delivery services becoming more common with buyers. Apps can be a great tool to help you make a list, check prices between stores, and help find coupons! Every penny you save does count! Saving can add up fast! Here are some of my favorite apps:
AnyList: AnyList helps you create grocery lists, organize your personal recipes, and allows you to easily add recipes from other sources like email messages, websites, and blogs.
4.9/5 Apple App Store Review. Free to Download.
Basket: Basket is a smart app that price checks shopping items between stores. Create lists, find coupons, and compare store prices on all your items!
4.9/5 Apple App Store Review. Free to Download.
Flipp: Flipp allows you to browse thousands of weekly ads from over 2,000 stores. This app also allows you to create a shopping list and automatically saves coupons for items on your list.
4.7/5 Apple App Store Review. Free to Download.
Individual Store Apps: Many large chain grocery stores like Target, Whole Foods, Walmart, and Safeways all have their own apps! On these apps, you can create lists, order groceries for delivery or pickup, and find exclusive coupons and offers.
Free to Download.
It is not impossible to spend less than $100 a month on food. Set aside a budget just for groceries and stick to it! Don’t over-buy what you need, or don’t need! It may be hard the first few times but stick to it! I believe in you! With all your savings, buy yourself something nice!
Editor’s Note: This article was written for a class project. Information gathered from personal experiences and information learned over the years in various college classes—additional app information found from the Apple Store.
