It takes a lot to feed a family of four—or more—each and every week, and with the way kids grow, you’ll be running back and forth just to keep food on the table. But all that grocery shopping can begin to add up in the money department, even if you have a good-paying job at a place like ThriveMD or a law firm.
Luckily, there are a few easy ways you can reduce your grocery bill without going above and beyond.
Drop Name Brands
There’s nothing wrong with name-brand items, and many of them are actually pretty decent, but not all of them are worth spending the extra money on. Instead, try going for the generic equivalent of whatever item you need. In many cases, you and your kids won’t even be able to tell a difference, and in the event that the name brand is considerably superior to the cheaper version, you can always shell out a few extra bucks for that specific item.
By settling for the off-brand items, you’ll start to rack up the savings in no time.
Budget for the Necessities
If you’ve ever gone shopping with your kids, you’ll know how easy it can be to wind up with a mountain of unnecessary items in your cart, and they’re not the only guilty ones—we’ve been there, too.
While there isn’t anything bad about getting the occasional treat or junk food, getting too many of these kinds of items can put you over your budget and really isn’t that good for you anyway. Instead, create a shopping list and only budget for the items that are absolutely required, such as milk eggs, bread, whatever you plan to eat for dinner, etc. No chips, cookies, or cases of soda, but we won’t tell if you want to get one little treat.
Take Advantage of Deals and Rewards
Many stores offer reward cards that you can get if you are a loyal customer, and all it takes is in most cases is giving them your email address. While this can be frustrating and seem like a waste of time when they ask you and all you really want to do is get your stuff and get out, taking those two minutes to fill out your information can save you a good chunk of change in the long run. These reward cards can grant you deals on items, earn you exclusive rewards, and build points every time you shop which can then be used for more groceries.
Spend a Little, Save a Lot
By sticking to these tips, you’ll find that saving money on your routine trips to the grocery store can actually be remarkably simple. You’ll be able to keep the fridge stocked, bellies full, and your wallet a little thicker.