How much did you spend at the grocery store this week? Too much, right? Most people buy the same products, at the store, on the same day, every week. Many people shop multiple times. Each trip can be costly and you still end up with random items and no meals!

I know this frustration because that’s how I used to be until I discovered couponing, meal planning, and shopping at multiple stores. By learning these skills and honing them over a 7 year period, I’ve become a money saving pro. Nothing I do is extraordinary. Anyone who’s willing to experiment can easily duplicate what I do.

A note for readers: I use the term “grocery bill” loosely. Around here it includes everything I buy, not just food, so health & beauty, household, baby products, etc, would be part of it. Some people only include food. Do whatever works best for you.

1. Menu Plan

The most important step to lowering your grocery budget is having a plan and keeping it. Menu Planning for me is a 3-step process. I start by checking my store flyers when they arrive in my mailbox on Thursday. I make note of the loss leaders and any other sale that’s worth buying. After that, I do a quick inventory of what I have on hand. (Go through your cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer. Most of us have way more than we think.) By starting with what you have and creatively using it, you can avoid buying anything extra that’s not needed. Once I’ve thoroughly examined my flyers and done my inventory, then I put together a detailed list of meals for the next week.

2. Shop at more than one store

Unless you live somewhere where you only have one store to shop at, don’t do all your shopping in one location. Yes, it does take extra time but the savings can be huge. (I track my time with FreshBooks and it only takes about 2 hours a week—very worth it when I’m saving thousands annually!) By only cherry picking the best deals at each store, you will only be buying a few items and shopping/checking out is fast.

I try to hit two-three grocery stores per week, plus the drugstores and a big box store. I almost always hit Shaw’s; I’ve found them to consistently have the best loss-leaders and I love their double-coupon policy. I also love Target because I can stack coupons. On occasion, when the deals are rather weak or if I’m short on time or feeling very ill, I’ll just make a run to Market Basket for staples. My shopping varies from week-to-week depending upon what the sales are.

3. Stock Up

Because I’ve been couponing regularly since 2008, I have built up a huge stockpile. By keeping most healthy & beauty products, dry goods, and household staples on hand, I never have to run out at 11:00 PM for advil or toilet paper. Not only does this save money, it also cuts down on panic/aggravation. I can’t tell you how thankful I was this winter when we had record breaking snows almost every week for months to not have to shop! (I did shop, when I wanted to, but there was no pressure!)

4. Buy Markdowns

There is no end to the amount of marked down meat, produce, dairy, and other items I have found! In any store I shop, I always check the reduced section. Sometimes there is only 1 or 2 sad, wilted things, but usually I find many good things. I document most of my scores every week in Super Savings Saturday. It’s been a regular feature since this blog started and is always my most popular post of the week.

5. Shop drugstores, but learn their individual quirks

Before I started couponing, I avoided drugstores because I thought they were overpriced. Guess what, they are overpriced, if you don’t look for deals! In my area, I have all 3—CVS, Rite Aid, & Walgreens. There is good and bad to each one, but CVS is the easiest for beginners. Years ago, I used to do mail-in rebates, then it turned into store bucks, and now Rite Aid is getting rid of their program altogether. By knowing each store’s quirks and following their policy, you can get tons of freebies legitimately. When you become a regular, you can also make friends with cashiers and get all kinds of tips on upcoming sales.

6. Pay with cash

I prefer to pay for most of my shopping in cash. I will pick up any item that’s totally free and most things that are discounted. I don’t have a strict dollar amount, but I rarely spend more than $50.00 weekly. When I pay with credit, I’m more lenient. Cash seems to feel more “real” to me and by sticking to cash I guarantee that I stay within budget. 

As I shop, I try to keep a running tally in my head. That way as I check out, I have a ballpark figure and if the register is way off, I’ll know something is wrong.

By implementing those 6 steps, you will be able to significantly lower your grocery bills. Here are some other practical ways to save that I do regularly:

* Cut back on meat. We rarely have meat by itself as the main dish (steak, roast, fried chicken, etc.) I prefer to bulk cook and shred rather than serve whole pieces. It stretches much further.

* Drink water. We use a Brita pitcher to filter our water. I got this free with ECBs from CVS years ago. We don’t drink milk or juice regularly. Soda, coffee, and tea are all things I love, but I practice moderation. I try to buy all of these items on sale and with a coupon if possible.

* Cook from scratch. Eliminating processed foods and boxed mixes from your diet is not only more healthful for you, it will also save you a lot of money. Make your own baked oatmeal or granola instead of buying boxed cereal. Keep homemade cookies and muffins made up and in the freezer for snacks instead of storebought cookies or chips. Bake your own bread. Make cakes, pancakes, and so on from scratch.

* Grow your own veggies, fruits, & herbs. Start with a single plant in a container and build upon that. Container gardening works well not matter how limited your space and budget is.

* Don’t be brand dependent. If you really want to cut your grocery budget, you have to learn to branch out and try new things. Most generics are actually really good.

* Keep it simple. Stick to recipes with fewer, inexpensive ingredients.

* Read books about frugality, couponing, and budgeting. If you only read one, definitely check out America’s Cheapest Family. Their book is amazing!

While saving money is great, anything taken to an extreme can be bad. Most of all, we should enjoy the journey! I have so much fun saving money on not only necessities but tons of treats. I’m able to feed my family for very little and also bless others by giving many, many items away. Couponing when done correctly is truly a blessing, not a burden.