How to: Save Money on Groceries

We’re facing skyrocketing food prices, but feeding ourselves is necessary, so how exactly are we supposed to save money on dinner? You certainly can’t coupon your way out of the grocery store anymore, especially in Canada, where coupon stacking isn’t even a thing!

You shouldn’t have to resort to eating less or skipping meals just so that you can afford groceries. You shouldn’t change your diet to only beans and rice either. Here are 11 habits you can implement to help you save money on food without skimping on the good stuff!

Overlapped Meal Planning.

When choosing your dinners for the week, choose meals with overlapping ingredients. For example, you can buy a big pack of mushrooms or bell peppers and use them in your stirfry, spaghetti sauce, salads, or serve them raw with a dip. You can use carrots as a side or grate them into your meals. Shredded carrot is a tasty addition to ground beef! Grab a Weekly Meal Planner from the library here.

Eat or Incorporate Your Leftovers.

There are only two opinions on leftovers; you either love them or hate them. I used to hate leftovers because I thought the only way to eat them was to reheat them in the microwave. WRONG! Leftovers are great when you reheat and reseason them on the stove. They’re even better when you incorporate them into a new dish! I love adding leftover taco meat to my spaghetti sauce, or leftover salad components into my stir fry.

Shop Your Pantry.

Before deciding what meals you’re going to cook for the week, check what items you already have. Your fridge and cupboard are probably full of “half meals” like dry pasta and canned goods. You could turn your canned chickpeas and coconut milk into a curry!

Use a List at the Grocery Store.

This is an obvious one, but you’d be surprised how often I hear, “I don’t use a list, but I know I should!” Using a grocery list ensures that you get everything you need. It also helps you save on gas because you won’t be running to the store 2-3 times a week to pick up the one ingredient you forgot.

Identify your Staple Meals and Staple Items.

Having staple meals in a home makes busy days less stressful. What do you want to do after a busy day of working and running errands? You probably want to pick up takeout on the way home- that’s why you need staple meals that are EASY and delicious. If you knew you could throw two pots on the stove while you have a quick shower and come out to a pasta meal, you’d be less likely to stop for a $20 takeout meal.

Freeze Food Before It Goes Bad.

When you see your bag of spinach starting to wilt, chop it up and store it in the freezer. That will prevent food waste, and it’s the same as making your own frozen veggies! Thaw and use them for a recipe, or use them frozen in a smoothie.

Shop Sale Items.

Instead of putting “strawberries” or “lettuce”  on your list, write “fruit” and “greens” and see what items are on sale when you get to the store. Be specific about your product when needed in a recipe; otherwise, shop whatever is good quality and affordable.

Keep it Simple.

Instead of serving new sides every day of the week, stick to 2 or 3 sides that you can rotate through. You could serve potatoes as a side every day of the week if you prepare them differently; wedges, baked, mashed, scalloped! Even broccoli can be roasted, steamed, sauteed or covered in cheese and seasoned 100 different ways.

Serve Small Portions.

Food waste is essentially wasted money. You should serve smaller portions to avoid excess food waste. Remind everyone that getting up for seconds is better than getting up to scrape your plate in the garbage. If all 5 of your family members scrape something from their plate, that means you potentially lost an entire portion that could've been used as leftovers or incorporated into another meal.

Eat with Friends & Family.

Have potlucks with your friends and where everyone has to bring one dish. Call up your mom or grandparent and ask them if you can come over for dinner; you can offer to pick up a bagged salad if you’re asked or want to contribute to the meal.

Rewards Points.

Use coupons, cash back apps, loyalty cards, and rewards credit cards to maximize your savings! My two favourite apps are Amplii and Receipt Hog, and I love using my Neo Card or PC Financial card to earn cashback!

Food prices have been skyrocketing, and there is no indication of things going back down anytime soon. You can’t save money on food by cutting it out of your life, but you can get intentional with what foods you’re buying and how you’re buying it.