25 Great Ways to Save at the Supermarket

Try these shopper-tested strategies to cut your grocery bills

Donna Fuscaldo,

AARP

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Published August 05, 2024

a man looks into an empty shopping cart before a dollar sign appears

Sam Island

A trip to the grocery store can break the bank these days. Food-at-home prices are up more than 20 percent since the pandemic began, and shrinkflation — when food manufacturers shrink the package size but not the price — is rampant on supermarket shelves.

“Avian flu affected egg prices, climate change is affecting the availability of beef, and commodity prices are rising broadly,” says Mark Hamrick, Bankrate’s Washington bureau chief, adding that labor shortages are also increasing the cost of doing business. “With respect to food, it’s a multifaceted story, and all are pointing in the same direction, which is up.”

Food prices aren’t expected to return to prepandemic levels, but that doesn’t mean every visit to the supermarket has to be a budget-busting experience, which is particularly important if you are living on a fixed income. There are many ways to save on groceries. Here are 25 tips and tricks worth trying.

1. Get creative with leftovers

Making leftovers more appetizing means you’re more likely to eat them, saving you the cash you would have spent on subsequent meals. The key is to create dishes that don’t make you feel like you’re eating the same thing every day. For example, leftover meat patties can go into a pasta dish or a cheeseburger salad, while surplus pork shoulder can become a taco filling.

2. Trade down

Most grocery chains stock no-frill store brands or sell generics that tend to be priced lower than name brands. “Store brands often have the same ingredients as the brand name — they are sometimes made in the same factories — and are usually much cheaper,” says Trae Bodge, a money expert and founder of TrueTrae.com. “Before switching to a store brand, compare ingredients for ingredients to your name-brand favorites to ensure you aren’t buying something with unnecessary fillers and other additives.”

3. Avoid prepared foods

Precut fruit and vegetables and prepared meals are quick and easy, but you’ll pay a steep premium for the convenience, which is why Hamrick says to resist the temptation. “With prepared meat loaf you are paying more than the sum of ingredients because somebody had to make it,” he says. “There’s a tremendous difference in price for a marinated chicken breast and a chicken breast you add your own marinade to.”

4. Stick to sales

Every week, grocery stores advertise what’s on sale, from a percentage off an item to buy-one-get-one deals, in newspaper circulars and online. Building your shopping list exclusively around what’s on sale can lower your weekly food costs substantially.

A stand-alone chest freezer allows you to store more when food goes on sale.

Sam Island

5. Invest in a freezer

Stocking up when items go on sale can save you big bucks if you have the storage space. That’s where a stand-alone chest freezer comes in. “Instead of being subject to the variety of prices each week, you purchase items when they are 50 to 75 percent off and freeze them,” says Steve Economides, who along with his wife, Annette, founded the Money Smart Family to teach people how to be frugal.

6. Shop your kitchen first

Before you head out to the grocery store, take stock of what you have in your pantry, refrigerator and freezer. You may only need a few ingredients to make a meal out of what you already have on hand.

7. Take advantage of senior discount days

Many supermarkets offer people over a specific age, say 60 years old, a percentage off their bill. The grocery stores typically pick one day per week, known as a senior discount day, to extend this perk to their older shoppers. The discounts tend to range from 5 to 10 percent off your grocery bill or select items.

8. Pay with a cash-back credit card

Some credit cards give you cash back when using it on specific categories including food. Unsure if your credit card offers cash back for groceries? Check the card issuer’s website or enter the name of the card plus “benefits” in Google or another search engine to find out. If your card doesn’t offer cash back for food purchases, Bodge says to consider switching to one with comparable (or better!) terms. Make sure to pay off the balance on time each month to avoid any interest or late fees that would negate the value of the cash back earned.

9. Don’t go to the store hungry

“The worst thing in the world to do is to go to a store hungry without a shopping list,” says Hamrick. “All of these brick and mortar stores are experts at trying to influence consumers to make discretionary purchases,” and if you are hungry, it’s easier to get enticed by them.

a man walks down the aisles in a grocery store

Instead of getting delivery, walk the aisles to find in-store deals.

Sam Island

10. Walk the aisles

Curbside pickup and delivery are popular due to the pandemic, but if you don’t peruse the aisles, you may miss out on manager’s discounts, overstock items, near-expiring products and other in-store offers that aren’t advertised. You can save as much as 90 percent with these deals, says Steve Economides, who along with his wife, Annette, founded the Money Smart Family to teach people how to be frugal.

11. Sign up for free loyalty programs

Most supermarkets reward loyal shoppers with discounts, deals and freebies. To reap the rewards, you usually have to sign up for the loyalty program online or through an app. “Loyalty members get exclusive access to sales and can earn points toward free groceries,” says Bodge. “We get a free turkey every year at ShopRite because of all the shopping we do during the year.”

12. Know your “burn rate”

If you plan to stock up to save, it’s important to know your so-called burn rate, or how quickly you go through food items, says Economides. For instance, it may not be worth it to buy five Caesar salad kits when they go on sale if you consume only one per week. Foods like salad greens don’t freeze well, so you may be forced to throw some out when they expire.

13. Buy smaller portions

Everyone thinks buying in bulk is the way to save, but that’s only true if you actually consume everything you purchase. Often, a portion of items purchased in bulk end up in the trash, which is why Rob Bertman, director of Family Budget Services, says to consider buying smaller portions. “Rather than a pound of meat, buy three-quarters,” he says. Downsize your portions instead of your grocery list.

14. Go to the grocery store less

Running to the store three times a week is not only time-consuming, but it can also be expensive. After all, shoppers are prone to impulse buy even when food shopping, and the more time spent in a store, the more temptation there is. “Going to the store less often is how I spend less money on groceries,” says Bertman.

Making a list and sticking to it can discourage impulse buys.

Sam Island

15. Respect the shopping list

Making a list and sticking to it is a time-tested way to stay on budget and not overspend. Not only will a list discourage impulse buys, but it should reduce the number of trips to the store, saving you the cost of gas or other transportation.

16. Don’t overlook discounters

Dollar stores may have gotten a bum rap in years past, but with inflation still elevated, they’re attracting many frugal shoppers looking to get a lot of bang for their buck. And it’s not just on party goods and greeting cards. Increasingly, dollar stores are stocking their aisles with food. Another place to get cheaper groceries: salvage grocery stores. These are stores that sell items that traditional supermarkets pass on — think cosmetically flawed produce, dented cans, crumpled boxes and products nearing expiration dates. Check buysalvagefood.com to find stores near you.

17. Plan a weekly menu

Creating a weekly menu before you hit the grocery store will help ensure you don’t waste food or overspend on last-minute takeout. Annette Economides plans a weekly menu for dinner only and starts with what she already has on hand in the house. Without a menu, you end up waiting until the last minute and paying full price for whatever is in the store, she says.

18. Cook from scratch

Ready-made meals at the supermarket are quick and easy, but they can get expensive. Cooking from scratch is cheaper and often a healthier alternative, with fewer additives and preservatives. That’s important for older adults who have to watch their sodium intake or have special dietary needs. When you cook from scratch, you tend to use the same basic ingredients over and over.

19. Browse the clearance racks

Even grocery stores have clearance sections, and they can offer a wealth of savings whether you are shopping in the produce aisle or bakery section. “I found a five-pound package of meatballs once for $3.86,” says Annette Economides, who took the opportunity to stock up.

a woman looks at a garden shaped like a dollar sign

Growing your own food will help you eat healthier and save money.

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20. Grow your own food

Have a green thumb? Then you may want to consider growing your own fruits, vegetables and herbs. Not only can you save money, but you’ll be inclined to eat more healthy fresh fruits and vegetables because you have them on hand. Many fruits, vegetables and herbs can be grown in pots, so even apartment dwellers can get in on the savings.

21. Buy frozen fruits and vegetables

Appetites and food needs change with age. Some adults are living alone when they get older, so they need to purchase less food, and older adults in general consume less food than their younger counterparts. Buying fresh fruits and vegetables is great, so long as you eat them before they go bad. Frozen produce can be just as healthy as fresh, lasts much longer and is often cheaper especially compared to prices on some fresh fruits and veggies when they are out of season.

22. Use a vacuum sealer

Freezing meats and prepared food in freezer-safe bags can extend their life and shave money off your grocery bill. Julien Saunders, author of Cashing Out, suggests investing in a food vacuum sealer. It can set you back anywhere from $25 to $200, but it does mean you can buy bulk meat or produce, cut it up, seal it, freeze it and have it for the future. Air that’s left in standard freezer bags is what causes freezer burn. With a vacuum sealer, you remove the excess air. That preserves the flavor and quality of the meat for longer, Saunders explains.

23. Select cheap but healthy foods

There are plenty of foods and ingredients that are cheap and healthy that have a long shelf life. Brown rice and oatmeal are two great choices of grains. To save on fresh fruits and vegetables, buy what’s in season and on sale.

24. Stay on budget

Part of your meal planning should include setting a budget and sticking to it. If you have $500 to spend on groceries for the month, break it down to $125 a week and shop accordingly.

25. Seek assistance

Food insecurity is a big problem for many older adults. According to an AARP Public Policy Institute report, about 10 percent of Americans ages 50 and older faced the threat of hunger in 2022. To combat that, the federal government operates the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Formerly known as food stamps, the program provides eligible individuals with monthly benefits to purchase groceries at participating supermarkets and farmers markets. To be eligible for SNAP, monthly income must be less than 130 percent of the poverty line in the U.S. The Senior Box Program is another federally funded assistance program for adults 60-plus who have incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level. With this program, you get a box of food with set items for free. The food is purchased by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which works with local nonprofits to distribute the boxes monthly.

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Donna Fuscaldo is a contributing writer and editor focusing on personal finance and health. She has spent over two decades writing and covering news for several national publications including The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Investopedia and HerMoney.