7 Ideas to shrink your grocery bill

I am a frugal mama. Don’t get me wrong, shopping is one of my favorite things to do – I be shoppin’. But most of the time…I be window shoppin’, lol! I have spent a lot of time since becoming a stay at home mom looking on Pinterest researching how to cut down on our grocery bill while still eating (mostly) healthy, whole food. Are you looking for some ideas to shrink your grocery bill? In my experience, here are the things that have helped us most:

Ideas to shrink your grocery bill

1. Limit meat

Especially when you buy the organic, free-range stuff. We eat meat but it’s definitely something we cut down on to cut costs. Consider using it as a condiment instead of centerpiece to your meals. Foods like beans and lentils, quinoa and the like are great sources of protein at a fraction of meat’s price.

2. Potatoes are your friend

Baking potatoes, sweet potatoes, whichever kind you like. Potatoes and delicious and oh SO cheap! We like to use them in a variety of ways: Baked (maybe with vegan chili on top), chopped and as a side dish or homemade potato soup (nom nom). French fries anyone?

3. Have a Fiesta!

I find when I’m cutting down on costs we eat a lot of mexican style dishes. It’s just very affordable to make meals like enchiladas, tacos, etc. When in doubt make it a Taco Tuesday!

4. Shop at Aldi or Walmart if possible

Aldi and Walmart meet our week to week needs best and at a great price. I usually check Aldi for everything on my list first and whatever they don’t have I get at Walmart.

5. Meal plan, meal plan, meal plan

One thing that I am seeing the fruit in lately is sticking to my meal plans. I used to make a meal plan and then I wouldn’t even follow it. Not the best use of my time right? The last month or so I have been referring back to my meal plan often to remember what I’m supposed to be making for dinner that night. It really helps me to not use ingredients I purchased for one meal accidentally on another. It also gives me the option to prepare dinner in the morning since my plan has already been thought out for me. No more 4:30pm uh-oh-what’s-for-dinner freak outs!

6. Grocery shop once a week

This one can be tough and I don’t always stick to it but it really does help keep costs down. If you run out of something, consider subbing a couple ingredients for clever alternatives. There are great cheat sheets on Pinterest in subbing one ingredient for another. One of my favs? If you don’t have 1 cup buttermilk, sub 1 cup almond milk or the like with 1 TBSP of apple cider vinegar! Now you can go make buttermilk pancakes. You’re welcome ;)

7. Oatmeal for breakfast

Oatmeal is cheap and healthy, it fills you up and oh yeah did I mention it’s cheap?! And by oatmeal I’m referring to the plain, whole grain stuff. I like to add almond milk, cinnamon, blueberries and ground flax to mine. Delish!

So there are some ideas to shrink your grocery bill. I hope they help! If you have any questions or ideas to share, I’d love to read them in the comments!

Happy grocery shopping!

Chrissy