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7 Ideas to shrink your grocery bill

April 2, 2015

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

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26 Comments

  • Reply Juli Williams April 2, 2015 at 11:04 pm

    I love these tips. Taking notes, taking notes ;)
    Juli xx

    • Reply Chrissy Meyst April 2, 2015 at 10:49 pm

      Thanks Juli! You’re the best! Taking blogging lessons from you, Love you!

      Xo,
      Chrissy

  • Reply Maria Ponce April 2, 2015 at 10:23 pm

    ALDI is my favorite place too , this place help me to get my entire meal for a week with just 30 -35 dollar especially now that I am eating more healthy. If you have any idea how I can make it with less money let me know lol , it would be nice to know

    • Reply Chrissy Meyst April 2, 2015 at 10:47 pm

      Isn’t Aldi the best?! So happy to hear you are able to save so much and while eating healthy too! That budget sounds perfect to me! If you’re looking to cut it down further I would suggest maybe making big batches of notoriously cheap meals like chili or potato soup. I make those meals in big batches and it lasts our family a couple days at least. (The potato soup costs about $4.50 and the chili $6) I plan on posting my recipes for both soon! I hope that helps and thanks for writing!

      Xo,
      Chrissy

  • Reply Laura April 2, 2015 at 11:34 pm

    Love these ideas! Great advice!

    • Reply Chrissy Meyst April 3, 2015 at 6:47 am

      Thanks Sis! Love you!

  • Reply Nanny April 4, 2015 at 1:07 pm

    Aldi needs to come to So Cal!! Love you!!! Love this!!!

    • Reply Chrissy Meyst April 4, 2015 at 2:10 pm

      Yes! Love you!

  • Reply Lydia @ Thrifty Frugal Mom April 8, 2015 at 7:49 am

    Excellent tips! I’ve found #1 is a great way to save a LOT. And I absolutely LOVE Aldi. The quality of their products are amazing and you can’t beat the prices. I’m actually not a Walmart girl though…. :)

    I know people say #5 is a big money saver but for some reason I just can’t stick with it. I start it and then it just doesn’t work very well for me. I cook all of our meals almost 100% from scratch though, so I guess my method must be working. :) Still, it kind of bugs me that I can’t make actual menu planning work.

  • Reply Michelle April 8, 2015 at 9:25 am

    Great tips. heading out now to the grocery store and will implement some of these

    • Reply Chrissy Meyst April 14, 2015 at 9:34 pm

      Thanks Michelle! Excited to hear you will be implementing some of the ideas! :)

  • Reply Adrienne Jones April 8, 2015 at 5:27 pm

    I can’t get behind the oatmeal thing, but everything else is spot on. I always search for quality meat on sale. And when I find a smoking deal, I buy a lot. I would rather no meat than bad meat. Fortunately we have a company called Winco available to us so we don’t have to expose ourselves to wal-mart very often. My husband is the type that will go to the nearest, most expensive store and buy whatever he wants no matter the cost. Where are the tips to train your husband to be cost conscious on groceries? :)

    • Reply Chrissy Meyst April 8, 2015 at 6:00 pm

      Haha! I know what you mean about the oatmeal, it isn’t for everyone. Neither is Walmart, lol! But as long as you are finding great deals at stores near you that’s what counts!

  • Reply Heather @ My Overflowing Cup April 9, 2015 at 12:12 am

    These are excellent tips, Chrissy.

    We use them all. Except that we don’t have Aldi. I do shop at Wal-Mart, though.

    Thanks for sharing.

    • Reply Chrissy Meyst April 9, 2015 at 10:10 pm

      Thanks Heather! :)

  • Reply Delia R April 13, 2015 at 8:39 am

    Thanks for the great tips!:)

    • Reply Chrissy Meyst April 13, 2015 at 1:29 pm

      Thanks Delia! My pleasure :)

  • Reply Dana Alley April 13, 2015 at 1:16 pm

    These are handy tips! I have to draw the line at white potatoes. They don’t fill me up and I just want more more MORE! And then I’m in a delicious carb coma. Yummy…

    • Reply Chrissy Meyst April 13, 2015 at 1:28 pm

      Thanks Dana! Haha, I hear you on the white potatoes! Why are carbs so delicious?! ;)

  • Reply Jenny @ Women With Intention April 15, 2015 at 12:08 am

    Hi Chrissy! These are great tips! Thanks so much for linking up at Women With Intention Wednesdays! I will be featuring you tomorrow! :)

  • Reply Women With Intention Wednesdays #15 - April 15, 2015 at 4:00 am

    […] week I’m featuring Chrissy of Littles & Laundry with her great post on 7 Ideas To Shrink Your Grocery Bill!  I’m also featuring Karen at Raising Little Superheroes with 5 Must-Have Baby […]

  • Reply Liala May 30, 2015 at 11:27 am

    Love all the tips! Definitely cutting out meat (and animal products) has helped us cut down on our budget and make room for buying more healthy veggies! Even for those that are not vegan, it can be done a couple times a week and make a big difference!

  • Reply Carolyn A/K/A Peter's Mom November 20, 2015 at 12:59 am

    Hi Chrissy! Thanks so much for the grocery tips! I find it so hard to stick to a plan as far as cooking because No. 1 Peter has been in a major picky stage, No. 2 I have my Dad that lives down the hall who I have to cook for every night and he is the pickiest person I know! He is a meat aND potatoes man and he won’t try new things! With him I wind up shopping 2, 3 and sometimes 4 times a week! I spend way too much money at Publix! I have been dy

    • Reply Carolyn A/K/A Peter's Mom November 20, 2015 at 1:03 am

      Sorry about that… Anyway, I have been dying to try ALDIS and I think I might just go this weekend! Hopefully I can cut down on my grocery bill!

      Chrissy, I wish you, Nate and the boys many Blessings in your new home! May the Lord continue to bless you and your beautiful family always!

      • Reply Chrissy Meyst November 22, 2015 at 9:27 pm

        Thank you so much Carolyn! And thank you for commenting! I think you would love Aldi! There’s a new one on US-1 and 152 and its so nice!

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