With surging prices on everything from organic produce to canned frozen foods—it might seem challenging to save money on your grocery list. However, with planning and discipline, you can stick to a budget and slash your expenses.

A large chunk of our monthly expenses goes into grocery shopping. With the ever-rising cost of living, it has become critical to re-evaluate our purchasing and consumption habits. Whether you shop for groceries online or prefer walking through the aisles of your local departmental store—we have provided nine tips to help slash your expenses without compromising.

Curate a Meal Plan for the Week

Plan your meals one week ahead to avoid purchasing items you don’t need. A meal plan can help prevent overspending by allowing you to spend only on goods your list suggests you need— based on your dietary needs for the week.

Make a List and Stick to It

Shopping lists enable shoppers to commit to a budget. Do not enter the grocery store without a shopping list constituting essentials you need that month, to ensure you are not buying things you don't need. This simple step will help avoid impulse buys and save money.

‍Shop Alone

Impulse buying is one of the worst habits that can significantly surge your grocery expenses. Particularly, shopping with kids and responding to their whims and fancies is the worst idea. Instead of bringing your family to the grocery store, consider shopping alone to avoid impulse shopping.

Use Online Grocery Apps

‍There are many grocery apps out there that serve as a boon, enabling shoppers to save money with their crazy deals and discounts. With guaranteed cashback after every purchase, these apps have convinced millions of consumers to shop for groceries from the comfort of their homes after comparing prices. These apps offer lucrative deals, coupons, discounts, and cashback offers on several products, making shopping easy and cost-effective.

Shop on the Least Busy Days of the Week

Crowded stores can adversely impact your grocery budget. If you are out shopping, on a day and at a time when the store is busy (for instance, at weekends), it may be challenging to examine all the products, find specific brands and locate cheaper substitutes.

Conversely, when the store is less crowded, you can shop at ease, and save money at the same time. Determining the relaxed hours at the store may be tricky, but after figuring it out—try sticking to that day and time.

Don’t Go Shopping with an Empty Stomach

‍If you want to reduce your grocery bill, don’t go shopping with an empty tummy. This suggestion might sound outlandish but it is effective, trust us!

When you shop famished, you will likely overestimate the quantity of food you will consume during that week, as a result, you will end up buying more than you need. In addition, famished shoppers generally gravitate towards processed junk foods, sweet treats and snacks—unhealthy options.

Shop Generic

Before adding that name-brand ketchup or condiment to your shopping cart, check the store-brand alternative sitting next to it. Store-brand products tend to be significantly cheaper.

Shop During the Sale

Sign up for official newsletters, check newspaper circulars, pamphlets, and store apps to stay updated on upcoming sales and discounts. You can make the most out of these sales to minimise your expenses. However, shop mindfully and avoid buying items you don’t need just because they are available at knockdown prices.

Buy Goods in Bulk

Some goods cost significantly less when bought in bulk. So, consider purchasing in large quantities whenever it feels convenient, and freeze the extra. This shopping practice can come in handy during certain sales. For instance, buying four loaves of bread might cost cheaper than two.

Shop smart and save money with these clever tips.