In 2023, the prices of groceries skyrocketed due to inflation. Saving money on essential purchases can help you pinch pennies and lengthen the reach of your dollar. Check out these four ways to save money on groceries in 2023.
Ways To Save Money On Groceries in 2023
If you want to save money on your grocery shopping, there are a few things to consider. To be the most successful at saving on groceries, you should shop with a plan, coupons, loyalty cards, and credit cards. Consider these four ways to save money on groceries the next time you find yourself with a bare refrigerator.
1. Shop With a Plan
Many times, going to the grocery store without a plan can lead to buying unnecessary food for your pantry. Think of it as shopping for groceries on an empty stomach. You’re bound to buy that family-sized bag of chips or a couple of quick-frozen meals that are most likely unhealthy, to begin with. Make your dollar stretch by heading out to the grocery store with a plan. Consider these three main factors:
Have a Budget – If you don’t have a budget ready for your grocery shopping you are mostly likely to overspend. Have a budget and stick to it. This way, you only purchase the essentials and won’t have to worry about reaching for the more expensive or unnecessary items in the grocery store.
Make a Shopping List – When your grocery shopping strategy includes a budget, it is best to also prepare a shopping list. Make a list of your essential groceries to help better budget your spending. It also helps make a more efficient grocery shopping trip with no time wasted.
Do Not Rush – Carve out time for grocery shopping. Rushing at the grocery store doesn’t help when you’re trying to save money because it most likely means, you didn’t plan out your groceries and might end up spending above your desired budget. You might also opt to visit your closest grocery store which may not have the best prices. Plan your grocery store trip with time so that you can shop at stores with the best prices and deals.
2. Coupons
Using store coupons is an excellent way to stretch your dollars. If you have enough pantry space couponing can be an excellent option as you can often find “buy one, get one” coupons. Even if your pantry space is limited, finding coupons for the things you often shop for at grocery stores can be a big money saver. You can typically find digital coupons on the grocery store apps along with loyalty programs or cards. With that said, it leads us to our next point: Loyalty cards.
3. Get a Supermarket Loyalty Card
Supermarket chains tend to have loyalty programs for shoppers via an app or loyalty card. With supermarket loyalty programs you will commonly find additional deals and savings for your grocery shopping. With grocery store loyalty programs, you may also find you get discounts on various store items.
4. Use a Cash Back Credit Card
Lastly, use a cash back credit card to save money on groceries. A rewards credit card is one of the best ways to earn money back in return for your grocery purchases. For example, you can use your earned rewards to pay for your purchases. If you already have earned cash back from previous purchases, you can use it to redeem the money back as a credit, and use it to pay back your credit card balance. Therefore, you save money on your groceries.
More Rewards for Your Groceries
There are plenty of credit cards that earn cash back for grocery shopping like the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card which earns 3% back on groceries – all for no annual fee. Consider credit card rotating categories and intro offers too. For example, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers 5% back on your highest spending category each billing period and includes a grocery store category. Cash back cards, like the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa®, offer an introductory bonus offer after meeting a purchase requirement. You can use the cash back bonus for future grocery store purchases.
Credit Card Merchant Discounts
Furthermore, there are credit card discounts you may also be eligible for through credit card merchants. Card-linked offers are discounts (offered through your card issuer) for purchases made at a participating merchant store. Granted, your preferred grocery store may be a participating merchant. If so, you can benefit from saving money on groceries by using a card-linked deal. Activate your offers manually by logging into your account on the card issuer’s website or app, and selecting the offer you want to link.
Pros:
- A credit card offers more security
- Easy way to build credit
Cons:
- Steep interest charges
- May lead to overspending
Related Article: The Best Credit Cards for Grocery Shopping
Featured image by Shotprime/Canva
