Budget

How We Cut Our Grocery Bill In Half

November 27, 2020

We where financially hit hard. Losing a large portion of our family income, pushing us into the low income bracket.

As a large family o 10 with 8 kids under 12 years old. It has been a massive learning curve for our family. We have had to relearn everything that we thought we knew about money. At first it was very stressful and overwhelming but as the months have passed. We have learn how to manage our money and budget smarter.

grocery basket full of food to save money

One of the biggest areas we had to learn about was our grocery bill. In 2018-19 we where about to comfortable feed our large with an average spending of $400 to $600 per week. But when our income changed, we where left with an average of $120 to $200 each week.

There was no more money, so we had to become savvy and frugal with our spending. What was once thought to be the impossible, has become the manageable. Until we can cover the loss of income in the future.

I am all about share knowledge here at Secrets Of A Busy Mum.

So here are my tips and tricks that I use, to save money on your grocery bill:

Started With What We Have

The first step to cutting our grocery bill, was to know what we had on hand. What did we already have in our cupboards to help create meals. What food did we have in the fridge that had to be used first. By knowing exactly what we had we have been to limit our household food wastage. As well as get the most out of the money we had to spend. It also stops unnecessary purchase or double up on items we already have.

Meal Planning

Meal Planning has been a big game changer. We where able to use what we had already had to plan out our meals. It has also limited the decisions and reduced arguments over what we where having for dinner. Not only have we been able to find budget meals to try but also save money on food wastage in the home. A meal plan doesn’t have to be set in stone. As we swap meals around during the week but every planned meal has been made.

Stick To A List

Having a shopping list has helped me stay on track in the supermarket. I only every buy what is on the list. The list is the third step in how we prepare before we even get to a grocery store. If I don’t have a list then I don’t go in. I am only ever buying what we need. Having a list also helps you stop making unnecessary purchase of items you already have at home.

Shopped Once Per Pay Period

Our family pay periods is once per week. So we planned our shop for weekly making sure we had everything on the list we needed each week. This limited the amount of time we had to go to the store and any unnecessary purchases that may of happen through temptation.

Shopped The Sale Items

Every store has a sale period for perishable items in there store. Daily baked good are usually reduced in the evenings. While meat items in my local area are reduced at mid-day to late afternoon. It is all about studying when you notice items are reduced to clear. But it important to remember that just because something is on sale, it doesn’t make it a good deal. Especially if your don’t need it when money is tight.

Skipped The Brand Names

If you are looking to save big money then I highly suggest giving those brand name food labels a miss. There is nothing wrong with buy store brand on food items. I have noticed massive savings since making the switch. Some things are a no-go, as my kids won’t eat it. So I find another cheaper alternative somewhere else. But most store brand items have been kid approved by my tribe of eight.

Shopped By Quantity Over Price

This is one of the best kept secrets to saving money on groceries. On every price tag, at one of the bottom corners, there is something along the lines of, $0.85 per 100g. This is what I use to make sure I am getting the best possible deal on what I am buying. It helps when comparing brands against each other that have different size packs, to get the most out of your money. You will also find that a majority of the time the large size in the product cost the least. So if you have the room to store the larger amount, then buy bigger. I have also discover that even if the smaller size of a brand is on sale, the larger item is still most cost effective. So don’t just buy because something is one sale, always check the cost per size before you decide.

Shopped At Where Items Where Cheaper

I am luck because I have three different supermarket chains within close proximity to each other. So I can easily shop where things are cheaper. Each store has their own prices and quantity of products. Which means that if I am have a short week on the grocery money. I can shop between the three store to get the most out of my money. This isn’t always possible, but if it is, try and find what each store offers the best price on the items your are buying. The savings can add up by splitting your shop between stores.

Kept Track Of Product Cost

I have two different ways I do costing for our groceries. One starts with the shopping list before I even leave the house. I have a notebook where I write down the everyday price of a product for the stores that I shop at. This helps me to get a rough estimation of how much our grocery bill will cost for the shop. This allows me to stay under budget and better meal plan according to our budget that week.

The second way I cost, is to have a running log on the shopping list for each item that goes in my trolley. I can then do a quick add up in store to make sure that I have enough money to pay for the groceries. That means no more embarrassing moments at the checkout when I go over budget and have to start putting items back until we are under budget.

Some final thought….

When you have no other choice but live on the money you have left over after bills. Things can get very stressful. So if you are struggling I really want you to know that, you have got this. Things are tough right now but you are tougher and can get through this. I hope my tips and tricks to saving money but still managing to get everything you need have help in some way or another.

Here’s The Recap….