5 Tips To Save Money on Groceries This Year

The best way to save money on groceries doesn’t have to mean spending endless hours meal planning or clipping coupons. Let’s be honest: not everyone enjoys mapping out meals for the week or finding the energy to cook exactly what they planned. I never know what I want to wear 2 days ahead of time, how am I supposed to know what I want to cook next Friday?

As someone who’s tried extreme couponing and transitioned to buying more organic, allergy-friendly items, I’ve discovered that there are more effective ways to save money on grocery bills. Here are my top five money-saving tips to help you cut costs at the grocery store in 2025.

1. Reduce Your Trips to the Store

Are you making multiple trips to the grocery store each week? Frequent shopping increases the chances of impulse purchases and overspending.

For our family, grocery shopping once every three weeks is the sweet spot. It took some trial and error to get there. Fewer trips means we save money on groceries. Knowing how to keep produce fresh for the entire three-week period allows me to stretch my trips out that far while enjoying seasonal produce.

You can learn how to reduce food waste and keep produce fresh in the Zero Waste Produce Guide. Whether you shop weekly or biweekly, the key is to stick to your budget every time you go.

I use debit cards for a bank account that we use specifically for our grocery budget. This way we always know what portion of our monthly income goes to groceries and I can keep an eye on the account balance.

2. Take Inventory Before Shopping

Before heading to the store, check what you already have at home. Look in your fridge check fresh ingredients, dairy products, pantry items, and freezer for items that might have been overlooked and nearing expiration dates.

Could you use leftover fresh produce in upcoming meals leading up to shopping day? Are there hidden food items in your freezer waiting to be incorporated into a dish? Twice a year, I do a detailed inventory, but even a quick check can help you avoid buying duplicates and wasting food. I keep a running grocery list in my Grocery Planner so that I know what I need and what I have on hand.

3. Shop for Versatile Ingredients to Save Money

Focus on buying ingredients that can be used in multiple ways. Growing up, white bread was the ultimate multitasker, transforming from toast to a hotdog bun. Now, I apply the same principle to items like Greek yogurt. It’s not just a breakfast food; it can replace sour cream, go into smoothies, act as a base for ranch dressing, or even be used in baking to keep muffins moist. Versatile ingredients save both money and space in your kitchen. As you plan meals see what food items could work to similar products you are already buying, with an added bonus of not needing to buy so many ingredients.

4. Batch Cook and Freeze Extras

Batch cooking is a game changer. One of the easiest ways is to make dinner with the plan to meal prep the extra portions to go into the freezer. Whenever I make tacos, sloppy joes, or a roast, I prepare extra to freeze for future meals. For example, leftover taco meat or pulled pork can be frozen for quick dinners down the road. This also works for breakfast items like waffles, muffins, and steel-cut oatmeal. Batch cooking saves time and reduces the need for expensive last-minute takeout when you can eat meals in minutes and save so much money.

5. Maintain a Well-Stocked Pantry

Keeping your pantry stocked with basic staples ensures you’re always prepared. As soon as I use up a staple, it goes on the shopping list. For instance, when I make tortilla soup, I immediately add black beans, diced tomatoes, and green chilies to my list as they’re used. A simple rule I follow is “one for now, two for later” when restocking items we use regularly. This way, you’re never caught off guard in the middle of a recipe. Keeping a stocked pantry allows you to seek out lower prices on sale items throughout the year.

Bonus Tip: Save Money By Avoiding Single-Use Ingredients

I rarely buy items that only serve one purpose. For example, pine nuts, which I initially bought for holiday stuffing, now find their way into my spinach salads. Feta cheese, a summer staple for watermelon salads, has become a favorite addition to scrambled eggs. On the other hand, specialty items like saffron might sit unused. Be mindful of what you buy and ensure it can be used in multiple recipes.