10 Ways to Save on Groceries (Without Clipping A Single Coupon)
Clipping coupons not on your list of things to do? That’s ok, because you can still save a bundle of money at the grocery store by doing these 10 simple things!
1. Plan Your Meals
It sounds too easy, but having even a basic plan for your weekly meals can help save you money. How? Less grocery trips to the store and less temptation to order out, to name a few!
2. Cook From Scratch
Stop buying the prepackaged processed foods, the pre cooked meals in the deli, and ordering out. You can cook your meals from scratch for a fraction of the cost, and they are healthier too.
3. Cut Meat In Half
Have one meatless meal a week and stretch the meat you do buy by using only half of what a recipe calls for. Fill in with less expensive ingredients such as beans, rice and vegetables and no one will ever notice.
4. Buy The Smallest Size
Don’t buy jumbo apples and oranges. Don’t buy the largest pepper in the bin. How much of that apple will go to waste? How much of that pepper will you need for your recipe? Purchasing smaller sizes gets you more for your dollar and less waste too!
5. Shop in Season
In season produce will always be cheaper. Learn what is in season in your area and purchase those items. For example buy apples in the fall, strawberries and blueberries in the summer etc. I can purchase a 1 lb container of strawberries for .99 in the summer months. In the winter that price jumps to 3.99 for that same container.
6. Watch For Loss Leaders
These are usually the sales listed on the front page of your grocery sales flyer. These items aren’t making the store any money, but their low prices are luring you into the store. These are usually your best deals. The back page of the flyer often has great deals too.
7. Bake Ahead Of Time
Make up a big batch of pancakes and waffles (from scratch!) and freeze it for quick and easy breakfasts. Make up meals for you freezer to have on hand when life gets busy and take out is tempting. And use the loss leader meats and other ingredients in those meals to save even more!
8. Find a Frugal Cook Book
Not all cookbooks are created equal. When you plan your menus, choose a cook book that is focused on saving you money. My favorites? May all time favorite is Cheap Fast Good.
9. Drink Water Instead of Juice or Soda
Not only is it better for you, it’s better for your wallet too. It doesn’t get any cheaper than free! Add some lemon and lime slices and put it in a pretty pitcher.
10. Buy Spices In Bulk
This has been a huge money saver for us. Find a co-op or bulk supply store and stock up spices you use the most. Learn how to make your own taco seasoning mixes and other packaged mixes. All that is in those are the a few different spices mixed together. You can do that at home in less than five minutes, and your mix won’t have the preservatives and MSG either!
If clipping coupons isn’t interesting to you, or you just don’t have the time for it in this season of your life, you can still save loads of money on your grocery bill each week by implementing even one of these things.
And did you notice that most of these things not only save you money, they are healthier for you too? Eating healthy doesn’t have to come at a high price!
Do you have any other ideas for saving money on groceries without clipping coupons? I am sure there are many more that I don’t have here!
All photos from Flickr.com For more great money saving ideas, be sure to visit Frugal Friday over at Life As Mom.
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21 Responses to “10 Ways to Save on Groceries (Without Clipping A Single Coupon)”
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Welcome to A High And Noble Calling!
My passion is to encourage women to embrace and excel in their high callings as wives, mothers, homemakers and women of God. We have a lot to do in a day, and my hope is that I can encourage and equip you to not only finish the laundry, cook dinner, manage your home and love your husband, but to bring glory to God in the process.
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Link To Me
Great post! I’m linking on Monday, Nov. 16.
Jennifer´s last blog: Politically Correct Homeschoolers
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Stephanie Reply:
November 14th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Thanks for linking!
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Great tips! I am in Canada where food coupons are rare. I have to find other ways to save money on groceries. I find that the best way for me to save money is to grocery shop alone.
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Stephanie Reply:
November 14th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Really, coupons are rare in Canada? I wonder why that is! But you can still be creative in saving money even without them!
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Great post!
…although I must disagree about buying smaller sizes!
I feel like the bigger produce (say, apples, bananas, watermelon, peppers, etc.) has more fruit for the amount of throw-away (peel, core) so it’s a better deal. (I should use my kitchen scale and see if this is really true!) 
BUT, I can see how if you’re buying something for one particular recipe it’d be best to get just the amount needed, especially if the price is per pound. If it’s per item (like peppers 2/$1) then bigger is better!
Tammy L´s last blog: This week’s grocery shopping
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Stephanie Reply:
November 14th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
True Tammy, but I guess I am thinking since my children are older and grab their own snacks, the smaller fruits seem to have less waste because they can eat them all. I would love to have you test this theory
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Kit Reply:
December 17th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
I have always found that buying the larger makes sense for items I use after cutting up (watermelon, lettuce) or can chop and freeze (onions, peppers) but I do go for the smaller pieces when buying items by the lb that are eaten one at a time , like apples and bananas.
My kids aren’t likely to waste the extra few bites , nor are they likely to starve if the apple is slightly smaller.
But if I can get 11 apples for the same price as 10 of the same total weight, I’ll take 11 – that’s a serving size issue!
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Those are ALL great ideas! We don’t coupon here (hubby doesn’t feel I should add one more thing to my already busy to-do list) so I am content in saving money in other ways. I generally do everything you have on your list!
Kelly @ Wisdom Begun´s last blog: Today is My Birthday
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Stephanie Reply:
November 14th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
What a sweet hubby! I find some weeks I have the time and some I don’t so I had to find some other ways to make it work!
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Good tips! I actually got into couponing through trying doing some of these other things first–as in cooking at home, not eating out, etc. Our grocery spending actually went up, because I was cooking so much more. As I bought more groceries, I became more conscious of prices, started shopping loss leaders, etc, and finally added coupons. Even though I still use coupons, the bulk of my savings comes from using these other techniques, and the coupons are just the extra bit off the top.
Charlene @ A Virtuous Woman´s last blog: CVS Makes My Mission Possible
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Stephanie Reply:
November 14th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Sounds like we had the same journey!
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Those are GREAT tips. We exercise most of those:-)
Susie’s Homemade´s last blog: Friday Foto Fun with The Nature Center
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Hey, I’m not a total loser! I do some of those things already! Who knew?
Sunny´s last blog: God Loves Losers And I’m Living Proof
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Stephanie Reply:
November 14th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
You are very frugal in my book, so don’t be so hard on yourself
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Great list, I do most of them. My hold out is really planning my meals. It is a goal I am working on!
Christy´s last blog: Veteran’s Day
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Stephanie Reply:
November 14th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
It is a discipline to meal plan, but once you do you’ll be hooked!
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I totally agree with you on your tips! Meatless meals have been great for us. It’s also helpful to know how to cook meatless meals because we know a lot of people who are vegetarians, and we aren’t stumped when they come over! Also, I agree that drinking water helps to save money.
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These are great tips! I do most of them, but am definitely going to add cutting the meat in half and buying spices in bulk! Thanks!
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Love these ideas! I do most of them, but never thought to buy smaller produce and get a frugal cook book.
Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
Liz@HoosierHomemade´s last blog: Coupon Giving
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Thanks so much for sharing your tips. I’ll have to start putting (#3. Cut Meat In Half) to use.
TheRoosterChick´s last blog: Broiled Salmon Cakes
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Stephanie Reply:
December 2nd, 2009 at 4:23 pm
That tip alone has saved me hundreds of dollars and the funny thing is no one even notices!
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