Wondering how to save money on groceries with rising food prices? Check these tips out!
Grocery prices making you feel less than jolly? 👎🏼
According to the Washington Post, grocery prices have jumped 25% in just the past four years. Though inflation is slowing in 2024, food prices are still expected to rise. So, it begs the question: how DO you save money on groceries nowadays?
Here’s why experts say we’re seeing rising food prices and empty shelves:
Since June 2021, grocery prices have risen by 10.4% (the largest increase since 1981). This is largely in part due to low inventory thanks to supply chain issues, shipping delays, and staffing shortages.
However, other factors such as the effects of COVID-19 on the economy, bad weather, poor crop yields, Avian Flu, and strong demand have all contributed to this rise. Unfortunately, there’s no end in sight to this trend of rising food prices and these factors are still impacting grocery prices in 2024!
Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place! Here are our BEST tips on how to save money on groceries in 2024:
1. Start with coupons. They really can save you a lot of money on groceries.
And no, that doesn’t mean you have to start snagging every newspaper or whipping out the old coupon binder 🤪. We make couponing easy by sharing all the top coupon deals both printable and digital. Plus, for a one-stop shop of the best coupons and deals in your area, be sure to save our Target, CVS, and Walgreens ad roundups — they’re updated weekly!
2. Don’t shop hungry! Meal plan instead!
When you meal plan, you avoid the last-minute ditch to grocery shop on busy weekends or weeknights when you’re busy, hungry, or just plain out of ideas! Study the weekly ads linked above, make a list, and be prepared to go to more than one store to get what you need until the supply chain turmoil subsides.
Hip Tip: When in a pinch, make your protein or dairy last a little longer by using less than the amount in the recipe.
3. Make the farmer’s market your best friend and learn how to get cheap produce, dairy, meat, & more.
From growing your own home garden to only shopping what’s in season, it’s not as difficult as you think to save on fresh produce and meat. You may also consider making a regular routine to check out farmer’s markets in your area as they often have the best prices! View this map to find local farmer’s markets near you.
Plus, check out these AWESOME meat money-saving tips on our sister site, Hip2Keto, too!
HIP TIP: Be sure to shop closer to the end of the farmer’s market time frame, as that’s when they’ll likely offer you the lowest price!
4. Don’t let your money (or good food) go to waste!
Wondering how to save money on groceries in 2024? Not wasting them is step #1! You can freeze and reuse more food items than you think, especially pricier groceries like dairy products. As a quick guide:
- Milk can be stored in the freezer for up to one month
- Cheese in the freezer can last up to 6 months
- You can freeze eggs for up to one year!
Head here to find out the best tips & tricks for freezing unused dairy products. Plus, learn how to freeze soup in Mason jars or make a week’s worth of Crock Pot freezer meals!
Hip Tip: If you find yourself wasting fresh produce, buy frozen fruits and vegetables. They’re frozen when fresh so they still retain much of their nutritional value!
5. Buy in bulk to save on groceries in the long run.
Shopping at warehouse clubs such as Costco and Sam’s Club may seem like a bigger expense up front, but you’d be shocked to learn how much you’re saving when you compare price per pound! In fact, there are a handful of items that we ONLY buy at Sam’s Club because the value is too good to pass up!
Hip Sidekick, Lina says Costco’s prepared meals are an affordable option and great for busy weeknights too!
6. Money-saving apps make a huge difference.
We can’t say enough good things about the top money-saving apps like Fetch, Ibotta, Flipp, Amazon Alexa Shopping List, or Flashfood Locations to earn cash back on your grocery purchases. We also love the receipt scanner apps that give you money back. They’re FREE to download and some have options to link your purchases at other popular stores like Amazon and Target automatically, so it’s truly a no-brainer!
Using these apps is one of the easy ways how to save money on groceries in 2024!
7. Yes, you can even save on adult beverages too.
Don’t let wine and other liquor be the reason you blow your grocery budget. These tips & tricks can help you learn how to score cheap liquor any time of the year.
This is one of the easiest ways to save big on groceries and household products without leaving home (and no additional gas expense!) AND, the more Subscribe & Save orders you have, the bigger discount you receive. Plus, it’s free & easy to cancel anytime, and you don’t need an Amazon Prime membership to take advantage of this awesome perk!
Not an Amazon Prime Member? Sign up for a FREE 30-day trial here!
9. If Amazon’s not for you, try a Walmart + membership where you can save on groceries, gas, and streaming!
Both Hip team members and readers seem to love their Walmart+ memberships and right now you can try a free 30-day trial! We love to use it for easy grocery delivery! Plus, there are so many fantastic perks to being a member including:
- Free returns and free shipping on all orders (no minimum required)
- Free same-day or scheduled home delivery on orders $35 or more
- Fuel savings of up to 10¢ per gallon at over 14,000 gas stations nationwide
- A FREE Auto Care program that gives you free flat tire repairs and a road hazard warranty
- Access to the Scan & Go app that allows you to shop and checkout from your phone
- Walmart Travel perks like 5% cash back on hotels, car rentals, tours & activities, and 2% cash back on flights
- A FREE Paramount+ Essential Plan is included with membership ($64.99 value)
- Exciting limited-time offers
- And so much more!
10. Don’t pass up discount stores in your area.
We’re becoming bigger & bigger fans of new discount stores, like ALDI. While their prices are increasing too, you’ll still pay significantly less for so many items compared to traditional grocery stores.
And our readers have come up with some great suggestions on how to save money on groceries too:
Grocery pick-up and not having to take kids shopping with me that way I only get what is needed. – Angela
Buy a whole or half of a cow from a farmer. – Alisha
Use your freezer! Put leftovers in the freezer instead of the fridge. Can still warm up, if needed for lunches, but lasts much longer and can be used for meals on busy nights. – Beth
Meal plan around grocery store sales. Put snacks up high so kids can’t plow through them every 5 minutes 😂 – Christina
Check out more helpful tips from our Hip2Save Facebook community!
Anyone else feeling the sting of empty shelves and rising food prices? Help out our Hip2Save community and share with us in the comments how you save money on groceries.
