Saving money on groceries can seem daunting. After all, everything about the experience, from upbeat music playing in the aisles to pre-cut vegetable wraps, is designed to separate you from your hard-earned dollars. But you don’t have to become an Olympic-level couponer or buy food from the paddle to shave a few bucks off that total.
Whether you’re already a cost-conscious shopper or thinking about spending in new ways these days, a few small changes can go a long way if you make them a long-term habit. “If you’re grabbing convenience and saving $10 at a store, that might not seem like much,” says Erin Chase, who runs the blog $5 Dinners. “But if you shop once a week and keep it that way, you’re looking at real savings in the long run.”
She suggests you try a few money-saving tactics and see what sticks around in the long run. Here are some ideas to get you started:
