Hey there my super single income families! Juggling work, bills, kids and everything in between is already a superpower all on its own, but let’s be honest, when it comes to grocery shopping, things can feel a little…doom and gloom. You go to the store with all kinds of good intentions, but end up leaving feeling like you went to an awful amusement park and your only souvenir is a receipt that looks like you went to CVS.
Sound familiar? We’ve all been there. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to be a martyr to the grocery aisles! I’m not saying I can make it fun, because unless you’re just weird like that, it will never be fun, but if you use a few smart strategies, you can turn those grocery trips from a financial nightmare to a victory lap for your budget!
Why Do We Feel So Broke After Grocery Shopping?
Before we get into the rescue mission, let’s talk about why grocery shopping usually feels like a battle.
- Impulse Purchases: Those tempting displays at the checkouts? They design those to make you grab things that you don’t actually need.
- Brand Loyalty Blindness: My wife and daughter swear by a few items that have to be brand name but for the most part those big brands are extremely close to or are the same as the generic but cost twice as much.
- Planning Paralysis: If you’re like me, endless options lead to getting overwhelmed and I end up throwing random stuff in my cart which just run up the bill and a lot of the time get thrown out.
Let’s not even start talking about inflation.
A bonus tip before we even begin…if you’re able, do the grocery tasks together as a couple! My wife and I split the planning tasks between us and then we do the actual shopping together. We hate grocery shopping individually but we actually get to be together and enjoy just being with each other for a little while. Turn it into almost a “mini-date.”
Grocery Shopping Hacks for Single Income Families:
1. Plan like a Pro
One of the most potent weapons in the grocery-savings arsenal is meal planning. I won’t get into the boring statistics, but there are plenty of studies that show that households that plan their meals in advance not only spend less on groceries, but also make healthier eating choices overall!
My wife does the meal planning for our family (thankfully, because I suck at it!). She takes about an hour every other week and writes out her plan in our meal planning notebook. I’ll have her write a post more in detail soon but it doesn’t have to be super complicated or take forever.
- Create a menu for each day of the period – We do our shopping every 2 weeks so that’s 14 days of meals.
- Create a grocery list – After checking for what you have in the pantry, create a list of what you need for the meals and any other items that are needed.
- Master the list – This is where I come in during the process. I take my wife’s list and pull up a spreadsheet as well as the grocery store websites (We typically use Kroger and Walmart, but use whatever is best for you!). My process is to go through the digital coupons and deals and add anything to the list that we might could use at a god enough price. Then I search each product at both stores and log the cheapest price (or best deal). I also include the aisle number for the item, which drastically cuts back on impulse purchases because we only go to the locations of the store we need to.
- Stick to the list – This is extremely important. You can really control how much you spend if you stick to your list. Always try to stay within your predetermined grocery budget as much as possible. (I have a very easy budget template here as well as some other resources on my Freebies page if you need!)
2. Shop the Sales, But Be Smart:
Grocery stores rely on clever marketing tactics to get you to spend more. This is where a lot of things like “Buy 3 Get 1 Free” come in. Sales can be great savings tools, but if you aren’t going to use 4 of whatever it is, there is a good chance that you are going to pay too much. You have to navigate the sales flyers and the stores without getting sucked in.
- Focus on what you need, not what’s on sale: You have a grocery list that you have researched so stick to it!! Only buy sale items if they are on your list or you happen to find the unadvertised unicorn clearance deal.
- Beware of bulk traps: Large quantities might look like a deal, but if you won’t actually use everything before it expires, it probably isn’t.
- Unit pricing is your friend: When comparing prices, divide the price by the unit amount (ounce, pound, number of items, etc) and then compare the unit price to see which is actually the better deal.
3. Tame Those Impulse Purchases:
Again, this is where those highly paid marketing masterminds come into play. They use psychology and research against us to make more money, but you can overcome!
- NEVER shop hungry: Even with a list, its very easy to add extra food into the cart just because you are hungry. Spending a few dollars for a snack before you go grocery shopping could potentially save you a lot of money on your trip.
- Leave the kids at home (if possible): Adorable requests for sugary cereals and snacks become much harder to resist when those big eyes are pleading. Little arms tend to be able to sneak things into the cart as well…ask me how I know.
4. Coupons and Rebates Aren’t Only For Little old Ladies:
Sure, clipping coupons might seem a bit old-fashioned, but when you do it strategically, they can lead to significant savings. I can’t remember the last time we shopped at Kroger and didn’t save at least 35-40% of the bill with sales and coupons! I’ve had some trips where we hit 60% off total!
- Paper coupons are still a thing – They are a little harder to find and tend to be a little more confusing at times, but can definitely provide some great savings. Side note: Aspiring couponers should watch the movie “Queenpins” on Netflix right now. It’s not bad but its a bit weird…don’t say I didn’t warn you.
- Digital coupons are so easy – These are mostly store-specific, but you can’t get much easier. Go to the app or website, click to load the coupon and then it automatically comes off at the register. Just make sure to check the terms and expiration dates so you don’t end up with surprises when the items don’t exactly match the deal.
- Rebate sites are a little extra – You won’t get rich with them, but sometimes they give you a better deal on a product than any other sale or deal. Occasionally, you can use the rebate on items on sale and with a coupon and get them cheap, free or even make money on them. Ibotta is primarily the app that we use and have cashed out several hundred dollars overall. It does require a little more effort in that you have to look at the deals and load them to your account before you scan the receipts. The other app we use is called Fetch Rewards. You get points for any receipt you scan (even restaurants, gas stations, etc.) but there are deals giving more points for certain items. Just don’t buy things just for the rebates…again…only get what you need!
– Click here to try Ibotta and get $5 for free!
– Click here to try Fetch Rewards, Enter my referral code “29P3J” for a sign up bonus
5. Explore Alternative Grocery Stores:
Don’t spend your grocery days going to store after store after store just to save a few dollars, but choose a couple that fit your needs. Don’t necessarily limit yourself to the big-name chains. Consider other options:
- Warehouse Clubs: If you have the space to store bulk items and will actually use them, warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club, Costco or BJ’s can offer significant savings on staples like pasta, rice, and canned goods.
- Discount Grocery Stores: Aldi and Lidl are a couple known for lower prices on generic and private-label brands. The quality can be just as good, and you might even find some new favorites!
- Ethnic Grocery Stores: These are my favorite alternatives. We frequent Mexican and Asian groceries for produce, spices and other staples and the prices can be pretty competitive.
Remember, You Got This!
Grocery shopping doesn’t have to be a financial battlefield, even for a single income family. By implementing these hacks and embracing the power of planning and smart shopping, you can transform your single-income grocery game. After all, every dollar you save on groceries is a dollar you can put towards something else important, whether it’s a fun activity with your kids, your credit card debt, or that college fund your working on. You are single income superheroes and you’ll be conquering the grocery aisles in no time!
