The best ways to save money on groceries don't involve eating worse. They come down to four habits: planning before you shop, comparing prices the right way, getting rewarded for money you'd spend anyway, and throwing less food in the trash. None of them takes hours a week, and all of them get easier after the first couple of tries.
Here's how to put each one to work, starting with the habit that tends to make the biggest difference.
Plan Your Weekly Grocery Trip Before You Leave Home
A lot of grocery money disappears into impulse buys and "just in case" extras. A short planning session before you shop is the best way to save on groceries without changing what you eat.
- Shop your own kitchen first. Check the fridge, freezer and pantry. Build a meal or two around anything that needs using up.
- Plan meals that share ingredients. One bunch of cilantro can cover tacos on Monday and rice bowls on Wednesday. Plan for leftovers, too, so lunches are already handled.
- Check the weekly ad or store app. Build one or two dinners around what's on sale, especially meat, seafood and produce, where prices swing the most.
- Write your list by store section. Produce, dairy, frozen, pantry. You'll spend less time wandering past displays designed to tempt you.
- Set a number and stick to the list. If something tempting isn't on it, add it to next week's plan instead of your cart.
Two old tips still hold up: don't shop hungry, and if you can, shop without extra passengers lobbying for snacks.
Buy in bulk only when it makes sense
Big packs and warehouse clubs can lower the cost per item, but only if you use everything before it goes bad. Bulk works well for shelf-stable staples like rice, canned goods, coffee, toilet paper and freezer-friendly meat. It's a trap for fresh produce you won't get through. And if a store charges a membership fee, make sure your savings cover it.
Compare Store Brands and Unit Prices
Store brands usually cost less than name brands, and for many staples the difference in taste or quality is hard to spot. An easy way to test it: swap one name-brand item for the store version each week. If your household doesn't notice, keep the swap.
Good candidates to try first:
- Flour, sugar, salt, baking soda and spices
- Canned beans, tomatoes and broth
- Frozen vegetables and fruit
- Milk, butter, eggs and shredded cheese
- Oats, pasta, rice and cereal
- Paper goods and cleaning supplies
Keep the name brand for the few things you're genuinely picky about. Saving money doesn't mean giving up the coffee you love.
Read the unit price, not the sticker price
Many stores print a unit price on the shelf tag, usually in small type. It tells you what you're paying per ounce, per pound or per count, which is the only fair way to compare sizes and brands. The bigger package isn't always the better deal, especially when a smaller size is on sale.
| Item | Compare by | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Cereal and snacks | Price per ounce | "Family size" boxes that aren't cheaper per ounce |
| Paper towels and toilet paper | Price per sheet or per square foot | "Mega" or "double" rolls that vary by brand |
| Produce | Price per pound vs. price each | Bagged items vs. loose items |
| Drinks and liquids | Price per fluid ounce | Multipacks vs. single large bottles |
| Meat | Price per pound | Pre-cut or marinated cuts that cost more for the convenience |
If the tag doesn't show a unit price, divide the price by the quantity on your phone's calculator. Just make sure you're comparing the same units, since one tag might show price per ounce and the one next to it price per pound.
Combine sales with coupons
Most grocery chains offer digital coupons in their app that you "clip" to your loyalty account. Pairing those with items already on sale is where the real savings show up. Our guide to stacking coupons at US retailers explains how to layer offers without breaking a store's coupon policy.
Use Cashback and Rewards on Grocery Spending
Rewards won't make groceries cheap on their own, but since you buy food every week, getting a little back on every trip adds up over a year.
- Store loyalty programs: They're usually free, and at many stores you need one to get the sale price at all. Some chains also offer personalized deals or fuel rewards.
- Cashback and receipt apps: Some apps pay you for buying specific products or scanning receipts. We compared the options in our roundup of the top cashback apps for US shoppers.
- Credit cards with grocery rewards: These only make sense if you pay the balance in full every month, since interest charges can quickly cancel out any rewards. Also check how your card classifies stores; some cards don't count warehouse clubs or supercenters as grocery purchases.
- ZenPoints on online orders: If you buy household essentials, pantry items or kitchen gear online from a partner store listed on SavZen, starting your trip through SavZen can earn ZenPoints rewards. These are issued by SavZen, not the retailer. They show as pending once your purchase is tracked and become confirmed after the retailer approves the order. To qualify, turn off ad blockers, go to the store through SavZen and complete your purchase. Using a code that isn't listed on SavZen can mean no points for that order.
One rule covers all of these: never buy something just to earn rewards. Points only count as savings on things that were already on your list.
Check Delivery Deals for Online Orders
Grocery delivery saves time, and seeing a running total can actually curb impulse buys. But the costs stack up quickly: delivery fees, service fees, small-order fees, tips and, in some cases, item prices that are higher than on the shelf.
- Compare the final total at checkout, not just the item prices, when you're choosing between services.
- Try curbside pickup. At many stores it skips the delivery fee and the tip, though some charge a small fee or set an order minimum.
- Meet free-delivery minimums with list items, not filler. Stocking up on a pantry staple you already use is fine; adding snacks to hit a threshold isn't.
- Do the math on memberships. A delivery subscription only pays off if you order often enough for the waived fees to beat the monthly or annual cost.
- Look for first-order and free-shipping offers. Our free delivery coupons and deals page collects current offers, and if you sometimes order takeout instead of cooking, check our guide to food delivery discount codes.
- Let the extension check codes for you. SavZen's free browser extension finds and applies discount codes at checkout, so you don't have to hunt through tabs. Codes change often, so treat any discount as a bonus rather than something to count on.
One easy-to-miss detail: review your substitution settings. If an item is out of stock, a pricier replacement can quietly raise your bill. Choose "contact me" or "no substitution" for expensive items.
Reduce Waste: One of the Easiest Ways to Save Money on Groceries
Every bag of wilted spinach or forgotten leftovers is money spent for nothing. Cutting waste is one of the simplest ways to save money on groceries because it doesn't require buying anything different.
- First in, first out. When you unpack groceries, move older items to the front of the fridge and pantry so they get used first.
- Understand date labels. Except for infant formula, dates on food generally aren't federal safety deadlines. "Best if used by" is about peak quality, and "sell by" is mainly for the store. Still, throw out anything that looks, smells or tastes off.
- Freeze before it's too late. Bread, cooked rice, ripe bananas, grated cheese and single portions of leftovers all freeze well.
- Schedule a "use it up" night. Once a week, make soup, fried rice, a frittata or a stir-fry from whatever needs eating.
- Buy frozen for things you use slowly. Frozen berries and vegetables last much longer than fresh and are handy for smoothies, sides and weeknight dinners.
- Track what you toss for two weeks. If you keep throwing out the same item, buy less of it or switch to a smaller size.
If you buy any of your household basics online, it's worth setting up a SavZen account before your next order. It's free, with no monthly fees, annual fees or hidden charges, you pay the same price as going to the retailer directly, and new members get a 50 ZenPoints signup bonus after verifying their email. Browse the full list of US stores on SavZen to see which ones you already shop at. SavZen may earn a commission when you buy through its links, at no extra cost to you; here's how that works.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to shop at one grocery store or several?
It depends on distance and time. Splitting your list between stores can save money on specific items, but the savings can disappear if you spend extra on gas or end up making impulse buys at each stop. Many shoppers do best with one main store plus an occasional stock-up trip.
Is grocery pickup cheaper than delivery?
Often, yes. Pickup usually skips delivery fees and tips, though some stores charge a small pickup fee or require an order minimum. Compare the final checkout total for both options before you choose.
Why didn't I get ZenPoints on my online order?
ZenPoints may not be awarded if you used a code that isn't listed on SavZen, if an ad blocker or tracking prevention interfered, or if the order was canceled, returned or changed. Points also stay pending until the retailer approves the order, and confirmation times vary by store.
Does using SavZen make my order cost more?
No. You pay the same price as going to the retailer directly. SavZen may earn a commission from the retailer when you buy through its links, which helps keep the service free.
Are frozen fruits and vegetables a good substitute for fresh?
For many uses, yes. They keep much longer, which cuts waste, and they work well in smoothies, soups, stir-fries and side dishes. Fresh is still great for things you'll eat within a few days.
