How to Save Money on Groceries without Clipping Coupons

Grocery shopping. It's something everyone has to do! We all could benefit from learning how to save money on food, so finding ways to save on groceries can help loosen the monthly budget! Groceries can be a family's largest monthly expense, but it doesn't have to be.

I have gone from hard core coupon clipper (how to extreme coupon) to casual coupon clipper to just being glad that I made it to the grocery store that given week! I fully admit that when you’re busy, and let's face it who isn't nowadays, clipping coupons to save money can be time-consuming. No one really wants to sit down and clip paper coupons out of a newspaper when they have seventy billion other things to do!

I still use coupons today, but it looks a little different than the year I saved $6,500 by using coupons. I have my moments where I use the hybrid couponing method (learn How to Organize Coupons) and load lots of ecoupons (more on that below). The file of coupons I shop with nowadays is smaller, but I am able to save at least $20 with each grocery visit by using all of the various types of coupons available.

But, this post is all about how you can save money on groceries without using coupons. Yes, you CAN cut your grocery bill without clipping coupons. If you choose to add a few coupons into the mix, you can achieve even greater savings. However, coupons will NOT be necessary with these tips to save on groceries!

Cheapest Grocery Stores

There are places like ALDI and Save-A-Lot that are designed to help you save money from the start. In other words, they have low prices and you can shop there knowing that. You can expect low price every time you shop here, which is good!

eCoupons

The good news is that there are TONS of apps you can use to help save you money. iBotta is just one app that you can download to help you save money on your grocery bill. There are several others available. Find an app that works for you and check it before each grocery shopping trip.

Best Grocery App

Lots of grocery stores accept paper coupons, but that doesn’t mean you have to use them. One way around paper coupons is to use virtual coupons or store loyalty coupons.

Most of the time, your local grocery store allows you to clip coupons online, using their store card. Once you have clipped the coupon onto your card, you just scan your card at checkout and the coupons or discounts will be applied to your total.

Generic Brand Vs Name Brand

There is a lot of power in shopping the generic brand. When you are in a store, you just need to look for the generic brand. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to grab the generic brand and not have to worry about coupons.

Purchasing the generic brand versus the name brand will save you anywhere from 10 cents to 50 cents on one item. Many name brands manufacture the generic brands too! The only difference is the name and package – the taste is exactly the same. There are also some generic brands our family prefers over the name brand now.

What to Never Buy at the Grocery Store

Grocery Food Coupons

Clipping coupons is fun for the fact that you can get a lot of junk for cheap. But what if your family doesn’t need all that junk? Yes, there are some great grocery food coupons, don't get me wrong. I have actually found those come primarily through the store rewards promotions and coupons.

When you look at your grocery budget and try to determine how something can be cut, going down to the basics can be an easy way to save money on food. Chips, cookies, pop, and sugary-junk adds up and can cost you a ton on your grocery bill. Find some easy copycat recipes to make your own “junk” food healthier, like these homemade Fruit Roll-Ups!