16 Little Things That'll Lower Your Grocery Bills

Let's save some $$$.

Nicole Ench/BuzzFeed

We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us their best tips for saving money on groceries.

TLC

Here are some of the best:

1. See if your grocery store has an app and check it before you shop.

Georgerudy / Getty Images

"See if the store you shop at has an app! My grocery store does, and it loads coupons directly onto my shopper card. I regularly save 10 to 15 dollars per visit and get freebies."

—stephanie91

2. Read the entire label and see how much you're actually paying per ounce.

Tetmc / Getty Images

"Underneath the price is usually the price you're paying per ounce. Always check to see how much you're paying per ounce. Sometimes the item that is cheaper by price is actually giving you less product than a slightly more expensive option. Looking at the price per ounce makes sure you're getting the most bang for your buck!"

—Emilianna90

3. Write yourself a grocery list and stick to it...

Nickelodeon

"ALWAYS make a list and then stick to it. Anytime I go to the market without a prepared list I end up browsing every aisle and buying things I really don't need."

—nikkije

4. And never go on an empty stomach.

Bravo

"Don't go on an empty stomach! You'll be more tempted to buy foods that you don't need simply because they look really good at the time."

—elemie20

5. If you have time, don't do all of your grocery shopping at one place.

Instagram: @luv4fitnessbybrandi, Instagram: @ahrikahri83

"Honestly, my best tip is not to do all your shopping at one store. Milk might be cheaper at one store compared to the other. My local grocery chain can be expensive, but sometimes sale prices are better on certain items. I shop at the stores close to my house so I'm not running all over town just to save fifty cents though."

—Elizabeth Westmoreland, Facebook

6. Make sure to look at what's on the top and bottom of shelves, not just the middle.

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"Look at the top and bottom of aisles. Larger/generic/bulk items are there, and they are often just as good as name brand."

—mrsandman29

"Look at the bottom shelf. Off and store brand items tend to be kept below eye level and are usually cheaper."

—shelbyk4b49d9fff

7. Instead of buying prepackaged meats (that are usually too big for one person), hit up the butcher counter to get just what you need.

Instagram: @chefdancamp99

"If you eat meat, go to the deli rather than getting pre-packaged meat —

especially if you’re cooking for just one or two people. For example, I don’t eat bacon regularly and needed just three slices for a recipe — so rather than buying a whole package, I bought just three slices."

—jandyd

8. If your store offers grocery pickups, order in advance to avoid any impulse buys.

Instagram: @portiacosby

"Our local store has online ordering where you shop online and choose a pickup time (usually the next day). Utilizing this service helps me avoid impulse buys."

— k4559cfed8

"Walmart’s free grocery pickup — instead of wandering the aisles and buying way more than I need, I stand in front of my pantry/fridge and just order what I’m out of."

—thedoctorismyparabatai

9. Download coupon apps that give you cash back for uploading pictures of your receipts.

Instagram: @stephanie_coupons

"Use money saving apps (Ibotta, Cartwheel, etc.)."

—ak09

Apps like Checkout 51 actually allow you to take pictures of your receipts and earn instant cash back.

10. Hit up the dollar store before going to the grocery store.

Instagram: @four_eyes.keekee

"Make a list and go to the dollar store first. You’re able to get a lot of items (mostly canned/dry goods, bread, and even produce) for a fraction of the price. For everything left on your list, go to your supermarket."

—kaya333

11. Turn a rotisserie chicken into multiple meals...

Instagram: @anthonyslv04

"They can be as cheap as $6.99 and I can create a variety of meals from them for the entire week."

—emilys449bfcc14

12. And learn how to break down whole chickens yourself.

Instagram: @gokukuz

"If you eat chicken, learn how to break a whole bird down. It's cheaper than the already cut chicken and you can make your own stock."

—tamarajean25

See how to do it here.

13. Stock up and store.

Instagram: @kevindmo

"Stock up when products are on sale. Having good food stored away saves in the long run."

—adrianajaec

14. Set price boundaries for yourself to know when you're actually getting a good deal.

Instagram: @nettlesandknitting

"Have a 'price book' for items that you buy frequently. This is a list (mental or written) of what a 'good price' is for any given item. When you’re shopping, you’ll know if a sale is worth it or not and you won’t waste money on a 'deal' that actually isn’t that great."

—Ashley Sheridan, Facebook

15. If you have the patience and space, order snacks in bulk online.

amazon.com

"A few of my friends buy bulk snack items online and have them shipped to them, but I'm not about to wait for groceries, lol."

—ericai5

16. Sell-by dates are important, but don't be freaked out by marked-down groceries with dates that are nearing.

Instagram: @korey_napier

"Sell-by date does not mean your food is bad. That’s just the legal date stores can sell products which is usually at least a week before it might go bad."

—gretcheno3

Note: Submissions have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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