10 Ways to Save Money on Your Groceries

Healthy eating doesn’t have to be expensive. Here are 20 ways to help you save money on food.  

1. See what’s on sale. Look at grocery store flyers, newspaper ads and online to see what items are on sale.
2. Make a grocery list and stick to it.Your grocery list should include the ingredients that you need to make healthy meals and snacks. Make a menu plan to help you put together your grocery list so you buy only what you need.
3. Use coupons wisely. Coupons can help you save money only if you will actually eat or use the food. Check the expiry date on the coupons.
4. Bring a calculator. As you shop, add up your grocery bill to help you stay on budget.
5. Shop at grocery stores or supermarkets. These stores offer more variety and usually cheaper prices than convenience stores or small specialty shops.  6. Get to know the food prices. Write down the regular prices of foods you buy often. This will help you figure out which stores have the best prices and if you are getting a good deal on sale items.    
7. Avoid shopping when you’re hungry. When you shop on an empty stomach, everything suddenly looks delicious! You may be more tempted to buy unhealthy choices and foods you don’t need.
8. Get to know the supermarket layout and where the healthy foods are located. On the perimeter (or outside aisles) of the store you will usually find the fresh vegetables, fruit, fish, lean meat, eggs and lower fat milk products. Go to the inside aisles for other nutritious staples such as grain products, beans, nuts, seeds, peanut butter and whole grains.  Skip the aisles with the pop, candy and chips.
9. Buy in season. Vegetables and fruit are cheaper when they are in season. Avoid waste by buying fresh fruit at different stages of ripeness. Choose some fruit that is ripe and ready to eat, and some that will ripen in a few days. That way you’ll have enough time to eat all your purchases.
10. Buy frozen or canned. When fresh is out of season or too expensive, buy frozen or canned vegetables and fruit. They are just as nutritious. If using canned vegetables, rinse them under cold water first to wash away some of the sodium.
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