11 Smart Ways to Cut Down Your Grocery Bill

Posted by Jenna King on March 29, 2017

Looking to trim your monthly household expenses? For many of us, the grocery bill is a good place to start. Don’t worry — it doesn’t mean you’ll have to eat canned beans at every meal. Carving out a little extra time and getting into a few of these simple habits can significantly reduce your bill without sacrificing your favourite meals and snacks.

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Always Make a List

Plan ahead. Take 10-15 minutes before you head to the grocery store to plan out your meals for the week. That way, you can maximize your use of ingredients while avoiding impulse purchases.
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DIY Snacks

Make your own snacks, as travel-sized snacks can be pricey! Make a big batch of your own trail mix, caramel corn, or granola — it’s easy, fun and you’ll be amazed at how much it will save. Get the recipe for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/homemade-granola-bars/15364/" target="_blank">Ina Garten's Homemade Granola Bars</a>
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Buy On Sale

Grab what’s on sale and work with it. Your mushroom soup recipe calls for oyster mushrooms, but portobellos are discounted. So why not give the substitute a try? Check out our delicious recipe for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/carlo-rotas-mushroom-soup/4926/" target="_blank">Mushroom Soup</a>
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Skip the Pre-Made Stuff

Make the easy stuff yourself. It’s hard to beat the convenience of pre-made salad dressing or pasta sauce, but making your own has an important benefit beyond the savings: it allows you to control the ingredients, avoiding unnecessary sugar, sodium, and preservatives. Try our recipe for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/caesar-salad-dressing/5594/" target="_blank">Caesar Salad Dressing</a>
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Coupons

Keeping an eye out for coupons and making use of them can make a real dent in your grocery bill. Remember to stock up on your household favourites when they’re on sale.
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Spinach Lasagna

Let layer upon layer of greens, tomatoes, pasta and loads melted cheese take center stage on the table before it feeds your vegetarian clique. Try this recipe for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/spinach-lasagna/15746/" target="_blank">Rachael Ray's Spinach Lasagna</a>
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Get Gardening

Whether you have a big yard or a little balcony, try planting some herbs and veggies. Set up a swap with friends — you grow carrots, they grow peppers — so you can get a variety of produce, for less!
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Buy No Name

Buy no name. Sometimes you have to get the real deal — Maille Dijon mustard, Bubbies Kosher dill pickles — but for everything else, give the generic brand a chance. More often than not, you won’t even be able to tell the difference, except in your wallet.
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Price Match

With many retailers offering price matching, you don’t have to physically shop around anymore to save big — keeping an eye on both paper and online flyers can really pay off.
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Buy in Bulk

If you have the pantry space, buy bulk on items that are popular in your home. You can portion out perishables, freezing half for later.
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Food Apps

There’s an app for that. Download one of the many apps available to help you plan, organize, and save. <a href="https://www.checkout51.com">Checkout 51</a>, for example, allows you to get money back on items after you’ve bought them while <a href="http://www.flipp.com/app">FLIPP</a>allows you to compare flyers from multiple retailers. You might also like: <a href="http://www.slice.ca/money/photos/how-stores-trick-you-into-spending-more/" target="_blank">20 Ways Stores Trick You Into Spending More</a>
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