22 clever grocery hacks to save money and time

You're busy, and you want to save money on groceries. We get it! So we've put together an amazing list of 20 clever grocery hacks that will not only help you save time in the store but also a lot of dough on your monthly bill. Whether you're looking for ways to make your own DIY iced coffee or saving some cash by buying generic products, these tricks are sure to come in handy.

22 Clever Grocery Hacks

1. Buy Generic Brands: This will save you a lot of money on your groceries. Just because it's not the brand name doesn't mean that it isn't just as good!
2. DIY Iced Coffee Recipe: Make coffee, freeze in ice cube trays (or any watertight container), and store them until needed.
3. Buying in Bulk: Buy items like bread and eggs at the end of a trip when you have some extra room to store them. This will save you from having to make multiple trips each week that can take up your valuable time!
4. Don't Shop Hungry: You'll spend more money if you shop hungry, so make sure you feed yourself before heading to the store!
5. Buy Fresh Produce: The produce that is on sale at your grocery store will be going bad soon, so buy all of it for a better deal. Then you can use them in recipes or eat them as snacks throughout the week.
6. Use Coupons and Points Programs: Companies will offer different coupons and points programs to get you back in the store. You can find them on your phone or by entering a code at checkout!
7. Use Your Phone for Couponing: There are so many apps that will help save you money when shopping, like Ibotta which gives you cashback just for scanning barcodes of items while grocery shopping.
8. Plan Your Meals: Make a list of what you'll need for the week, then make your grocery list and head to the store. This will save you so much time in comparison to not planning out your meals!
9. Wait until After Work to Shop: Trying cooking at home more often can help cut back on the money you spend on groceries. Plus it's healthier!
10. Bring Your Own Bag: Using a reusable bag will keep your groceries fresher for longer, and save plastic bags from ending up in the landfill or blowing around in the wind. It can also make life easier when shopping because you won't have to find more bags at checkout if you forget yours.
11. Look for Discounts: There are so many places that will offer discounts when you buy certain items, like a free cookie with the purchase of any beverage!
12. Buy Unfrozen Vegetables: You can save money by buying vegetables in bulk and unthawing them yourself, then storing them in your fridge until needed.
13. Use Pantry Staples: Things like rice, beans, and canned vegetables are all healthy pantry staples that you can use for easy meals.
14. Buy Frozen Fruits and Vegetables: You'll spend less money on them because they don't spoil as quickly as fresh produce, plus frozen foods still contain a lot of nutrients!
15. Don't Buy Bottled Water: Buying water in bottles is expensive and not eco friendly. Instead, fill up a reusable bottle with filtered tap water at home (or get one of those cool Brita pitchers) to use while you're out.
16. Use Coupon Apps: There are tons of apps that allow you to save money just by scanning barcodes of products while grocery shopping.
17. Reuse Ziploc Bags: You can use them to store foods, freeze ice cubes, and more! Plus you'll cut down on plastic waste for the environment.
18. Use a List: There are so many tricks that will help make your shopping experience easier if you just make a list ahead of time!
19. Buy on Sale Items: You can save money by buying items that are on sale, so don't worry about sticking to your shopping list completely. Some stores also have clearance sections with great deals too.
20. Wait for the Sales Ad: Stores will typically put out their sales ads in late February or early March, so wait for them before making your grocery list.
21. Check Your Pantry: Make sure you're not wasting food by checking to see what's in the pantry and using it up! You can do this by writing down a menu plan of things you'll need during the week, then heading out first thing Monday morning to find those items on sale.
22. Know Your Store's Return Policy: Most stores will allow you to return food if it doesn't expire for a while, so make sure you know the store's policy before making your grocery list!