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6 ways to save on your grocery bill

Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman
by Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman
November 22, 2021
6 ways to save on your grocery bill
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Staying within a budget when grocery shopping seems easy on paper, but it’s difficult to master without a little help.  

Grocery prices have exploded over the past year due to unforeseen impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and disruption of supply chains. AmeriForce Media crowdsourced more than 300 experienced military spouses for their best tips and habits that help their family stay on budget.  

Read more: Keeping your budget tight in the digital age

The six best tried and true ways military families can save on their grocery bill are: 

Meal plan 

The simplest and most effective way to save money on groceries is to plan ahead.  

Planning meals in advance allows you to buy once and use the ingredient many times. Buying one protein in bulk saves money and keeps meals simple.  

For a small price, The Fresh 20 provides healthy meal options, while Mealime is a free and easy-to-use service that saves money on the first shopping trip. 

When planning meals, don’t forget about incorporating leftovers, nonmeat meals and “on-your-own” nights for large families. Plus, there’s nothing wrong with breakfast for dinner. 

Coupons – but be wary 

Coupons can save money, but awareness is key.  

No one needs five jars of mayo, so walk away from the condiment aisle and throw away the coupon. Instead, look for coupons bundled in newspapers from large product companies like Procter & Gamble or General Mills.  

Most coupons from big brands are for everyday items and offer significant savings. In-store apps from Target, like Circle, or loyalty programs from local grocery chains also offer big savings.  

Aldi and Lidl 

Those who have been stationed in Europe, know discount grocery stores like Aldi and Lidl. 

Shoppers can find produce and protein at significantly discounted prices. Buyers can’t be picky or expect name brands, but if a family needs to stock up on fruits, vegetables, dairy or meats, shopping at Aldi or Lidl will save hundreds of dollars per month. 

Remember to bring your own bags and a quarter for the cart. And be prepared to bag everything yourself at sprinter pace. 

Cash is king 

Shoppers are forced to stay on budget and shop from their list when cash is the only way to pay.  

Just practicing cash-only grocery shopping for three months can help build your savings or pay down debt. It’s an old school way to shop, but the benefits are important for a modern family.  

The commissary 

Shoppers can save on brand name items, case lot sales and shop with coupons at the commissary. But to really save, plan ahead. DeCA posts all of its sale items categorized by store on its website. Log on before you leave to hunt for the best prices.  

There’s an app for that 

Several apps offer shoppers instant savings and cash back. Ibotta and Fetch, for example, will help you save hundreds of dollars per year on everyday items. 

Want more financial readiness tips? Download our complimentary 2021 Military Money Guide. 

 

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Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman

Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman

Stacy Allsbrook-Huisman is an Air Force spouse, freelance writer and advocate with a passion for military-connected children and their families. She’s dedicated the last decade to understanding the challenges military kids face when changing schools. Stacy is the co-author of the book Seasons of My Military Student: Practical Ideas for Parents and Teachers. With her writing partner, Amanda Trimillos, EdD, they continue to promote awareness of challenges facing military-connected students in education through professional development for schools and support organizations as well as through their writing. Together they have been featured in multiple national podcasts and articles. They also manage a large Facebook support group for parents and teachers of military-connected students. As a former trainer parent educator for the Military Child Education Coalition, Stacy led workshops and seminars on many topics related to the education of military-connected students. Her passion for military-connected students has led her to many paid and volunteer positions, both stateside and with Department of Defense Education Activity schools overseas, and with multiple Parent Teacher Associations over the last decade. Stacy is a featured writer for Military Spouse Magazine, where she covers parenting topics, and is a guest writer for several national blogs. Her articles can also be found on the popular blog Scary Mommy, Military Times, and search site Niche.com. Stacy also started the military family website dedicated to education transition Families on the Homefront. In her “other” life, she worked in public affairs and project management for the city of Las Vegas for 14 years. She was the executive director for the Las Vegas Centennial. She led the way to baking the world largest birthday cake, hosting a 100,000 person parade, marrying 100 couples at once, organizing a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert and managing 450 other events, programs and public relations celebrating her hometown birthday! She is a graduate of the Greenspun School of Communications at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

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