How to save money on groceries.

Groceries and other necessary items are continuing to go up in price in our country. Here is how to save money on groceries no matter the state of our economy.

First, establish what your family likes to eat. It’s really important to know what foods feel the most nourishing. Saving money and getting out of debt requires you to be really well nourished. At the time of writing this inflation is pretty insane. I’m sure it will only continue getting worse. This is why learning crucial money saving skills can help you through all seasons of life. Saving money on groceries can actually look quite simple. Here are a couple of tips I would suggest to save money on grocery shopping these days.

1. Take inventory of what is already in your pantry. One of my favorite tricks is to go in and make sure I know exactly what is in my refrigerator and in my pantry. This serves two purposes: saving money and wasting less food. When you take inventory of what’s in your pantry, you can start to make sense of what recipes will work best for you. I like to turn this into a game with myself. I try to see how little I can get at the grocery store, and how much we can use up from what’s in our pantry. After taking inventory, I create a list of meals for the week based on the ingredients that we have the majority of in our pantry already. Groceries tend to be one of the largest line items in our budget. If you’re trying to save money, it’s really important that you don’t waste your dollars on food that you’re not gonna end up eating. 
2. DO NOT SHOP HUNGRY. Make sure that you eat a full meal before going to the grocery store. When we’re hungry, we tend to buy more things that we don’t actually need. If you’re well nourished, you can make better executive decisions on what your family will need throughout the week. In turn, this will also save you the most money. 
3. Don’t skip out on quality. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the past couple of years is that cheap food is not always the most nourishing. There are some foods that are still nourishing that are actually pretty inexpensive. Make sure that you are spending your dollars wisely on filling/nourishing foods. When I began to buy more quality meats and dairy, I found we were spending less money on food overall. This was because we were getting more nutrients in our foods. When my husband and I would go to the grocery store and get cheap bland snacks, I found we were going out to eat more often. We were not satisfied by the meals we were making with those poor quality ingredients. Food can be a make or break for your health and well-being. Though it is important to stay on a budget, it is even more important to get the best quality that you can. As I started feeding us more nourishing food, I found that we had more energy to save more money and to be more economical.
4. Eat at home! Eating out is always going to be so much more expensive than making meals at home. There is a way to make dinners at home more convenient and less complicated. Recently, my husband and I have been eating more casserole dishes and soups during the colder months. They are very easy to put together, and are easy to freeze and store over several weeks at a time. 
5. Look at unit price! Buying in bulk is not always going to save you the most money. But sometimes it is! Go back to elementary school math class where you learned to figure out the price per unit. This is going to be the best way to compare items. When it comes to buying in bulk, I always make sure that I am getting the cheapest unit price on that item.
6. Ask yourself: is there a way I can make this myself? Big box companies want you to think you cannot make something yourself. I try to live by the notion that I can probably make it at home – spice mixtures, hot fudge, ice cream, broths, etc. A great way to save more money is to learn how to make more things from scratch. This really requires a mindset shift. Our society has programmed us to believe that we cannot really make much on our own. Some people believe they have to have tons of time on their hands to make things from scratch. This is not always the case. Begin to make this mindset shift, and you will be surprised by how simple it is to make most things from scratch. I like to search pinterest for easy recipes.
7. Grocery pickup can be a huge blessing! Even though it may cost a couple extra dollars, I have found that I am way less tempted when I am ordering online and picking it up later. I’m able to see just how much I’m spending in real time. Sometimes it can be hard to keep track of how much you are spending when you’re walking around in the grocery store. Online grocery shopping can help you stay on budget!
8. Buy local when you can! Buying from and supporting local farmers is always going to be worth it! Find local farmers markets, co-ops, or farms in your area. Check to see if your state has a list available of what foods are in season each month of the year. This can help inform your food purchases. Meeting the person that grew your food can be so empowering both for you and the farmer! Taking out the middleman (the grocery store) can save you money and benefit the farmer directly.
9. Grow your own herbs! Depending on the climate in your area you may be able to grow your own herbs. Herbs are very expensive at the grocery store. Most herbs are very simple and easy to grow yourself. Sometimes they can even be grown inside which is even easier! 

Comment below some of your favorite ways to save money on food and groceries!