12 Grocery Store Hacks. #12 is my very unpopular opinion

12 Frugal Hacks/tips – Grocery store edition 

First is a hack and a tip the same thing? They are to me. Today I bring you 12 frugal hack/tips, whatever with #12 being my very unpopular opinion. I am secure enough in myself not to care about what others think because I’m right. 

 When we talk about frugal, here is our definition of it. Frugal doesn’t mean cheap. Frugal means smart. Frugal means knowing what matters to you and spending accordingly. It means cutting back on what doesn’t serve you so you can have more of what does.  

1. Skip the shopping cart. How many times have you gone into the grocery store for two items and $42 later… By not using a cart, you have no choice but to buy only what you can hold. I remember one time I’m on the self-checkout and I turn to the person next to me and said “I came in for 2 things, do you like this plant I’m bringing home?” 

2.Unit price. Always check the unit price and not the price of the item. There are times the smaller item is the better deal. You need to calculate it from the unit price. 

3. Generic verses the fancy designer brand. There are times when the generic is just as good as the fancy brand name, I’m looking at you shop rite brand potato chips, but that’s not always the case. Store brand mini wheats is nowhere near as good as the fancy brand. I once bought the generic and we had one bowl each and had to throw the rest out. Not much of a savings. I now only buy it when it’s on sale. 

4. It’s not a deal if you throw it out.  Like my experience with store brand mini wheats, if you don’t use the product or only used half of it because you bought the econo-size of it when it was on sale, that’s not a savings is it? If you’re only going to use a small amount, buy the small size. 

5. Shop in a hurry. I will grocery shop every first and third Friday night. My son has a group he belongs to. I drop him off at 6:30, I go to my favorite grocery store. I have just enough time to shop for what I need and get back to pick him up at 8:30. Since he’s with me, he helps me bring the groceries in. 

6. Shopping alone. Those Friday night shopping trips are also good because it’s just me. You spend less when you don’t have a growing teenager with you. We love our kids but damn they’re expensive. 

7. Grocery Delivery. For some, this is a great way to save. You’re not tempted by impulse items. Like a pretty plant. You’re able to keep track of your cart during the order process. 

8. Store apps for sales and coupons. Tap on the coupons you want and that’s it. It’s easier than the days of cutting coupons. I did enjoy sitting with a coffee and clipping my coupons. Now during my three-hour commute, I tap on the apps. It’s a bit annoying because with the coupons, you clip it and that’s it. With the apps, I have to go on each individual store and tap the coupons. 

9. The price scanner thing. I love using that thing. I can make sure everything I’m getting is the correct price. Nothing worse than getting home and realizing you were overcharged. 

10. Cash back apps. There’re fetch rewards, Ibotta, and lots of others. I just use fetch rewards. I find that one the easiest. I’m looking for ways to simplify my life. With fetch rewards, you take a picture of your receipt and that’s it. I can’t jump through hoops. I have an affiliate link in the description box. 

11. Batch cooking and freezer meals. If you’re able to buy in bulk and have the freezer space, batch cooking and freezer meals are the way to go. Once a month I make chicken breast in the slow cooker and fry sausage. They go in freezer bag and into the freezer. I pull them out as needed. It’s very helpful as a working mom with a three-hour commute. 

12. Self-checkout. Unpopular opinion, I love self-checkout. I use it with the price scanner. I know I’m paying the right price. More importantly, I like to bag my groceries so that I can so when I get home, it’s easier to unpack. 

Those are 12 frugal grocery store tips. Which do you do? Do you have one that’s not on the list. Please share it.