If there’s one thing a lot of people don’t know about me, it’s that I am always finding ways to save money and spend wisely. Yes, sometimes I slip up and buy random things on impulse, but when it comes to grocery shopping and basic spending I have it all planned out. Being fresh out of college and in the real world, I’ve realized how crucial it is to be money conscious. So I thought I would share some of my tips with you and hopefully they will help you save money and build your savings.
1. Always Check The Ads & Coupons
I know this seems obvious, but so many people overlook the advertisements prior to going shopping. Before I shop or make a grocery list, I go through the weekly ads, find the best deals, and plan my weekly meals around them. On top of that, it’s always good to browse through the store coupons. Kroger websites (and I’m sure every grocery store’s websites) has a list of all the current coupons. If you see one that’s applicable to your grocery list, you can upload it directly onto your membership card. No printing and cutting hassle. You’re getting extra savings without even thinking too much about it.
2. Shop With A List
This is by far the easiest way to make sure you don’t overspend. When I grocery shop without a list, I end up buying so many extra things and a lot of it ends up being wasted or unnecessary. Now, I make an extremely thorough list of what I’ll need for all my meals and snacks during the week. Then, I can only buy what’s on my list. This helps me so much and prevents me from buying random items I don’t need, and most importantly keeps me away from junk food. I also do this for trips to Target, Ulta, and anywhere I may get tempted by things I don’t actually need… but really really want.
3. Use Money Saving Apps
There are so many apps out there that can help save money or help you budget. In terms of saving money while shopping, my favorites are Ibotta and Checkout 51. Apps that help budget and build my savings are also super helpful as well. Digit puts money into my savings without me having to think about it (and only does what you can afford). Mint is a great app for helping with budgeting and seeing where you are actually spending your money. I made an entirely separate post on the best apps to save money. You can check them out here.
4. Get Cash Back
This helped me so much when I was saving for my trip to Seattle a year ago. Whenever you grocery shop, get cash back. It can be $20, $40, or whatever you can afford to take out. Keep this in your wallet for the week. If you need cash, use it, but put whatever is left over at the end of the week into an envelope. By the time you do this for a couple months, you will have a decent chunk of cash saved up.
5. Plan A Budget For The Week
I know this can be hard because things come up and you can’t exactly predict how a week is going to go. But it’s essential to know how much you have and what you can actually afford to spend in a week. I grocery shop and have a limit of what I will spend. I also have a limit for gas, lunch/coffee during work, and any weekend activities. If I didn’t do this, I’d have no idea where I was financially. Budgeting on a weekly basis can really guide you into financial stability.
