12 Items We Stopped Buying at the Grocery Store to Save Money

As a mom of 4 with four hungry mouths to feed. It’s important that I get the best deals and save as much money as I can and each member seems to have a growing belly so I am constantly on the hunt to find ways to save money at the grocery store. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2022 grocery prices have increased 12% , the largest 12-month increase since April 1979 (Source).

That means the average American is spending $611 on groceries per month compared to $532 last year. That’s a lot of money. The good news is there are some items that we no longer buy at the grocery store and you can stop buying too so you can put that money toward your ever growing grocery budget.

12 Items to Stop Buying at the Grocery Store to Save Money

Buy Generic Brands

There are very few products I have to have the name brand for, if there is an generic product equivalent I will buy it. Often times, it’s a great way to save a substantial amount of money. There’s usually cheaper options for everything from canned soups, baking supplies, cereal to lunch meat. I buy generic. If you are an Aldi shopper, you know generic doesn’t mean poor quality! Many times, the private label or generic brands are often manufactured at the same facility as the name brand product.

To find the cheaper options like store brands, look down. Stores usually stock their shelves with the most expensive items at eye level. On your next shopping trip, look down and see if you can find some generic products at lower costs.

Facial Tissue and Paper Towels

I know this might be weird but we just use toilet paper for facial tissue most of the time at our house. I do keep a box on hand in the guest bathroom for our guests but toilet paper works great.

In 2020, when paper products were hard to come by, I bought a set of sack cloth towels to use in lieu of paper towels. Not only is it nature friendly but it also cuts down the cost on paper products. I just use a towel throughout the day and wash it at the end of the day.

Pre-made Baked Goods

I am prone to those delicious bakery impulse buys too so don’t go to the store hungry (a tip you didn’t ask for). I still occasionally buy the break and bake refrigerated cookies to bake but you can generally buy a cake or muffin mix for a much cheaper price.

Now, that my kids are getting older, it’s a great thing to have them make because it gets them in the kitchen and practicing those important cooking skills I hope they take with them into adulthood. Just add milk muffin mixes and brownies mixes are some of our favorites and are great deals at the store.

Pre-made Frozen Meals

When I worked full time and newly married they were my go-to food item for lunches or a quick dinner. Now, when I am meal planning I just plan to make extra for dinner and then package up the leftovers into individual servings so it’s easy for my husband and I to warm up for lunch. It puts a little extra money back in our pocket and since I am already in the kitchen making dinner, it doesn’t add a whole lot of extra work.

My one exception these days, because there’s always an exception to the rule, is pre-made frozen lasagna. The cost vs. time on this one is worth it in my opinion.

Margarine & Butter Spreads

We just buy butter sticks. We keep one stick in a covered butter dish in a kitchen cabinet so it’s soft for spreading on toast and bagels.

Out of Season Fresh Produce

We eat berries of all types in the summer, apples in large amounts in the fall and then choose more seasonal fruit varieties in the winter. Not only is out of season fruit extremely expensive, it also doesn’t taste as good when it has to be shipped halfway around the world. Frozen fruits are a great alternative in the winter months along with unsweetened jarred fruit.

Did you know frozen fruits and vegetables are flash frozen at their peak of freshness so you are getting the ripest and best fruit and vegetables when you buy frozen plus you will lower your food costs.

Bottled Water

Each family member has a reusable water bottle and most of my kids are old enough to independently fill their own water bottles. When we head out somewhere, they all grab a water bottle to go! Not only do we save money but it’s an easy way to be Earth friendly and reduce waste. These are our favorite water bottles.

Dryer Sheets & Fabric Softener

We stopped using both of these when our oldest child was born and had some skin sensitivity. I got out of the habit and although I miss the scent, I just use dryer balls instead and the wrinkle release cycle on the dryer to help with static and wrinkles.

Multiple Types of Shampoo & Body Wash

I buy an extra shampoo for my blonde hair but then just buy the same kind of shampoo and conditioner for the whole family. We also switched to bar soap that we insert into a loofah to help lather it well. Bar soap like Ivory soap is generally filled with less harsh chemicals and you’ll have sticker shock, in a good way, with how cheap bar soap is to buy.

best ways to save money at the grocery store and avoid paying higher prices on groceries

Beauty Products

I know what I like and I purchase those items. Not only does it cut down on impulse purchases. It also saves precious space in my bathroom drawers and cuts down on visual clutter. I just skip that aisle unless I need something that I use regularly.

Bottled Juice

This is all my husband, he was raised on juice concentrate so we made the switch when we first got married. On average, juice concentrate can save you between $2-3 per bottle of juice and with a family of 6 that saves us at least $5 a week just with that lower price juice concentrate. Crazy, right?

Get Your Meal Plan Notebook Here.

Items Not on My Meal Plan

Once a week, I take time to weekly meal plan and write out a detailed list for grocery shopping. One of the best ways I have found to save money and avoid impulse buys is by having a grocery list and sticking to it. When you go to your local grocery store, go alone, so those extra tiny helpers don’t add items you don’t need to the cart. You’ll also reduce food waste because everything you are buying is for something you planned for. Grab my favorite meal plan journal with tear out grocery list here.

A few Other Ways I Save Money at the Grocery Store

I love to either do grocery pickup at a big box store or warehouse store. By not going in to the store, I can avoid adding items to my cart that are not on my list. I also love to shop at discount grocery stores like Aldi and Trader Joe’s that have been leading the way in keeping food prices low over the last 5 years.

A discount grocery store gives you a better price on food often by using their own name brands or private label products. Don’t let that steer you away, you can find great value on their meat, fresh produce and dairy products. You’ll also avoid the higher costs you’ll find at other grocery stores. Read more about 50 Items I love to buy at Aldi here.

So, What Will You Skip Buying at the Grocery Store?

Which of these 12 items will you delete from your grocery list next time you go to the grocery store? You might just save a whole lot of money on your grocery bill and don’t we all want to save a little money these days? Last year, we had a $150 per week food budget for a family of 6 for groceries. We just increased ours to $200 per week. We’d spend more if I didn’t meal plan. I swear by this meal planner.