In most cases you can save way more than you think.

We all have to eat.

Chances are your spending too much.
Nearly all of us are.
Convenience is the word of the day. It shouldn't be but it is.
For some of you this is going to be the most difficult section on this entire site.
Were talking nothing less than changing you and your entire family's eating habits from here on.

Before we begin ask your self two questions.

1. What is the average monthly food budget for a family of your size? 

2. What exactly is YOUR monthly food bill?
 Be sure to include on average what you spend on fast food.

Are you shocked? Maybe embarrassed?
Perhaps you would rather not even know. 
These are all the wrong answers. 
Theres nothing you can do about what you've spent but theres a lot you can do about it from now on.
What were aiming for is a 25% — 35% reduction of the average monthly grocery bill for a family of your size. 
It's doable.

TAKE HEART!
Before we list dozens of ideas to lessen your grocery bill embrace the good news.
Changing your meal plans doesn't necessarily mean cutting back on everything you enjoy. 
It means eating food you'll like cheaper. This will require some effort on your part. 
Everything worthwhile does.
The key is to make good food fun and easy.

Know exactly how much you spend per month. Is that more or less than the average?

* Meal plan.

* Only cook the amount your sure to eat. 
You can actually eat more this way.

* Buy store Brands not the brand names. 
The Walmart near my house sells both Dinty Moore beef stew and an exact generic version  is almost 45% less.

* Take advantage of what's on sale, but make sure it's something that will be eaten.

* Pack a lunch.  Not just for work.  Theres so many advantages to packing a lunch/dinner on those short day trips.  No high fast food prices. No waiting forever in lines.  Just pull over, eat, and get back on the road again.

* Bring drinks from home.  It's a pretty shocking $2-$3 habit that adds ups (if every workday) comes to $520-$780 a year!

* Avoid fast food restaurants at all costs.

* Change where you shop.

* Check Unit Prices.  Most stores will list on the product it's price per ounce or other unit price. Generally the larger the (usually) better.

* Buy in bulk.  Just don't buy in such bulk you risk spoilage.

* Shop alone. If you have kids you already understand.

* Look high and low. Your best prices are going to be at the lowest or highest shelf level.

* Shop your pantry first.  Before your next trip to the supermarket make sure every last food product you have is either eaten first or at the very least planned to eat. You may even be able to put off that supermarket drip a few days. Do this regularly. A few days of avoiding the supermarket here and there adds up.

* Use coupons. Maybe. Just make sure your not just paying a little less for something that you wouldn't have brought or could get cheaper anyway.

* Shop on Wednesdays.  That's when most specials start. Note: Your store could be different so find out what day your store's specials usually are.

* Eat more fruits and vegetables when they're in season.  This is especially true in the summer.  It not only costs less,   it's just much healthier than most of the things you eat.

* Buy whole fruits and veggies. Buy heads of lettuce and bags of carrots or other fruits and vegetables and chop them yourself. The markup for pre-prepared items is enormous.

* Don’t go to the store hungry. It's not just the kids that are subject to impulse purchases.

*Do your own shopping. Delivery costs more, and that's not including the tip.

* Check the clearance rack. Honestly this rarely matters but once in a great while it matters a lot. About a year ago while shopping at our usual grocery store, I saw a display almost beyond belief.
A huge metal bin full of products marked down to ¢25! 
For a total cost of under $4 we stocked up the next 2–3 years on all the salt, pepper, seasoning salt, garlic salt, and several other seasonings. 
We keep them in a cool, dry pantry and probably saved at least $50 that we would have spent. Not to mention the convenience of never having to worry about running short.
At least not for years. These deals don't happen often but when they do strike!

* Make a shopping list and stick to it.

* Don't buy about to expire food if fresher is available. Some stores move the less fresh items to the front. Look behind it.

* Save time, money, and electricity by preparing two meals (or even more) at once.
With certain meals it takes about the same amount of time and electricity to make enough for two dinners as it does one. You don't have to heat up your stove or oven twice and the next day you just have to re-heat it. 
Which takes MUCH less time and energy.

* Coupons can be a friend; just make sure it's for something you were going to purchase anyway.

* Cook from scratch. Cooking from scratch as opposed to ready to eat diners has severe markups.

* Use dollar-type stores wisely.
 And not often.
 The deep discount dollar stores are usually not a deal at all. 
While the cost is lower than other grocery stores it's almost always on much smaller amounts. 
Their unit prices are generally much higher and the quality is often just terrible. 
Unhealthy and terrible. 
But exceptions exist. Particularly when combined with coupons. Certain dollar stores staple foods like pasta and goods can be combined with coupons and can be of decent quality.
Make certain that it's all going to be eaten.
 And when a great coupon combined deal strikes stock up a little LESS than you think you will eat.

* If you shop at a store that offers price matching be sure to take advantage of it. 
It doesn't make sense to go to four or five stores trying to locate the best prices if the store you already go to offers the best price guarantees.

* Only shop once per week. If possible tie your shopping with other errands to save on gas. Obviously do the grocery shopping part last.

* Have the store cook it for you! 
Some (generally smaller stores) will do the cooking work for you. 
But of course this only applies to certain products. The store we shopped at before we moved out of state would steam shrimp and other seafood products.
Some still do.

* Use a spreadsheet or other method to track price increases. Over time this will give you some idea of what the future cost of certain products may be.

* Meal plan out forty-nine (49) inexpensive meals. 
Go to your local library and get a couple of simple meal type recipes and while you don't necessarily need forty-nine at least have a couple of weeks worth.
You can work these cheap, healthy, and usually filling meals a few times a week or as a regular nightly staple.

* Shop at deep discount stores. These stores are a step up from the dollar stores we talked about and a rung below your typical chain style grocery store.
Still there's often any number of products you won't easily find anywhere else. And as a rule you can haggle and bargain away with them if that's your thing.

* Break packages at the Meat Counter To Save Money- a Clark Howard tip. 
This tip from financial guru Clark Howard involves going to the butchers of the meat department and have them take some of the products out as to save from over-purchasing.

* Look for cheap "fill me ups" for snacking. 
Large bags of things like popcorn, peanuts, and other filling items that are cheap, filling, and healthy.

* Check your farmers market. Sometimes you can find super deals here. Be ready to haggle a bit and know exactly why your purchasing something. Usually the later in the day you shop the deeper you can haggle.

* Skip bottled water. Your filtered tap water is likely just as good. Save some plastic containers you already paid and USE TAP WATER INSTEAD.
Some of you are spending over $400 per year. That's the majority of an entire paycheck. EVERY YEAR. On water. Completely cut bottled water out of your life.

* Here's one you don't know about. About a third of all food doesn't pass the eye test.
 What's that?  It's food that, while perfectly fine is for one reason or another visually unappealing.
 Theres lots of places online that specializes in these foods. Better yet much of it is not only far less expensive its organic.

* Speaking of online. It pays well to go to different grocery websites and to find what you won't always see in person. Sometimes you'll come across deals you just can't afford to miss out on.

* Plan your leftovers. What does that even mean? It means some meals never work out exactly how you planned it.
Especially with meat dishes. If your meatloaf is always just a bit too much for one meal but not really enough for two,  take what's leftover, add a few rolls and maybe a can of vegetables and you have a super cheap dinner the next night.

* Amazon.
Sometimes. Most grocery items on Amazon are somewhat competitive with your local grocery store but are rarely preferred. Shipping is one reason. The more obvious issue is trying to juggle dozens of different grocery items.
Still theres a number of times when it can be a good idea. One example would be if you live in a "food desert". Perhaps you need just a few items and it's just not worth it to go to the grocery store you usually frequent.
Assuming no rush, it might make far more sense just to have these items shipped to you. Not to mention it's much more convenient.  
An even better reason might be a THREE-FOLD ANSWER.  
First. On occasion, you will find staple type items (sugar, tea, juices.) on items you were going to buy at a steep discount. 
Second. Convenience. Convenience is generally the enemy of the frugal. Especially when it comes to groceries. But sometimes the better price IS convenient.  
Third. Locked-in price. The price will probably go up at least somewhat. If the price is too good to be true now it's going to be more too good to be true six months from now. Also that's one less thing on your grocery list. 
Just a few caveats. Make sure what your getting won't go bad. Be sure it's a reputable company. And lastly make absolutely certain what your getting really is a good price.

* Grow (some of) your own food.  This is easier for some than others. One of the best ways to defray food costs through gardening is to grow perennials.
 Crops like strawberries, rhubarb, and other perennial foods only involve a one time investment. Another way to reduce your food bill is to grow those fruits and vegetables that are more expensive.
To be honest growing your own food can be time-consuming and difficult. Some people are just better at it than others. Another thing to consider is that the price of seeds are more expensive than it has ever been.

* Make your own drinks. It's understood that when dinner goes on the table it's just so much easier to grab a few soft drinks or bottled waters or some other pre-canned drink.
Beside the fact that these aren't usually the healthiest option, it's  also surprisingly expensive. In the case of soft drinks it's also where most of your meals calories come from.
Making a pitcher of iced tea or lemonade , depending on what your family likes and save you hundreds of dollars a year.

* Consider a Cosco or Sam's Club membership.  If your considering buying in bulk anyway consider becoming a membership of one of these bulk discounters.
Not only is it the best bulk deals for groceries but on tons of other things. Everything from tires to eyeglasses and almost everything in between.

* Buy some better food storage containers. Yours has probably been around awhile.  Not to mention the food will taste better, which means less waste.

* Make a list of everything you do throw away. Almost everyone throws away some food at least some amount of the time. Make sure you know exactly what and how much you throw away and plan things out differently.

* Make your own high-end drinks. You don't have to stop off at Starbucks or Duncan Donuts for an iced coffee mocha or lattes. Making your at home is literally PENNIES ON THE DOLLARS.  
Plus no more stopping off on your way to work. Best of all once you get your favorite drink dialed in you'll always have it made exactly right. Everytime.
You'll need a higher end coffee or latte maker but as is said "buy once cry once". 
After that your saving tons and you don't even have to wait to get to your favorite coffee shop before you can start drinking your favorite drink.

* Buy produce from the freezer section is generally cheaper than the fresh food section.

* If possible don't buy special ingredients you know your only to to use once and have the rest around until it gets tossed. You probably do this more than you think.

* Say no once in awhile. Everytime We check out of the grocery store (or literally anywhere else) we're asked, something along the line of "would you like to donate to whatever charity". 
If it brings you pleasure then great. Otherwise stand your ground politely and say no thank you. You're not obligated to spend more than you already are unless of course you feel moved to do so.
Some people, people who can't really afford it, are spending $100 a year they really shouldn't. At least not yet. Get your own house in order if you feel that's what's right for you.

* Breakfast can also be dinner. Since dinner is usually the most expensive meal of the day change it up once in a while. Scrambled eggs and a couple slices of ham gotten on sale are not only cheaper it's different.

* Make at least one night a week a fun but cheap evening.  Pizza night! 
 Cheap fun and a good way for the family to socialize and catch up.

* Have at least one meatless day per week. Healthier, cheaper, and an easier time preparing and cleaning up.

* Grow your own herbs. Herbs, unlike many other fruits and vegetables (looking at you strawberries) are easy to grow but expensive to buy. It's fun and you almost can't screw it up. Grow some of the more exotic ones for maximum fun.

* Make starchy filling staples a larger part of your diet. Foods like potatoes, rice, beans, etc. are so inexpensive you can't help but save money.
You do have to mix things up so you don't get so tired and stop doing it altogether.

* Use your slow cooker (or crock pot).
Theres several good reasons to employ a slow cooker once in a while. First, lesser cuts (i.e. less expensive) of meat taste great when mixed in with all the additional ingredients mixed together.
Crock pots use less electricity than your oven. It's convenient. Mix everything in the pot in the morning and by dinner your done!  Several meals are served.  Several.

* Avoid those convenience stops. Sometimes saving money on groceries isn't about what you do spend but rather where you spend it.
Most people are in the habit of just grabbing milk, bread, or eggs at the corner store. That's a lot of extra money you didn't have to. 
Plan a little better.

* Plan around the sales. It's easy to get tunnel vision once you have meal planning down and a good idea what your weekly cost looks like.  That's great.  But sometimes you can do better. Much better.
When better comes along in the form of a deep discount sale from one grocery store enormously undercutting its competition you should be in the position to pounce and pounce hard.
You should know ahead of time what it is you want, how much money you are likely to save, will this food be eaten and other factors.
 Planning around those rare occasional sales can take your already low grocery bill even lower.

* Order curbside pickup. If there is no fee involved. Its saves you time AND TIME IS MONEY.  Also no impulse buys.

* Go early for the freshest food and the fewest people.

* Occasional reward yourself. If your killing it at the war of the grocery bill give yourself a little break every so often.
Grab some coupons and reward yourself with a Chick-fil-A breakfast or lunch at Wendy's if coupons and budget allow. Not too often, every other week or so.
But a little reward every great once in a while might save you money by keeping you from going off the rails.

* Use apps like Ibotta for online coupons, cashback, or sudden sales. This isn't for everyone but some people do swear by them.

* Working together is the key. If theres more than one person contributing to the grocery bill be sure your on the same page.
Two people working together can save proportionally far more for a variety of reasons. Work together and don't make decisions for the other without discussing it first.

* Don't buy crap. Don't buy groceries that are so cheap only because it's so bad for you. You costing yourself money in the long run. You could be taking months or even years off your life.
Most importantly, you don't have to. You can buy great tasting and healthier food just by doing a little work.

* This will prove the most controversial item discussed but for some people this makes perfect sense.

A DEDICATED CREDIT CARD!
This credit card serves two purposes This is a credit card dedicated solely to groceries. 
So it serves as a monthly invoice for you to examine and re-examine your grocery bill separately from any other expense. Only consider a credit card with no annual fee and at least 2% back on groceries specifically. 
Since we do buy virtually all our groceries at a large discount store we have a credit card issued by the store we already shop at. 
The company credit card offers, you guessed it, no annual fee and 2% back on groceries. 
Obviously this only works for people who already have the discipline to pay off the balance every month and only the products they were going to buy anyway.