In order to reduce the stress that comes with grocery shopping, we have put together 3 pro tips for getting the most out of your budget.

Every time I shop for groceries, I’m tempted to add some heartburn medication to my basket for when I have to hit ‘accept’ on the pin pad. The cost of food has created strain (and stress) on many household budgets and for families living in Canada. The impact on households varies—while some can absorb the price increases and shop the way they always have, many are required to change their shopping and eating habits. For still others, the cost of food has forced them to go hungry and/or seek help from resources like food banks. Here are some ideas to help you make the most of your grocery budget.

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While it can take some time initially it can save time later with big rewards. Think about when you’ve had a long day at work (even if you work from home), and you then need to deal with whipping something up for dinner, but you forgot to prep and/ or take something out of the freezer to thaw. Everyone’s getting hungry and maybe even a little hangry. You’re tired and don’t have the energy to figure it out, so just for tonight, you decide to order in. Unfortunately, these “just for tonight” solutions can add up quickly. A meal plan can help you avoid these quick but pricey solutions. The plan gives you and your family structure around meals, which can save both time and money. Here is an example of a weekly meal plan: You and your family create a menu of seven breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. From this menu, you create a list of ingredients. You compare your list to what you already have in your fridge, pantry and freezer, and cross off any duplicates to create your actual shopping list. If you have children, these conversations can become great teachable moments, and can add to your quality time together. The meal plan and shopping list take the guess- work out of shopping, reduce the temptation to buy convenient (and expensive) foods, and save you time.

2. Find the deals. 

Part two of meal planning on a budget is researching prices and sales. This will take a little more time but can yield you savings. Search shopping apps for the best deals, and consider rebate apps that give you money back for the purchases you promote or post. Some apps allow you to circle or highlight deals you wish to take part in, which can autofill a shopping list for you. As well, if you have points cards, consider putting your points toward your grocery bill. Or, if you have enough store points, purchase a gift card for groceries. You can save these gift cards for a big holiday shopping trip or for a rainy day when perhaps you’ve had an unexpected expense and used up your grocery budget, or even as a gift for someone else who may be in need. 

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Once you’ve purchased your groceries, spend a few moments organizing your food. If veggies need to be chopped, meat prepared, and/or meal packages assembled, do that when you get home from shopping. If you throw it in the fridge with the intention of getting to it later, later could end up being when the food has gone bad. Consider cooking large batch meals (e.g., spaghetti sauce or chili) that you can portion off and freeze for an easy and delicious meal later on. Another option is to make a big meal with the intention of having leftovers for lunch the next few days. The more wisely you use your food, the more you minimize waste and save in the long run. 

The cost of food, while high, doesn’t have to blow your whole budget. Consider having fun with it by involving your family in meal planning, shopping and prepping. If the kids aren’t available, ask a friend or neighbour to do this with you. You can share both the savings and recipes.