When I first got married , I had no clue about grocery shopping or managing a monthly spending budget. Soon I realized I was spending way too much on groceries. Over the years I picked up a few tips and tricks and today I will share with you 10 easy ways how YOU can save money on groceries.

1. Meal Plan

I can’t stress how important it is to meal plan. It will make your life so much easier. No worrying about what to cook for the day, deciding what to cook and not having one ingredient on hand and then going back to thinking again. Make a plan for all the meals you will be cooking for the week and write down a list of ingredients you will be needing. Clean out your fridge, raid the pantry to see what you already have. That way you will be buying exactly what you need and avoiding anything which you think you MIGHT need and then it just ends up in the back of the pantry till it reaches its expiration date. The other reason why it’s vital you meal plan is you buy the produce you NEED for the week and don’t end up wasting any vegetables which are left unused.

2. Stick to the list

Now that you have made the list of things to buy, stick to it. It’s very easy to give into temptation and buy something you don’t need. Also, never go to the store on an empty stomach. It’s only going to make you want to buy all the junk which is going to inflate your bill and may not be part of your healthy eating plan.

3. Beware of promotions

Discounts can be your enemy if you don’t resist the urge to buy anything and everything on sale. Do you really want to buy that snickers 3 for 2 promotion? Would you have bought a snickers bar anyways even if it wasn’t on sale? Even though there is a discount, you will still be paying for 2 packets to get the third for free and that may amount to 15-20 aed easily. However, by no means go ahead and buy the essentials like oil, rice, and other non perishable items whenever available on a good discount.

4. Try the generic brands

Generic brand products can be just as good as the name brand stuff. Always make sure to check the bottom shelves where the cheaper products are kept. Compare prices before buying any product. There may be a minimal difference of 1-2 aed between them which might not seem like a big amount but add a couple of items together and then the number becomes more significant. If you’re saving 2 aed off of 10 items, that’s 20 aed right there!

5. Say no to ready meals

It can be very tempting to buy the packet of frozen chicken nuggets and a box of refrigerator meals specially when you’re a working wife but the truth, is they can be quite expensive and unhealthy. By making food from scratch, not only it’s cheaper but you also get to control the ingredients you add in it. That jar of Alfredo sauce for an easy week night meal can cost you up to 10 aed but you can make it from scratch for a fraction of the cost.

6. Switch to online shopping

This is what made the biggest difference for me. When you’re shopping online you tend to just search up the things on your grocery list and buy those WITHOUT buying anything extra. On top of that you save on fuel cost and certain grocery stores deliver for free if your order total is 100aed. That way you don’t waste money buying things you don’t need and save time and effort.

7. Browse different stores

There can be a variation in prices of certain products in different grocery stores. If you are looking to buy something specific which may be a bit more costly, search online which store sells it the cheapest and buy it from there. You don’t have to stick to your usual grocery store for everything. I was looking to buy a box of protein shake and with a little google search I found I could save money by ordering it from Amazon instead. Always do your research and you may end up saving money where least expected.

8. Make use of store loyalty programs

Keep a look out for any applications which offer you cash back or points for shopping. I usually shop at Carrefour and they have an excellent loyalty program. You get points on things you buy and once you reach 500 points you get to redeem 50 aed on your bill. Search for other grocery stores and their cash back deals. You’re going to be spending money anyways so might as well get some benefit out of it however minimal it may seem.

9. Reduce food waste

If you waste less food you buy less it’s that simple. Buy weekly produce so it doesn’t go bad before you use it and if you feel like it’s going to go bad , freeze it or use it in meals. Stir frys, smoothies and soups are excellent ways to use the extra fruits and vegetables.

10. Set a monthly budget

This is a no brainer. If you set a grocery budget then you’ll know exactly how much you have to spend and use it wisely. That way if you feel like there is some wiggle room then you can indulge on extras.

What are some of your tips? Share in the comments below!