6 Steps To Making a Budget-Friendly Shopping List

As inflation continues to rise and the cost of everyday groceries is higher than ever, it might seem more difficult than usual to stay within your shopping budget while keeping your fridge and pantry stocked. 

GOBankingRates has turned to shopping experts to get their insights on the best steps to take when making a budget-friendly shopping list, and how to save during your next trip to the grocery store.

Before getting started on a grocery list, determine how much you can spend at the grocery store. By figuring out a budget beforehand, you will have more guidance on what items to prioritize purchasing and what items to hold off on.

Prior to stepping inside the grocery store, check out the food stock you already have. By taking inventory of what you have, you can avoid purchasing duplicates of anything and may find you can make a number of meals for the week with items you’ve already purchased, said Brittany Kline, owner of The Savvy Kitchen, a blog that aims to make cooking at home easy to understand and fun.

After taking a look at the food you already have, take a few minutes to plan your meals for the week.

“A weekly meal plan can be invaluable in creating an efficient and budget-friendly shopping list,” said Elise Hilliam, CEO at MenuAid, a tech solution for weekly meal planning. “Knowing which meals you plan to cook and each ingredient that goes into them (in the correct amounts) means you’ll be able to shop for just what you need, reducing frivolous purchases. It can be a fantastic way to cut down on spending.”

When it comes to buying produce, Hilliam said to opt for what’s currently in season.

“Save by prioritizing seasonal produce with a much longer shelf life, [which helps to] ensure you’re stretching your budget by not having anything go to waste at the end of the week,” she said.

Another important step to creating a savings-savvy shopping list is to check if any items you’re looking to buy are eligible for cash-back deals. Apps such as Ibotta and Checkout 51 are great resources for shoppers, as they let you know what items give you the opportunity to get some cash back. You can figure out if you can get cash back for items already on your list, or discover new items you might not have had room in the budget for before that have cash-back deals currently available.

The last thing you want to do before hitting the stores is to check if any items you will be purchasing have digital coupons. By logging into your store’s loyalty account, you can check if any items have digital coupons available and load them on your account so you can enjoy some major savings when you check out.

While shopping, pay attention to the items and brands that are on sale. Consider buying your go-to items in bulk if they are on clearance and look for private label brands to save a few extra cents. Additionally, be sure to check out any clearance areas at the grocery store

As helpful as it is to take the time to meticulously plan before a grocery shopping trip, the planning won’t be worth anything if you don’t actually bring your shopping list to the store.

“The most important thing when you’re in a hurry is to remember to take your list with you, so you avoid making purchases from memory,” The Savvy Couple’s Kline said. “If you can, try to also avoid going to the store when you’re hungry because this can lead to impulse buys.”