As a stay at home mom of two, budget maximization is key. One of the biggest ticket items each month for our family is our grocery bill.
Prior to staying home, I would go to the grocery store and buy whatever I fancied without a lot of planning. I noticed I was tossing a lot of refrigerated items that were expiring before I had a chance to use them (mostly fruits and veggies). After staying at home, I realized I needed to plan ahead to help save money, I couldn’t in good conscious buy food only to have it end up in my garbage can.
Meal Planning/Coupons
Meal planning is key to eliminating waste. I plan out each meal for the week and write a grocery list based off of what we will be having. After I have my meals planned, I hunt for coupons!
Coupons are key to reducing your grocery bill. I am by no means a crazy couponer that goes to the store and leaves paying ten cents for their hundred dollar grocery bill. On average, I save $20-$30 per grocery trip with coupons that I find primarily online. I go to the grocery store once a week, which means I am saving on average $80-$120 a month. Think of what you could buy with $80-$120, the possibilities are endless.
My local grocery store is H-E-B. Like most grocery stores, H-E-B has a coupon rewards program. I signed up for the H-E-B coupon rewards program online and downloaded the H-E-B app onto my phone. Each week, I check the available coupons on the H-E-B app and select the ones applicable to my upcoming shopping trip. Each week I receive an H-E-B coupon pamphlet in the mail. The coupon pamphlet shows the in store deals they will be having that week. Some of the deals in the H-E-B coupon pamphlet are different than the online coupons so make sure you check both to maximize your savings. Don’t live near an H-E-B? Don’t worry, most grocery stores have an online coupon program. Check with your local grocery chain to see what coupons are waiting for you!
The other type of coupons I use are manufacturers coupons. Manufacturers coupons are coupons released by the manufacturer of the food item listed on the coupon. Manufacturers coupons can be used at ANY store. Luckily, there are several online websites that allow you to browse and clip all of the currently available manufacturers coupons. My favorite website to find manufacturers coupons is www.coupons.com. All you have to do is print the coupons and present them in store.
Making Money From Your Receipt
You’ve done your meal planning, clipped your coupons, completed your shopping and received your savings but the savings do not end at the register. Make sure you save ALL of your receipts (H-E-B, Target, Costco, Walgreens etc..). Based on what you purchased, your receipts can end up making you money! That’s right, cash money back in your pocket.
Ibotta is my favorite app for earning money back from your grocery bills. While there are several apps on the market who offer similar incentives as Ibotta, I have found Ibotta is the easiest to navigate and offers money back on items I generally buy.
Ibotta features several brand specific items that generally change throughout the month. There is a listed price below each item on Ibotta. If you purchase one of the items from the store listed on the Ibotta app, the amount listed below the item will be added into your Ibotta account. Once you reach $20 in your Ibotta account you can cash out your account for money or giftcards.
I tend to cash in my Ibotta credits for Amazon giftcards to use throughout the year. Another good savings plan is to save your Ibotta credits and cash them out around the holidays to limit your out of pocket expenses. Not an Ibotta member? Sign up now to start earning savings by clicking the link below.
Ibotta is currently offering a $20 sign up bonus. Free money….what are you waiting for? Happy Shopping!