7 Ways To Get More for Less When Groceries Are Your Splurge

Groceries cost an average of $354.50 per person in America, but grocery prices vary by state , according to data from the World Population Review. Hawaii has the highest prices at a mean of $556.76 per person and New Hampshire has the lowest, averaging $183 per month per person.

No matter where you live, supermarket prices are higher in 2024 than in pre-pandemic years due to inflation .

Explore More: 10 Top Grocery Items To Buy at Big Lots With a $50 Grocery Budget

Find Out: 6 Money Moves You Must Make If You Want To Be Like the Wealthy

So what do you do? GoBankingRates has you covered with seven ways to get more groceries for less .

Money mistakes the super wealthy never make - that you might be doing now.

1. Comparison Shop

You likely have a few supermarkets to choose from in your neighborhood, such as Walmart, Aldi, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s as well as regional supermarkets, including Stop n Shop and ShopRite in New Jersey, Publix and Winn Dixie in Florida or Ralphs and Pavilions in California.

These days, it’s easy to compare prices between stores in circulars that arrive in the mail and on grocery store websites. You might need to shop at a couple of different stores to get the best quality items and deals. Trader Joe’s is known for its savings on produce and Walmart has low prices on frozen foods and other food staples.

Be Aware: 4 Best Frozen Foods To Buy in Bulk at Sam’s Club on a $50 Budget

2. Use Rewards Cards at Checkout

Paying with rewards credit cards for groceries can lower your bill and even earn cash back and savings on purchases when you rack up enough points. Gobankingrates recommends these reward credit cards for their perks and benefits.

• The Citi Custom Cash Card: This card gives card members 5% cash back on bills up to $500 in the category cardholders spend the most. If your category is grocery, you’ll be rewarded 5% cash back on your grocery purchases, which can go further around the holidays than a free ham or turkey.
• Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card: Do you have Amazon Prime and buy some of your food at  Whole Foods Market and through Amazon? Then the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card is a great investment. The card will give you 5% cash back on Whole Foods Market as well as all of your Amazon purchases.
• Capital One SavorOne Rewards Card: This rewards card earns cardholders 3% cash back at grocery stores. The exceptions are Target and Walmart. But you’ll receive a $200 cash bonus if you spend $500 within the first three months.

To keep your savings flowing, make sure to pay your bill on time every month — and keep an eye out for interest rates.

3. Download Digital Coupons

It’s no secret that you can clip paper coupons from circulars that arrive in the mail but you can also download digital coupons with huge discounts from the grocery store’s online app. Loyalty customers can load the savings directly on loyalty cards that will be instantly applied to your order at checkout.

4. Shop in Municipalities That Don’t Tax Food

Laura G. grew up in New Jersey, a state that doesn’t tax food at grocery stores. When she relocated to the Denver area for work, she had to pay sales tax on food at the Costco near her home in the town of Parker.

On occasion, Laura shopped at Costco’s Lone Tree, Colorado store on her way home from work. One day she returned some food items she purchased in Lone Tree to the Parker store and learned a valuable lesson.

“When the member’s services representative processed my return, she said, “That’s odd, we should owe you tax” and called over the manager to resolve the issue.” He explained that Lone Tree is one of the stores that doesn’t charge sales tax on food, but here at Parker, we do.” It’s up to the discretion of the town,” the manager said.

“I changed stores and now I save 8% in tax on every purchase,” said Laura. “I spend $500 a month at Costco and since switching locations I save about $480 a year which is one entire month of groceries,” said Laura.

“And that doesn’t include all the food I buy around the holidays.”

5. Stock Up on Sales Items

Grocery stores advertise various sales promotions on many items, including produce, dairy products, meats, desserts and more. Frugal shoppers look for sales items when they hit the shelves.

Loading up on products that can be frozen or non-perishable items that can be stored and still maintain their freshness is a smart way to keep more money in your wallet. To find these sales, look around the store. They’re often on display racks in the front of the store or at the end of aisles in multiple locations.

6. Do an Inventory, Then Make a List

How many times do we waste food that ends up at the back of the refrigerator? Doing an inventory of what you have and what you need will prevent you from making unnecessary purchases of items you already have.

After completing a quick inventory, write a list of the items you need. You can also save money by planning meals and adding ingredients to your list. Avoid impulse shopping and aimlessly perusing the aisles — and most importantly, shop after you’ve already eaten. Shopping when you’re hungry can be a costly mistake.

7. Consider Wholesale Clubs

Wholesale clubs such as Costco, BJ’s Wholesale Club and Sam’s Club sell food in bulk at low costs per unit, which can be ideal for families with the room to store large quantities of food and staples like bathroom tissue and paper towels. Know that you’ll pay more in advance when you buy in bulk but will save money over time.

Wholesale clubs charge an annual membership fee. For example, a membership at Costco costs either $60 or $120, depending on the membership tier. Before you sign up, make sure that you’ll shop there often enough to make it worth the investment.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 7 Ways To Get More for Less When Groceries Are Your Splurge