Let's take a look at where you should be shopping for the best value buys. If you want to save money on your groceries, there's perhaps no better store to shop at than Aldi. You'll find Aldi locations across the country and overseas, all of which guarantee competitive prices compared to the other grocery stores in your area.

So, how do they do it? There are a few ways the chain keeps its prices so low. First of all, Aldi doesn't carry many name-brand products.

Instead, the chain focuses on selling its own store-brand products. These items are often cheaper but many report that these goods are nearly identical to the name-brand versions of the same products, which makes it a no-brainer to shop here if you're trying to save money but don't want to sacrifice when it comes to taste.

Additionally, Aldi stores tend to be smaller than the average supermarket, which means the selection is more limited and the staff is streamlined. Since you have to bag your own groceries and take your own cart back to the store, you don't have to pay for those services through the price of your groceries.

Sure, the shopping experience at Aldi is a little different than what you may be used to at other grocery chains, but the low prices are totally worth it in our book. Trader Joe's is another one of those super-popular, more affordable grocery chains that customers tend to flock to on a regular basis.

If you like the feel of Aldi but are in the market for more specialty products, you may want to make your way to Trader Joe's. The store is similar to Aldi in that it doesn't offer many brand-name products, instead stocking its own unique offerings.

Some of these products have become cult favorites amongst Trader Joe's shoppers , so you're not sacrificing much in terms of quality by shopping at this store. Additionally, the chain keeps its operational costs low by building smaller stores that require fewer staff members to manage.

Since it doesn't offer coupons and run ads, you're not paying for all those extra incentives and advertisements. Rather, customers know that they're almost always getting a pretty decent deal when they decide to shop at Trader Joe's. There are currently locations in 42 states plus Washington D.

and if you live in an urban or suburban area, chances are you've got a Trader Joe's somewhere near you. Walmart has long been known as a place where it's possible to snag cheap groceries. But why are the store's products so cheap compared to other, similar stores? There are a variety of factors that contribute to the cheaper-than-average prices.

Low operational costs are one such strategy, but so is lack of competition. Often, you'll find Walmarts in places where there aren't many other retailers to compete with. In smaller towns and more rural areas, Walmart may be one of the few places in town where it's possible to snag groceries.

Because the local population depends on the store, Walmart has a reliable customer base. This customer loyalty means that they don't have to charge quite as much for its food and other products.

However, some of the chain's affordability factor comes from the fact that it doesn't pay its employees very much. Human Rights Watch has outlined major issues with Walmart's labor practices , including encouraging employees to work off the clock and refusing to grant overtime. Lidl is a grocery chain that was founded in Germany but can now be found in various towns and cities across the U.

Like so many of the other chains on this list, this store keeps its prices low by limiting its name brand offerings and providing customers with store brands instead. Additionally, it tends to stock products that people use on a regular basis — think pasta, canned tomato paste, and produce staples like cabbage and carrots — that often move in and out of the store pretty quickly.

There aren't many products that are going to sit on the shelf for a long time, which means that the company isn't waiting around for a return on investment. Plus, it takes less labor to run a Lidl than it would to operate a larger, more expansive grocery store. Fewer products means less need for a ton of workers, and the fact that the store displays its products in the boxes they're shipped in is just one of the ways the store cuts its labor costs.

For those with big families or just a lot of roommates , shopping at Costco seems like a no-brainer. The chain cuts down on costs by keeping its stores relatively simple — you'll notice the bare-bones design that's more about utility and function than it is about style and ambiance.

Chef Chris Aquilino , director of culinary at Elior North America , likes to jazz up his meals with jarred items, including pesto, olives, jalapeños, artichokes, sardines, and anchovies. They also stay fresh for a long time. According to Aquilino, herb purées, such as basil and cilantro, can even stay fresh for weeks at a time.

So don't be afraid to open up that tube. Aquilino also suggests stocking up on tomato paste. There are numerous ways to cook with tomato paste including topping fish and making barbeque sauce.

While you can easily find canned tomato paste at most supermarkets, Aquilino prefers the kind available in a tube. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising.

Create profiles to personalise content. The Clean Fifteen have a much lower level of pesticides, so you can save money on those groceries by not buying organic.

Now, if you value organics and have an all-or-nothing approach to it, your food budget is going to be higher. Have you ever noticed that strawberries are more expensive in the winter? Check out my Guide to Seasonal Grocery Savings here!

But guess what—generic is actually what doctors and professional chefs prefer. When surveyed, chefs are more likely to buy generic over name brand, especially when it comes to baking ingredients, soup and dips.

One way to save money on groceries is to buy in bulk, like at a warehouse club. Walking into an enormous warehouse full of pallets stacked floor-to-ceiling with things I could buy does my heart good. A warehouse club is a little slice of heaven to a natural spender. The key with buying in bulk is to only buy things you know you need and will use.

Winston and I will never eat five gallons of honey mustard, no matter how good of a deal it is. We still shop at a standard grocery store once a week for most food, but the warehouse store is a great place to buy the things we know we need to have on hand all the time.

We buy all of our paper goods, meats, batteries and dog food in bulk. Of course, you have to factor your bulk purchases into your monthly budget. This is a classic example of why you need to do a new, original budget every month.

When it comes to grocery shopping on a budget, it would be crazy not to include coupons. Every dollar you save at the grocery store gets you one dollar closer to being debt-free! Growing up, couponing was a part of every Sunday afternoon in our house.

My mom was a pro at finding and cutting out coupons from the newspaper. At that time in our lives, it was wise for Mom to take time out of the day to find deals and take advantage of ways to save money. One warning about coupons: They only save you money if you were going to buy the product anyway.

Coupons are a form of marketing. Companies put coupons in the mail and online because they want you to buy their stuff. There are several grocery stores that offer fuel rewards programs. Just think, if you could reduce the amount of money you spend on groceries each month, what would you do with that extra cash?

How much more debt could you pay off? How fast could you build up your emergency fund? How much sooner could you save up for an awesome vacation?

Rice, pasta and beans should be staples as you can mix veggies, meat, peppers, etc in with them to make filling meals. Watch for bogo (buy one Dry beans and rice. Cheap hot dogs. Frozen mixed vegetables. Beans are a good source of protein, rice for carbs. Steamed vegetables and rice Budget Grocery List: 60+ Foods That'll Keep Your Grocery Bill Low ; Avocado, Strawberries, Pineapples, Apricots · Peaches · Grapes, Pears, Kiwi

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Budget-friendly grocery shopping - Pick store brands over name brands. · Buy in bulk items with a long shelf life such as beans, legumes, rice, oatmeal, dried pastas and coffee Rice, pasta and beans should be staples as you can mix veggies, meat, peppers, etc in with them to make filling meals. Watch for bogo (buy one Dry beans and rice. Cheap hot dogs. Frozen mixed vegetables. Beans are a good source of protein, rice for carbs. Steamed vegetables and rice Budget Grocery List: 60+ Foods That'll Keep Your Grocery Bill Low ; Avocado, Strawberries, Pineapples, Apricots · Peaches · Grapes, Pears, Kiwi

Cutting coupons that you receive in your Sunday newspaper seems like a thing of the past, but thanks to apps like Ibotta and Rakuten , consumers can receive rebates or cash-back on their grocery purchases. Both Ibotta and Rakuten offer rebates on grocery items purchased from national chains like Walmart and Target.

You can receive rebates on items purchased in-store or online, so you can use it regardless of how you're grocery shopping. Moncel and Chase both recommend the Flipp App , which allows customers to enter their location and find coupons and sales for grocery stores in their area. By using the right card when checking out at the supermarket, you can end up saving a lot of money on groceries.

There many credit cards that have higher rewards on groceries such as the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express.

See rates and fees. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon. com checkout. See rates and fees , terms apply. If you're looking for a card with no annual fee , you might consider the Freedom Flex or the Freedom Unlimited, as both offer a grocery benefit for the first year of card membership.

If you want a card with rotating categories, you should opt for the Freedom Flex, but if you want a card with a flat cash-back rate, the Freedom Unlimited offers 1. For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here. Skip Navigation.

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Even in tough times, it's possible to find affordable and healthy groceries with a few smart strategies. The best ways include buying in bulk when items are on sale, shopping seasonally and loading up on pantry staples.

Compare prices online when you can look for coupons while you're there and stick to grocery stores nearby. With a little planning, your meals will be healthy and nutritious without breaking the bank.

And if you need a week off, consider ordering from one of the more affordable cheap meal delivery services. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Miami University of Ohio and a master's degree in clinical nutrition from NYU.

Prior to Good Housekeeping , she worked at one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City as a cardiac transplant dietitian. She has authored numerous chapters in clinical nutrition textbooks and has also worked in PR and marketing for food company start-ups.

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sign in. Best Flower Delivery V-Day Gifts For Kids V-Day Gifts For Women V-Day Gifts For Men Amazon Valentine's Gifts. Amy Fischer M. Contributing Writer. Nutrition Facts. WinCo Foods boasts locations across the West Coast, and is almost entirely employee-owned—which means their staff receive better wages and benefits.

And yet the prices are still low. WinCo purchases directly from farmers and manufacturers and has a large quantity of bulk foods, which means their prices undercut many other low-cost retailers. Another way to cut costs is by not accepting credit cards for payment.

But fear not: they do allow payment with debit cards and federal food assistance cards. Market Basket is one of the smaller chains on this list, but their savings make it one of the most affordable places to shop in the U. A recent study provided by the customer data firm dunnhumby revealed that the New England-based chain was the "top grocery retailer for inflationary times.

For over years, Market Basket has maintained the fierce loyalty of their customers for the high quality food at low prices. You can find anything from international cheeses, freshly squeezed juices, to even handmade sushi without racking up a massive grocery bill.

Trader Joe's is one of our go-to spots for affordable essentials, some of the best frozen food around, and unique snacks. Beyond the adorably kitschy decor and friendly staff, it's also one of the best grocery stores to visit when you're on a budget.

Even amidst the current egg-price hike, the cartons at Trader Joe's remain inexpensive. While some items can get more expensive than at standard grocery stores the produce section can get costly if you're feeding a big family , their private label goods deliver on quality without sacrificing affordability.

If you need shopping inspiration, check out our favorite items here. When you're hunting for low-cost, high quality groceries, Food4Less is an obvious choice. It's literally in the name.

Owned by Kroger, this no-frills grocery chain sacrifices a few amenities to save you money. From bagging your own groceries to using the steep discounts offered in their weekly ads, you're sure to find what you need and pay less.

Budget-friendly grocery shopping - Pick store brands over name brands. · Buy in bulk items with a long shelf life such as beans, legumes, rice, oatmeal, dried pastas and coffee Rice, pasta and beans should be staples as you can mix veggies, meat, peppers, etc in with them to make filling meals. Watch for bogo (buy one Dry beans and rice. Cheap hot dogs. Frozen mixed vegetables. Beans are a good source of protein, rice for carbs. Steamed vegetables and rice Budget Grocery List: 60+ Foods That'll Keep Your Grocery Bill Low ; Avocado, Strawberries, Pineapples, Apricots · Peaches · Grapes, Pears, Kiwi

If you've never gone to a Market Basket before and you happen to live near one, you have to check it out — you may just be shocked at how low the prices are.

Like Costco, Sam's Club is a membership grocery store with a focus on selling products in bulk. When you're shopping this way, you may be spending more upfront, but generally, you're going to save money in the long run as long as you use what you buy.

Of course, the membership cost of shopping at Sam's Club helps the company offer lower prices. Although Sam's Club offers its membership prices for less than Costco does, you'll generally find lower prices on goods at Costco.

But that doesn't mean you can't get a good deal at Sam's Club too. Particularly if you're a frequent shopper, you can save significantly on your annual grocery spending by shopping at Sam's Club. In fact, you can even save more than you would by shopping at Walmart, which is the parent company of Sam's Club.

If you're looking for a Costco alternative, Sam's Club is a solid way to go. WinCo is another celebrated low-cost grocery store with locations that can be found in the West and Midwest, with prices that are sometimes below what even Costco can offer.

But why is the chain so cheap? First of all, the chain buys a lot of its products directly from producers. By not going through a wholesale middleman, WinCo can get those products for less money, and it then passes those savings on to its customers.

But the store has another tactic under its belt: It doesn't accept credit cards. Oftentimes, processing credit cards can be expensive for a store, and by only accepting other forms of payment, WinCo doesn't have to pay that premium price.

The upside? You don't need a membership to shop at WinCo like you do at stores like Costco and Sam's Club. The downside is that you'll have to remember to bring a form of payment that's not a credit card.

Ask any Texan what their favorite grocery stores are, and chances are that they'll mention H-E-B. This chain has a cult following amongst citizens of the Lone Star State, and it's no wonder why. In addition to providing its customers with a wide array of top-notch products, the store also boasts relatively low prices compared to many other chains.

When it comes to produce, H-E-B can offer much lower costs than many stores because it prioritizes working with local producers. Since it's generally not shipping in produce from around the world, its transportation costs are significantly lower than those of many other grocery stores.

This in turn lowers the cost of fruits and vegetables for customers, who keep coming back because of the solid prices. This high rate of turnover makes the company money while helping its customers cut their grocery costs. The only downside is the fact that you won't find H-E-B in the other 49 states, though there are over 60 locations in Mexico.

However, if you're in Texas and you haven't yet checked out the popular chain, you need to shop there ASAP — it may just change your budget grocery game for the long haul.

You're not going to find Food4Less everywhere — the company, which is owned by grocery magnate Kroger, only operates in three states Indiana, Illinois, and California. But if you do happen to live near one of the chain's locations, you can benefit from the lower-than-average prices you'll find there.

You'll want to take a look at the store's weekly ads because that's where you'll often find the very best deals. Like a lot of discount stores, you'll have to bag your own groceries, but we think it's worth it for the lower cost.

A lot of the time, these cheaper stores don't offer pharmacies or household items like cleaning products, but you'll find these amenities and more at Food4Less, which makes it a great option for people who want to get all of their shopping done at one spot. Is Food4Less the most luxurious place you've ever shopped for groceries?

But it will get you out the door with a few bags of groceries for considerably less than you would pay at most grocery stores. Grocery Outlet is one of those stores that you have to shop at at least once if you love finding fantastic deals on groceries.

There, you'll find consistently low prices to help you cut your grocery budget for good. As the name suggests, this chain is an outlet. Basically, when a producer makes too much of a product that it can't otherwise sell, it contacts Grocery Outlet, which then buys the product for a reduced price.

That's how the store passes those savings on to you — it pays less for its products so you can too. Unlike some budget grocery chains, you'll find different products at every Grocery Outlet you go to, depending on what that particular store has access to.

Concerned you won't be able to find what you need at Grocery Outlet? Don't worry — the store also stocks fresh produce and most other supermarket staples so you'll always be able to find the essentials like eggs and milk.

You're not going to find many grocery stores that offer prices lower than 99 Cents Only Stores. When the company was started, everything was offered for only 99 cents. Of course, times have changed, and now, the name of the store is a slight misnomer — sometimes, you'll pay more than 99 cents for a product there and sometimes, you'll also pay less.

Still, you can almost guarantee that you are going to get a great deal when you shop at these stores, which are currently only found in four states. You can shop for produce here as well as a variety of other grocery products, although it can sometimes be difficult to find exactly what you're looking for.

On the bright side, it's kind of a treasure-hunting experience — you'll never know what you'll find for cheap when you set foot inside one of these stores. If you're the kind of person who's always on the hunt for a good deal, 99 Cents Only Stores undoubtedly make for an exciting shopping experience.

When you're pinching your pennies, going to a traditional grocery store may not be the most cost-effective way to buy groceries. Instead, heading to a dollar store like Family Dollar may just be the way to go. The popular chain offers some of the best food prices around, and it's often accessible in places where traditional grocery stores are not.

Recently, the chain decided to lower its prices even further to compete with other dollar stores like General Dollar. Company executives hope that this will attract more budget-minded shoppers to its stores. How are the prices at Family Dollar so low?

Widespread reports of understaffing and cluttered stores indicate that the chain may not be spending as much on labor costs as it should, which probably isn't ideal on many fronts.

However, if you need to get groceries for cheap, it's an option that you may want to explore. Many products can be found for little more than a dollar, potentially helping you cut your food costs.

If you haven't shopped at Aldi yet, you're missing out on some of the cheapest groceries around. According to YouGov , a market research and data analytics firm, Aldi is considered one of the most popular grocery stores in the country.

Not only is the product quality top-tier, the German-based company's business model is designed to minimize the cost to the consumer. According to Aldi , 90 percent of the products on their shelves are private-label brands.

Other things, like the 25 cent returnable deposit to use the shopping carts, bagging your own groceries, and not listening to licensed music on the overhead speakers, decrease the store's overhead costs, which helps keep prices low.

And selecting produce out of the crates they came in rather than from aesthetically stacked displays is a small price to pay for cheap groceries. This four-letter German company also operates on a low-cost model, but it's not the same as Aldi.

Lidl has been offering affordable groceries since the s and is actively expanding across the East Coast of the U. Although there are fewer locations than Aldi, they're constantly in close competition for stocking the cheapest groceries.

The selection of items is curated to keep the essentials in stock, instead of the added expense of keeping every variety and brand on the shelf. Their private label brands also have a Love It Guarantee , which means if a product doesn't meet your standards you can get your money back and exchange the item for something else.

This big-box store has all of the appeal of members-only clubs like Costco or Sam's Club , but without the expensive fees. WinCo Foods boasts locations across the West Coast, and is almost entirely employee-owned—which means their staff receive better wages and benefits.

And yet the prices are still low. WinCo purchases directly from farmers and manufacturers and has a large quantity of bulk foods, which means their prices undercut many other low-cost retailers.

Another way to cut costs is by not accepting credit cards for payment. But fear not: they do allow payment with debit cards and federal food assistance cards. Market Basket is one of the smaller chains on this list, but their savings make it one of the most affordable places to shop in the U.

A recent study provided by the customer data firm dunnhumby revealed that the New England-based chain was the "top grocery retailer for inflationary times. For over years, Market Basket has maintained the fierce loyalty of their customers for the high quality food at low prices.

You can find anything from international cheeses, freshly squeezed juices, to even handmade sushi without racking up a massive grocery bill.

Trader Joe's is one of our go-to spots for affordable essentials, some of the best frozen food around, and unique snacks.

Beyond the adorably kitschy decor and friendly staff, it's also one of the best grocery stores to visit when you're on a budget. Even amidst the current egg-price hike, the cartons at Trader Joe's remain inexpensive.

While some items can get more expensive than at standard grocery stores the produce section can get costly if you're feeding a big family , their private label goods deliver on quality without sacrificing affordability.

If you need shopping inspiration, check out our favorite items here. When you're hunting for low-cost, high quality groceries, Food4Less is an obvious choice.