How to Save on Groceries {without coupons}

 Are you feeling it? The holidays are upon us. This week we will celebrate Thanksgiving. Then in the blink of an eye, Christmas will be here as well. Today, I’m going to share another tip on how to save money on groceries. I’m sure I am not that unusual in that my food budget gets really stretched this time of year with all the additional food for parties, holidays and other fun events. Any small thing I can do to save on groceries really helps. (As an aside, if you want some tips on a healthy and fit holiday season, one that doesn’t stretch your waistband, please check out my post: 5 Tips for a Healthy and Fit Holiday Season.)

Today’s tip is really simple, but it really works. You ready for it — buy whatever groceries you can at Target. Now if you are a loyal reader, you may know that I LOVE Target. It is so fun. Adding to my love of Target, I figured out years ago, long before most Target’s had grocery stores, that whatever food items I could buy at Target would cost less at Target than anywhere else I could find it.

To give you a little background, my current grocery budget for all food, toiletries, laundry detergent, toilet paper, paper products…everything for a family of 4 is $154 a week. This budget also includes natural or organic body care products for the whole family. Just one year ago it was $142 a week. I DO NOT COUPON. It doesn’t work for me. We eat as much natural and organic food as my budget will allow. There aren’t many coupons for those things and in addition to that, I never remember to use them. So, no coupons.

I do the majority of my grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s. I also shop at Costco. Usually, whatever I can’t get at one of those two places, because they save me the most money, I get at Target. My Target just remodeled and added a full (or at least full for Target) grocery department. Bonus! Now, I’m guaranteed to find what I need there versus a grocery store.

I have given this tip to many people. Every single one of them, that has tried it, has come back surprised that it actually worked. They really saved money.

On top of that, I have found another way to add even more savings to my Target shopping, whether it be for groceries, clothes, or presents for the girls. They offer their Target Red Card. They have 2 versions, a credit card and a debit card that is associated with your checking account. With either card, you save 5% on every purchase(even on Starbucks that is in a Target!!).

I use the debit card because I didn’t want another credit card. It doesn’t matter, we applied for a debit card that is associated with our checking account. (The one drawback is that they do require your social security number even for the debit card…makes no sense to me, but just so you know they will want it.)

My state sales tax is 5% on everything but food items. The tax on food is 2.5%. When I use my Red Card, I save the tax on everything, plus usually a penny or so because of the way they calculate it. When I buy food at Target, I am saving an additional 2.5% on top of their already low prices!

1. Buy groceries at Target (I use it for filler for what I can’t get at Trader Joe’s or Costco)
2. Use their Red card to add to your savings!