The good news for you? You just save money automatically! To ensure you never forget anything and have to run back to the store use a master grocery list.

Every time you have to go back to the grocery store, you run the risk of making impulse purchases and blowing your budget. A master grocery list is a reusable list that contains a list of all the foods, ingredients, and household necessities you buy, and you reference it over and over when you write your shopping list.

In addition to food, this list will help remind you of other household items you may be running low on. Trust me, I love using coupons. But the danger comes when you buy things just because you have a coupon. The final key to your success will be how well you use the cheap grocery list you created.

Whatever you do, do NOT walk up and down each aisle looking at everything. That is recipe for budget disaster. Keep a laser-like focus on your list, and get in and get out. Keep a list of dirt cheap meals you can cook for cheap.

Now that you know what you can spend, the next step in creating your basic grocery list is figuring out what you already have at home.

One of the keys to planning your meals for the week on a budget is not having to buy every last thing.

You probably have some meals already hiding in your pantry, fridge, and freezer. Read Next: Learn How to Save Money This Month with a Pantry Challenge. The idea is just to start assigning meals to the days of the week. The act of having a written list will help everyone in your home know what to expect, and helps you stick to your plan.

These are the beginnings of your healthy grocery list. Okay, you have come up with a few meals based on what you already have, and started making your list.

Or if chicken breasts are on sale in the big family pack size, plan dinners that use chicken this week. Even at those loss leader prices, meat is more expensive than most other food ingredients. Dinners are the first thing people think of when they plan out their meals. The bottom line is that you have to be honest about your time, energy, and sanity, and do what works best for you and your household.

Even fresh foods, dairy products, and lean proteins can be attainable without runing your grocery bill. I really hope this list of the cheapest foods to buy on a budget has inspired you to save money on groceries!

Just by buying more affordable or cheaper groceries, you can have more room in your budget to pay your bills and live within your means. With some forward thinking and a bit of planning, you can save yourself a ton of money and grief! Skip to content 1. Previous Previous. Next Continue.

Similar Posts. Reviews ethics statement. Want fast grocery delivery without busting your budget? Here's where you can get the cheapest eggs, meat, milk and bread online. Grocery inflation may be slowing, but that doesn't mean the effects of the past few years aren't still being felt at the register.

If you're looking to cut food costs, we've located the best places to buy cheap groceries online. Discount grocery delivery is definitely a thing, and we've done the math to find the absolute cheapest online grocery service.

We looked at three of the most popular national grocers with at least some form of delivery -- Amazon Fresh , Target and Walmart. In the end, Walmart nabbed the top spot as the cheapest place to buy groceries online. If it's rare ingredients and gourmet goods you're after, these are the best places to buy specialty items online.

For budget basics and staples at affordable prices, look below for the full breakdown of Walmart, Target and Amazon Fresh to find the absolute cheapest groceries online.

Walmart is well-known for having some of the lowest prices of any national retail chain. In this analysis of the cheapest online grocery delivery operations, its budget-friendly reputation held up. Many of Walmart's cheapest items come courtesy of its in-house brand, Great Value.

To find the cost of buying groceries online at these three retailers, I first generated a list of 37 popular grocery items -- some name brands, some generic -- on the same day and in every grocery category including bread, snacks, dairy, produce, meat, fish, beverages and pantry staples.

I mostly avoided specialty items and organic ingredients for this exercise. For each product, I chose the cheapest available option from all three retailers: Amazon Fresh, Target and Walmart. If an item wasn't available at one retailer, I selected the next closest thing, since that's what a shopper would likely do.

In some cases, a product was only available in a larger or smaller size. In those instances, I prorated the amount and price to ensure it was an even cost comparison. While there are other places to order groceries online , Amazon Fresh, Target via Shipt and Walmart are three of the most popular US grocers with a national presence and the option for online delivery.

You'll also get Amazon Prime Video and a few other perks. As of Feb. All three offer free in-store pickup in some form, although Amazon has fewer locations than Walmart and Target.

Target-owned Shipt will send groceries to your door in a matter of hours but there are some staples, including meat, not available for delivery.

While I tried to use only items that were available for delivery, it wasn't always possible. Target and its national shipping partner Shipt don't have every grocery staple available for shipping, particularly fresh meats and some produce.

If you want to shop for your full list of groceries at Target, you're likely going to have to visit a brick-and-mortar location.

Here are some of the most affordable options: Aldi: Aldi is a discount grocery store chain that offers high-quality products at affordable This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first 21 Cheap Foods to Buy if You're Broke or on a Budget · Apples. · Bananas. · Beans. · Brown rice. · Chicken. · Corn tortillas. · Eggs. · Flour

Budget-friendly grocery offers - Grains such as white rice, brown rice, oats, and pasta are cheap and filling. Think about what's already on your basic grocery list as well as Here are some of the most affordable options: Aldi: Aldi is a discount grocery store chain that offers high-quality products at affordable This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first 21 Cheap Foods to Buy if You're Broke or on a Budget · Apples. · Bananas. · Beans. · Brown rice. · Chicken. · Corn tortillas. · Eggs. · Flour

Food4Less operates about 50 no-frills grocery stores in Southern California, Illinois, Indiana, and Nevada. A division of grocery giant Kroger, the company offers deeply discounted groceries, fresh produce, bakery and dairy items, ethnic foods, and meat.

Select locations also include gas stations, photo processing, pharmacies, and wellness services. According to research by Eat This, Not That , Food4Less is the most popular chain of grocery stores within California.

Get coupons, view specials and find locations at www. Lidl has an excellent fresh produce selection as well as a very impressive fresh bakery where you'll find ciabattas, focaccias, and rustic loaves made on site that can be sliced to order along with muffins, croissants artisan breads, oversized cookies, yeast doughnuts, and more.

Since Lidl is an international grocery store, they bring in lots of products from other countries: pasta from Italy, chocolate from Germany and cured meats from Spain.

They also carry familiar brands like Jif and Coca-Cola, but availability will vary and name brand product availability won't be consistent. Lidl also has an award-winning wine department that has won more than industry awards.

Most of the stores offer about 80 wines at any given time. When shopping at Lidl be sure to bring your own bags, otherwise you'll have to pay for them or go without. Save-A-Lot keeps their prices low by selling only the most purchased items and selling their own brands. In the words of Save-A-Lot communications manager Dan Kimack: "We carry one size and one variety of each item.

If it's a can of whole-kernel corn, it's going to be one size and one variety — and it's going to be the most popular size and variety. Price Rite Marketplace is a chain of supermarkets found in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

Owned by the same corporation that owns Shop Rite stores, Price Rite is a limited-assortment, deep-discount supermarket meant to compete with no-frills grocery stores such as Aldi, Lidl, and Save-a-Lot. The older Price Rite stores don't have the service departments found in most conventional modern supermarkets, such as Deli, Bakery, Meat, and Seafood — these departments are replaced by pre-packaged offerings prepared at centralized facilities which reduces costs.

Walmart is the largest food retailer in the US, with over 3, supercenters across the country. You'll find the best deals on items sold under its Great Value brand, name brand cereals and snacks, frozen produce, paper goods, pantry staples, toiletries, laundry detergents and cleaning supplies.

According to Consumer Reports, Walmart consistently ranks toward the bottom of their listing of supermarket chains in terms of the quality of fresh foods and vegetables, meats, store-prepared foods and baked goods.

Use my referral code AJ3YQ. While prices may vary depending on your location or grocery store, these are all generally cheap groceries that any store will carry. You will find that they are basic foods that are very versatile and can be used for multiple meals.

I have included real prices in my area at either Walmart or Aldi. Please do not get hung up on prices if yours are higher. This list will still be a cheap grocery list compared to other foods. This is meant to help you gain inspiration to build a frugal meal plan around budget friendly foods.

Fresh fruit can often be expensive, but I find a bag of apples is consistently fairly cheap. Plus they can be used in so many ways.

They can be eaten plain for a snack, stewed for a dessert or side dish, or eaten for breakfast in a baked apple oatmeal. Bananas are another great cheap fruit. You can get an entire bunch for just a couple of dollars. They are perfect for eating on their own, cut up in yogurt or cereal, with peanut butter, or in a smoothie.

A bag of oranges is another inexpensive fruit just about year round. Sometimes cuties are cheaper and sometimes the large oranges are. Check the sales before purchasing to get your best option. After apples and bananas, I look for fruit that is on sale or the lowest cost per ounce.

This week that is pineapple for me. It may be different for you depending on the time of year and your location. Applesauce is a great inexpensive snack to keep on hand. You can get a large container for cheap and it feeds a lot of mouths. Stay away from the squeeze pouches if you are on a budget.

Although they are very convenient, they are much more expensive per ounce than the large jars. Remember that convenience costs money. A bag of carrots is incredibly cheap and an essential vegetable to keep on hand. It is the base for many soups and sauces. It also is a cheap side dish and a great snack.

Onions are another cheap grocery staple to always have in the pantry. They add flavor to just about every dish. I find a bag of onions to be more economical than loose.

I buy a 10 lb bag of potatoes every two weeks. Not only are they a favorite at my house, they are incredibly cheap and versatile. When prioritizing what foods to buy with my grocery budget, potatoes are at the top of my list. READ: 16 ways to use leftover baked potatoes.

Although they aren't as cheap as white potatoes, sweet potatoes are still inexpensive. I love baking them, stuffing them with bbq, making sweet potato fries, or using them in a hash. There's a reason peasant food included cabbage and lots of it.

It's so cheap and there is so much you can do with it. Put it in vegetable soup , boil it , make an Italian ground beef and cabbage skillet , use it in a cabbage roll casserole , sauté it, or make a slaw. One cabbage can stretch for a couple of meals and it is packed with nutrition.

They are one of the most economical vegetables in the grocery store and great for snacking or using in salads. A bunch of celery is also a great versatile vegetable to buy. Use it in soups, casseroles, or stir fry. It is also a cheap snack to cut up at the beginning of the week to use for dipping in homemade sour cream dip or slathering in peanut butter.

If you have ever had a garden, you know how squash grows like crazy from one single plant. That is one reason it is so cheap in the store. Squash is excellent in the summer sautéd, fried, grilled, in a stir fry, or in a casserole.

Zucchini is an excellent cheap nutritious vegetable in the summer. Sauté it, fry it, make stuffed zucchini boats ,. Corn in the summer is dirt cheap.

In the summer when fresh corn is not readily available and inexpensive, frozen corn is very cheap as well. Frozen peas should be a staple of every kitchen. Throw them in a pasta, put them in a soup, fried rice, or as an inexpensive side dish. I love frozen peas! Fresh broccoli is fairly inexpensive, but frozen broccoli is even cheaper.

The best part is that the broccoli is also already chopped for you which makes it super convenient. Roast it, use it in a stir fry, or make broccoli cheddar soup.

Frozen green beans are an absolute staple in my home. Dairy products have become very expensive to buy, almost more expensive than meat! But if you need foods from the dairy aisle for your meal plans, here are the cheapest you can get. If you want and have the time, you can make many of these grocery staples from scratch.

But many of us enjoy eating meat in some form, and so it inevitably goes on our grocery lists. Oh, the magic of a well-stocked pantry! Trust me, keeping those shelves lined with the right staples is one of the best things you can do as a home cook. Here are the pantry staples that are my go-to for affordable feasts.

Oftentimes, the price of groceries goes down when you are buying in a larger quantity. You can get my Ultimate Guide to Buying in Bulk here. Tip: Need even more ideas? Want to be able to print out a list of all of these goodies so that you have it the next time you are at the store? Grab a copy below!

Did you finally make it to the end of this post, and now you need some meal ideas that you can make with all of the ingredients you bought or are planning to buy? Here are some of my favorite budget recipes. Merissa has been blogging about and living the simple life since and has internationally published 2 books on the topic.

You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page. This article with the Cheap Grocery List was originally posted on Little House Living in January Support Little House Living by Sharing This.

Your email address will not be published. You did so much work for these lists — thanks!

Aldi comes in at first place as the food retailer with the lowest prices for the sixth year in a row. Fresh produce that's delivered daily, fresh meats and fish Cheap grocery list for a month · loaves of bread · packages of tortillas · Peanut butter · Jelly · Bag of dried beans · Bag of rice · Canister of oats · Pasta The Ultimate Cheap Grocery List to Save You Money · Meat and meat alternatives · Seafood · Dairy, dairy alternatives and eggs · Pantry staples: Budget-friendly grocery offers

Offerss, popcorn is low in gdocery and fat, making it an excellent choice Budget-friendly grocery offers losing weight or grocry weight. Save Budget-friendly grocery offers. Nutrition Facts. Some brands add sugar or other ingredients to their frozen fruit, so be sure to read the label before you buy. Protein is usually going to be the most expensive category in your local grocery store. Just like spices, condiments can make any meal taste gourmet!	Get my FREE 5 day email course! Swap out meat for healthy plant-based meat alternatives such as tofu, tempeh, beans and legumes, as your protein source. Pork shoulder is an inexpensive cut of meat that can provide several hearty, budget-friendly meals. Celery is a budget-friendly vegetable with a distinct and unique flavor that can be added to multiple recipes. Facebook Pin Tweet Email. You can also buy these cheap groceries to build a stockpile to prepare for emergencies, job loss, and any hard times you may experience.	Here are some of the most affordable options: Aldi: Aldi is a discount grocery store chain that offers high-quality products at affordable This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first 21 Cheap Foods to Buy if You're Broke or on a Budget · Apples. · Bananas. · Beans. · Brown rice. · Chicken. · Corn tortillas. · Eggs. · Flour	5 Cheap Groceries You Should Always Stock Up On · Rice and Beans · Potatoes · Jarred Items · Herb Purées · Tomato Paste Carrots, potatoes and bananas are usually cheap and can be prepared in a variety of ways. Get seasonings from the dollar store. They're usually Currently, the cheapest supermarkets are Aldi, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, Food4Less, Costco (good for bulk buying), WinCo, and Lidl. Tip 3	Currently, the cheapest supermarkets are Aldi, Walmart, Target, Trader Joe's, Food4Less, Costco (good for bulk buying), WinCo, and Lidl. Tip 3 The Ultimate Cheap Grocery List to Save You Money · Meat and meat alternatives · Seafood · Dairy, dairy alternatives and eggs · Pantry staples Grains such as white rice, brown rice, oats, and pasta are cheap and filling. Think about what's already on your basic grocery list as well as
Best Offerz Delivery Services for See Budget-friendly grocery offers Offerz. Canned tomatoes are one of the best-canned items Budget-friendly grocery offers buy Budget-fdiendly broke. Grains like brown rice and oatmeal also score high in cost-effectiveness and nutrition. Email Facebook Instagram Pinterest TikTok YouTube. It helps you save money on your groceries by looking for price drops and coupons for your food orders.	More ways to save:. Skip to content Get 5 quick-prep meals you can make tonight. com is a good place to find dry goods, pantry items and paper products at low prices but it's not a full substitute for a grocery store since it lacks the fresh foods you would typically buy at a market. If you enjoy them, lentils should be in every frugal pantry. Rice is one of those no-brainer budget foods to add to your list of pantry staples.	Here are some of the most affordable options: Aldi: Aldi is a discount grocery store chain that offers high-quality products at affordable This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first 21 Cheap Foods to Buy if You're Broke or on a Budget · Apples. · Bananas. · Beans. · Brown rice. · Chicken. · Corn tortillas. · Eggs. · Flour	Potatoes. Both white and sweet potatoes are one of the cheapest grocery items to pick up when you're broke. Its uses are endless, and it's Aldi: Known for its cost-cutting strategies, Aldi offers low prices on items like baking supplies, fresh produce, chocolate, cheese, and canned 21 Cheap Foods to Buy if You're Broke or on a Budget · Apples. · Bananas. · Beans. · Brown rice. · Chicken. · Corn tortillas. · Eggs. · Flour	Here are some of the most affordable options: Aldi: Aldi is a discount grocery store chain that offers high-quality products at affordable This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first 21 Cheap Foods to Buy if You're Broke or on a Budget · Apples. · Bananas. · Beans. · Brown rice. · Chicken. · Corn tortillas. · Eggs. · Flour
Did Budget-friendly grocery offers finally Budgte-friendly it to the end of this post, grocedy now Budget-friendly grocery offers need some Budget-friendly grocery offers ideas that you can make with all of Offres ingredients you bought or are planning to buy? There are lots of affordable ingredients that can be used in a variety of recipes to make your money go further, so I put together a handy budget grocery list to help get you started. In general, store-brand or generic-brand dairy products will be the cheapest. It's currently only available in the Northeast. Make your food last longer by preserving and storing it correctly.	Bloglovin Facebook Instagram Pinterest. And a hanging spice rack like this is great for storing them! Pork is often less expensive than beef and is very delicious. In the end, Walmart nabbed the top spot as the cheapest place to buy groceries online. So both of these ingredients can stretch your dollar and time as far as possible.	Here are some of the most affordable options: Aldi: Aldi is a discount grocery store chain that offers high-quality products at affordable This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first 21 Cheap Foods to Buy if You're Broke or on a Budget · Apples. · Bananas. · Beans. · Brown rice. · Chicken. · Corn tortillas. · Eggs. · Flour	Duration Welcome to MyGroceryDeals: the best way to find grocery deals from your favorite local stores. Our Deal Gallery provides you with a flexible way of browsing Aldi: Known for its cost-cutting strategies, Aldi offers low prices on items like baking supplies, fresh produce, chocolate, cheese, and canned	Welcome to MyGroceryDeals: the best way to find grocery deals from your favorite local stores. Our Deal Gallery provides you with a flexible way of browsing 5 Cheap Groceries You Should Always Stock Up On · Rice and Beans · Potatoes · Jarred Items · Herb Purées · Tomato Paste Want fast grocery delivery without busting your budget? Here's where you can get the cheapest eggs, meat, milk and bread online
Related Articles You Might Like. For tips and recommendations Budget-friendly grocery offers a more economical Budget-friendlly experience, see Budget-friendly hair accessories for advice from offere experts at Offrs Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab. A well-stocked pantry should always include some basic baking goods like:. com, and Coupons. In this analysis of the cheapest online grocery delivery operations, its budget-friendly reputation held up. I use them the most often for recipes like Taco Soup.	Ideas for fruit, vegetables, protein, snacks, and pantry items. When I make this again, I'd add a bit more liquid! Oftentimes, I will add things to my shopping list way in advance so that I don't forget to add them when it comes time to shop. I like to keep it on hand for making soup. A little can go a long way in dishes like a breakfast casserole for example, making it very cost effective, especially if you purchase it on sale. I love baking them, stuffing them with bbq, making sweet potato fries, or using them in a hash. These choices will be signaled to our partners and will not affect browsing data.	Here are some of the most affordable options: Aldi: Aldi is a discount grocery store chain that offers high-quality products at affordable This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first 21 Cheap Foods to Buy if You're Broke or on a Budget · Apples. · Bananas. · Beans. · Brown rice. · Chicken. · Corn tortillas. · Eggs. · Flour	Grains such as white rice, brown rice, oats, and pasta are cheap and filling. Think about what's already on your basic grocery list as well as Here are some of the most affordable options: Aldi: Aldi is a discount grocery store chain that offers high-quality products at affordable Carrots, potatoes and bananas are usually cheap and can be prepared in a variety of ways. Get seasonings from the dollar store. They're usually	Is money tight and you need to cut food spending? Try pulling from this cheap grocery list to save money on your grocery bill 25 Cheap Foods To Buy When You're Broke · Pasta · Pork Shoulder · Lentils · Pancakes · Oatmeal · Cabbage · Eggs · Chickpeas Cheap grocery list for a month · loaves of bread · packages of tortillas · Peanut butter · Jelly · Bag of dried beans · Bag of rice · Canister of oats · Pasta

Budget-friendly grocery offers - Grains such as white rice, brown rice, oats, and pasta are cheap and filling. Think about what's already on your basic grocery list as well as Here are some of the most affordable options: Aldi: Aldi is a discount grocery store chain that offers high-quality products at affordable This list includes affordable, nutritious cheap foods that will help you meal plan and stay on a budget without sacrificing flavor. But first 21 Cheap Foods to Buy if You're Broke or on a Budget · Apples. · Bananas. · Beans. · Brown rice. · Chicken. · Corn tortillas. · Eggs. · Flour

It can be used for all types of cooking as well as drizzling, dipping, seasoning, and marinating, and is great for DIY salad dressings as an alternative to pricey bottled dressings. Lentils are great for stews, soups, curries, and salads.

Salt is a must-have for a well-stocked pantry. Beyond sprinkling it on just about everything, you can use it for DIY seasoning on meat and vegetables, preserving items, and pickling although pickling salt is recommended for the latter, which can be used as table salt if you want.

Buying salt in bulk will save you money, and you can also use it around the house for getting stains out of coffee cups and pots, sanitizing cutting boards, and for restoring worn sponges just soak them in salt and water overnight.

Adding pepper to your recipes can transform the taste. Another addition to your budget grocery list is apple cider vinegar, which can be used in numerous recipes and can be used for cleaning up afterward.

I use it in many of my recipes including my Roasted Chicken Breast with Molasses and Apples and my Cowboy Baked Beans.

Or, combine it with olive oil for an easy salad dressing or marinade. Chicken stock is a versatile and cheap pantry item that can be used to create sauces, gravy, chicken stew, and soups. To save some cash, consider baking your own bread! My dinner rolls and easy homemade bread are two great beginner bread recipes to get you started.

Sugar is another must-have for your budget grocery list. Not to mention, between , the cost of bakery products and cereal saw the highest increase among individual grocery items a By baking instead of buying pre-made products like cakes, cookies, breakfast pastries, and more you can save some cash.

Baking powder and baking soda can be used in a variety of dishes and are necessities for home bakers. If you want to save cash on store-bought baked goods by baking your own, both of these ingredients should be in your pantry.

When considering which budget-friendly groceries to buy, stick to produce that can be used in multiple ways. For example, onion and garlic are used for pasta dishes, stews, casseroles, and more, while potatoes can be a great breakfast item like hash browns, or a chilled lunch side like potato salad.

Whenever possible, buy in bulk to reduce costs even further. You can also prep and freeze certain produce to use later. Onions are a must-have as almost every savory recipe calls for them.

This is one produce item that you can buy in bulk to reduce the cost without worrying about them expiring in a couple of days.

If you store them correctly in a cool, dark, and dry place, onions should last for months. Much like onions, garlic is a staple item in most kitchens. Potatoes are an incredibly versatile and economical food with a fairly long shelf life about two months if stored in the refrigerator.

They can be mashed, baked, roasted, fried, and steamed and are great for filling up hungry bellies. Cabbage is a cheap, long-lasting vegetable that can be used in different ways.

You can add it to recipes such as hearty stews and soup or create a tasty side dish. For an easy cabbage recipe that you can make in bulk and stash away in the freezer, try my Crockpot Cabbage Soup recipe.

They can be eaten raw as a healthy snack or roasted, baked, and steamed. Plus, they make a colorful addition to soups and salads. One of my favorite things to do with carrots is to make homemade carrot cake.

Celery is a budget-friendly vegetable with a distinct and unique flavor that can be added to multiple recipes.

To prolong the life of your celery, place it in a jar with a small amount of water. Lemons are great for adding an acidic kick to your dishes and can be used in both savory and sweet recipes.

They make great marinades and dressings as well, like my Lemon Vinaigrette. For example, powdered milk is a cheap alternative to fresh milk. Sweet cream butter is often the cheapest option, and since butter can be easily frozen until you need it, if you see a deal, stock up! Always check the label before purchasing.

More ways to save:. When it comes to cheap groceries, pantry staples are the big winners. This category includes dry and canned goods such as flour, oatmeal, chicken stock, nuts, nut butters and seeds. Among the cheapest staples are dried and canned beans — they're also easy to prepare and provide a great source of plant-based protein and fiber, two very important nutrients that are often only available in more costly foods.

Grains like brown rice and oatmeal also score high in cost-effectiveness and nutrition. Frozen foods can be stored in your freezer for months.

Again, consider buying in bulk when frozen products are on sale. Items worth stocking up on include:. More ways to save money on groceries. Here are a few other simple tips from our experts to food shop on a budget:.

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.

What to Eat for Breakfast to Feel Your Best. Why You Should Eat a Banana Every Single Day. These High-Carb Foods Are Seriously Good for You. The Superfood We All Need More Of. The Real Health Benefits of Eating Carrots. These stores sell some of the same products that are sold at salvage grocery stores such as close dated, outdated, overstock and discontinued shelf stable foods.

According to a study from experts at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy published January , dollar stores are the fastest-growing food retailers by household expenditure share, having doubled their share of grocery sales in rural areas.

Dollar stores sell national name brands of your favorite snacks for only a dollar, and they're also great places to find unusual imported foods, discontinued items, and exclusive products — usually at cheap prices.

Some of the products you buy at these stores might be close to or past their expiration date, but will still be safe to eat. Read the article Food Product Dating for more information about expiration dates. Wherever there's an Amish community, you're almost guaranteed to find an Amish grocery store that sells bulk foods.

Grains, beans, spices, candies and other dry goods are packaged in bags and containers and sold at bargain prices. Salvage grocery stores and dollar stores have a limited selection of products and their inventories can change on a weekly or daily basis.

It's very unlikely that you'll be able to find all of your weekly grocery needs at any one of these stores, so you'll have to do at least some of your shopping at a traditional grocery store. The stores listed below are the cheapest places to do your grocery shopping and are listed in order from lowest priced store at the top to the highest priced store at the bottom.

Aldi comes in at first place as the food retailer with the lowest prices for the sixth year in a row. Fresh produce that's delivered daily, fresh meats and fish, and an extensive line of organic, gluten-free and vegan foods can be found at Aldi stores throughout the US no stores in Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Maine, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington or Wyming.

You'll find the best deals on bread, milk, yogurt, cereals, baking essentials, fresh produce, canned goods, cheese and wine. Many products, such as coffee, grains, snacks and pastas are sold in bulk and can be purchased by the pound, and a good selection of herbs and spices can be purchased by the ounce.

You'll have to bag your own groceries and only cash and debit cards are accepted as payment. View specials and find locations at www. Grocery Outlet has operates more than stores in California, Idaho, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington.

This "extreme value" supermarket has been described as "the TJMaxx of grocery stores" and they keep their loyal customers returning for the warehouse store-like prices without the membership fees.

You'll find affordable groceries and big savings on brand name items, but you'll have to be flexible when it comes to your shopping list since Grocery Outlet is, in many ways, a salvage grocery store.

Considered to be New England's bargain grocery chain, the motto at Market Basket is "more for your dollar.

Video