These Grocery Stores Have the Best Prices Ever
I absolutely love to eat. Which means I can go a bit overboard at the grocery store, which leads to feeling a bit sick about my weekly grocery bills. And while I'm always down for getting deals at the store, I’m not exactly an extreme couponer either.
So how can I have my cake and eat it too? My tactic is to make sure I buy food at the most affordable grocery stores in my neighborhood. Here are the grocery retailers I would suggest:
Aldi
This is probably the cheapest store for groceries, especially when it comes to brand-name goods. When the money saving experts at The Penny Hoarder compared Aldi to Walmart, the small, German grocer beat the American giant's prices in nearly every category. Just remember your reusable bags because Aldi requires shoppers to bring their own - or purchase bags at an additional cost.
Trader Joe's
If you live near a Trader Joe's, you've likely heard the hype around this beloved grocery store. Loyal customers are obsessed with the unique store-brand products. And even with their affordable prices, the company doesn't skimp on cleanliness, food quality or customer service. In the most recent Consumer Reports supermarket survey of 62 national and regional chains, Trader Joe's landed in the top eight for price - and was among the highest-rated chains overall.
Costco
If you're buying in bulk, Costco is the most affordable option. Their quality is also up to par, with the Consumer Reports survey respondents awarding the national retailer high marks for its fresh store-prepared foods. Costco's Kirkland Signature brand is also among the best store brands in the business.
Amazon
When it comes to online grocery shopping, Amazon still takes the cake in convenience and price. A recent review conducted by Profitero of 21,000 products in grocery, beauty and household supplies found that Amazon is still slightly cheaper than Walmart, with a 1.8 percent average difference in grocery prices.
Along with shopping at the grocery stores that offer the best prices, you can also change your shopping habits to cut down your bill even more. Here are a few tips for how to save money on groceries:
1. Download a coupon app for groceries
The Penny Hoarder suggested using Ebates, Swagbucks, Ibotta, Shopkick and Drop, as well as grocery store loyalty apps and rewards credit cards to avoid cutting coupons and still get the best deals.
2. Always take stock before shopping
Check out the fridge and pantry before you head out to the grocery store, so you don't accidentally end up buying duplicates of items you already own. This is also a good idea when shopping for holiday meals, as you may already have some of the ingredients you need.
3. Go for the generic brands
Try out more affordable brands to see how they compare to the premium ones you've been using. You may find that you like the product just as well as the price.
While you're saving on groceries, consider another cost-savvy decision and go for a smart purchase for your home – a home repair plan.
Being prepared for home repairs is always a good strategy. See how plans from HomeServe can help with the costs of covered repairs.
