Easy tips for saving money on groceries

With rising prices on many of our everyday necessities, including food, we’re all looking for simple ways to save money.

Getting into the habit of meal planning before you shop can help you spend less, says Jody Gatewood, a registered dietitian and assistant state nutrition program specialist at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Yes, meal planning requires a few minutes out of your already busy days. And yes, it isn’t fun to add another thing to our never-ending to-do lists.

However, it’s worth the time and effort to plan out family meals in advance before you shop, Gatewood says.

“It doesn’t have to be intense meal planning,” she says. “But when you go to the grocery store, you can plan what you need and you’re not just putting things into your cart and then getting home and realizing that you spent this money and really don’t have a meal.”


How to meal plan

Gateway recommends a three-step strategy to create a money-saving meal plan that works for your...