Save at the grocery store with these 25 strategies | members edition

8. PAY WITH A CASH-BACK CREDIT CARD Some credit cards give you cash back when using it on specific categories including food. Unsure if your credit card offers cash back for groceries?

Check the card issuer’s website or enter the name of the card plus “benefits” in Google or another search engine to find out. If your card doesn’t offer cash back for food purchases, Bodge

says to consider switching to one with comparable (or better!) terms. Make sure to pay off the balance on time each month to avoid any interest or late fees that would negate the value of

the cash back earned.  9. DON’T GO TO THE STORE HUNGRY “The worst thing in the world to do is to go to a store hungry without a shopping list,” says Hamrick. “All of these brick and mortar

stores are experts at trying to influence consumers to make discretionary purchases,” and if you are hungry, it’s easier to get enticed by them. Instead of getting delivery, walk the

aisles to find in-store deals. Sam Island 10. WALK THE AISLES Curbside pickup and delivery are popular due to the pandemic, but if you don’t peruse the aisles, you may miss out on manager’s

discounts, overstock items, near-expiring products and other in-store offers that aren’t advertised. You can save as much as 90 percent with these deals, says Steve Economides, who along

with his wife, Annette, founded the Money Smart Family to teach people how to be frugal.  11. SIGN UP FOR FREE LOYALTY PROGRAMS Most supermarkets reward loyal shoppers with discounts, deals

and freebies. To reap the rewards, you usually have to sign up for the loyalty program online or through an app. “Loyalty members get exclusive access to sales and can earn points toward

free groceries,” says Bodge. “We get a free turkey every year at ShopRite because of all the shopping we do during the year.” 12. KNOW YOUR “BURN RATE” If you plan to stock up to save,

it’s important to know your so-called burn rate, or how quickly you go through food items, says Economides. For instance, it may not be worth it to buy five Caesar salad kits when they go

on sale if you consume only one per week. Foods like salad greens don’t freeze well, so you may be forced to throw some out when they expire. 13. BUY SMALLER PORTIONS Everyone thinks

buying in bulk is the way to save, but that’s only true if you actually consume everything you purchase. Often, a portion of items purchased in bulk end up in the trash, which is why Rob

Bertman, director of Family Budget Services, says to consider buying smaller portions. “Rather than a pound of meat, buy three-quarters,” he says. Downsize your portions instead of your

grocery list. 14. GO TO THE GROCERY STORE LESS Running to the store three times a week is not only time-consuming, but it can also be expensive. After all, shoppers are prone to impulse buy

even when food shopping, and the more time spent in a store, the more temptation there is. “Going to the store less often is how I spend less money on groceries,” says Bertman. Making a

list and sticking to it can discourage impulse buys. Sam Island 15. RESPECT THE SHOPPING LIST Making a list and sticking to it is a time-tested way to stay on budget and not overspend. Not

only will a list discourage impulse buys, but it should reduce the number of trips to the store, saving you the cost of gas or other transportation.  16. DON’T OVERLOOK DISCOUNTERS​ Dollar

stores may have gotten a bum rap in years past, but with inflation still elevated, they’re attracting many frugal shoppers looking to get a lot of bang for their buck. And it’s not just on

party goods and greeting cards. Increasingly, dollar stores are stocking their aisles with food. Another place to get cheaper groceries: salvage grocery stores. These are stores that sell

items that traditional supermarkets pass on — think cosmetically flawed produce, dented cans, crumpled boxes and products nearing expiration dates. Check buysalvagefood.com to find stores

near you. 17. PLAN A WEEKLY MENU​ Creating a weekly menu before you hit the grocery store will help ensure you don’t waste food or overspend on last-minute takeout. Annette Economides plans

a weekly menu for dinner only and starts with what she already has on hand in the house. Without a menu, you end up waiting until the last minute and paying full price for whatever is in

the store, she says.