• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Life As A Strawberry
  • About
  • Recipe Index
  • Bread Class!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Easter
  • Recipes
  • Bread Baking
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Easter
    • Recipes
    • Bread Baking
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Cooking 101 Tutorials

    10 Tips for Grocery Shopping and Cooking on a Budget

    Published: Nov 9, 2015 · Modified: Feb 26, 2023 by Jessie · This post may contain affiliate links; if you buy something we'll earn a commission at no cost to you.

    This post was sponsored by my friends at the TODAY Food Club through a partnership with the Blogger Babes. I was compensated for my time and participation. All thoughts and opinions, as always, are 100% my own.

    10 Tips for Grocery Shopping and Cooking on a Budget this recipe

    Let’s talk about one of the most unpleasant parts of adulthood today, folks: BUDGETING.

    (Ewwwwwwww, money. Why can’t we just all be zillionaires, right?)

    I’ve been getting a LOT of questions about tips for meal planning and shopping on a budget lately (wallet-friendly tips were even one of your most-requested topics on my recent reader survey!) So when the TODAY Food Club asked me to put together some of my best budget-savvy kitchen tips to help celebrate the launch of their online cooking community (click here to check it out!), I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to dig a little deeper into the whole “eating awesome, wonderful, sustainable food without going broke” thing.

    I’ve been privileged to work on some amazing projects with a whole bunch of incredible food justice advocates. And what I’ve noticed - both here on Life As A Strawberry and through my food security work - is that our questions about food and finance often trace back to one simple misconception:

    “I’m on a budget, so I can’t eat delicious, healthy, wholesome food.”

    But friends! THIS IS TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY UNTRUE.

    We can all eat well – no matter what our financial constraints are. It’s just a matter of getting creative with menu planning and using a few handy techniques to save money at the store.

    Here are my favorite tricks to eat great food on a budget!

    1. PLAN YOUR MEALS
    Sitting down on a Sunday or Monday to plan your meals for the week saves a ton of time and money. Having a set plan means you don’t have to do the whole “I’m hungry! What should we make? What do I have in the fridge? What do we feel like eating?” routine every time you’re ready for dinner. It also means you don’t have to worry about finding uses for a bunch of random ingredients hanging out in your fridge – buy only what you need to make the meals on your list, and you’ll have exactly what you need on hand exactly when you need it. Meal planning saves time and helps you cut down on food waste (which is basically just like throwing money into the trash! Which, umm, we don’t want to be doing). Need some inspiration as you plan your meals for the week? Check out the TODAY Food Club’s newsletter for weekly meal plans and shopping lists to get you started!

    2. MAKE A LIST
    Me at the grocery store without a list = dangerous. Not only do I end up bringing home food I don’t actually need, I end up forgetting the food I actually went to the store for. (Fail). Use your meal plan as a starting point for your grocery list and add any other necessities as needed. I like to keep a post-it on my fridge and write things down as I run out of them – like milk, eggs, etc. – so I don’t forget anything important!

    3. SET A BUDGET
    To set an initial budget, take a look at what you’re already spending on groceries each week. It helps to set goals here: do you want to reduce your grocery spending by $50? Spend less money on processed foods? Buy more fresh produce? Use these goals to help you make cuts and adjustments to your current purchasing habits. Then use an app like Mint (or a good ol' fashioned spreadsheet!) to keep track of your spending so you know how much money is left in your budget each time you're at the store.

    4. SET ASIDE SOME “FUN” MONEY
    Allocate a little bit of your grocery budget for non-list items that call your name once you actually get to the store. See some purple asparagus that would go PERFECTLY with the pot roast you’re planning for Tuesday? Use that flexible piece of your grocery budget to snap it up guilt-free.

    Baked Ricotta in a cast iron skillet.

    One of my favorite fun-money splurges? Cheese! I love eating it plain on toast or dressing it up with a tasty sauce like you see in this photo of Roasted Red Pepper Baked Ricotta!


    5. FIND A COOKING COMMUNITY

    Even the most well-organized, budget-savvy shoppers among us have days where shopping and budgeting and cooking are each the 100% very last thing you want to do today. Engaging with online communities like blogs (hi there!) or the TODAY Food Club (TFC) are awesome ways to keep yourself motivated - and excited! - to cook healthy meals at home. The TFC even takes it a step further by featuring selected members on the TODAY show, their website, and social channels – plus you can earn contributor badges for your own website (LIKE ONLINE GIRL SCOUTS! Or, more awesomely, online Pawnee Goddesses. Who’s with me?!) The free TFC newsletter, 5-day-meal plans (HELLO TIME SAVER FOR US LAZY FOLK) and shopping lists (AGAIN WITH THE TIME SAVING) are just icing on the cake. Facebook groups, Twitter chats, and good ol’ fashioned potluck dinner parties are also good ways to connect with other busy budgeters for food-related moral support. We’re all in this together!

    6. COOK ON SUNDAY, EAT ALL WEEK
    You don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen each night to eat well for the week. Cook a bunch of chicken on Sunday to throw into salads and pastas, or whip up a batch of homemade enchilada sauce to use in burrito bowls, tacos, or a lasagna (like this enchilada lasagna!) later in the week.

    Shredded chicken in a small bowl.

    This slow cooker salsa chicken is one of my favorite make-ahead staples: just toss it in the slow cooker on Sunday and use it in burrito bowls, salads, and pastas all week long!


    7. EAT SEASONALLY
    Most of us are used to being able to get whatever food we want whenever we want it (Tomatoes in February? Watermelon year-round? “No problem,” say the grocery stores!) But out-of-season fruits and veggies can be less flavorful than their in-season counterparts, and they’re also generally more expensive. Commit to eating what’s in season for a smaller grocery bill and happier taste buds.

    8. DON’T GO TO THE STORE HUNGRY
    If you’re anything like me, an empty stomach means an overfull shopping cart. Eat a real, actual meal (that handful of tortilla chips you had three hours ago doesn’t count) before hitting the grocery store to curb the temptation to overbuy.

    9. BE FLEXIBLE
    Is your favorite name-brand yogurt pushing your grocery bill over the top? Broccoli prices running shockingly high this week? Don’t be afraid to try new brands of your favorite foods or make changes to your list based on what your store has in stock.

    10. EMBRACE MEATLESS MONDAY
    Protein is expensive! It also generally comes with a big environmental footprint. Ditch the meat at least once a week to save money and reduce your environmental impact. Need some vegetarian inspiration? Try some easy portobello mushroom pizzas, a simple spinach and mushroom lasagna, or this creamy roasted red pepper soup!

    Have your own Super Saver tip for shopping and cooking on a budget? Share it in the comments below or join me over at the TODAY Food Club to share your best tips and connect with other home cooks!

    Thanks to the Blogger Babes and to the TODAY Food Club for partnering with Life As A Strawberry to sponsor this post!SaveSave

    Love this post? Check out our post on dinner timing →

    SaveSave

    More Cooking 101: Tutorials, Trainings, and Tips

    • How to Make Crusty Bread Without a Dutch Oven
    • How to Make a Cheese Plate (with step-by-step photos!)
    • Mashed Potatoes 101: How to Make The Best Mashed Potatoes
    • 10 Simple Tricks to Make You a Meal Planning Genius

    I'm Jessie, and I like to talk about food. Tag your recipes #LifeAsAStrawberry on social media to share your creations! Learn about our team!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Reader Interactions

    Discussion

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Bos Tuu

      November 15, 2018 at 4:29 pm

      Make money online

      http://www.clixsense.com/?8172285

      Reply
    2. Kalpana

      October 26, 2016 at 7:49 am

      Hello Jessie ! I really enjoy your post , you have shared useful and valuable information with us. Would love If you could share your valuable post and ideas on my resource also.Thanks in advance !!!

      Reply
    3. Jack Palmer

      January 15, 2016 at 12:32 pm

      My wife and I are exactly like you, "...an empty stomach means an overfull shopping cart." It's always bad news for us if we end up at the grocery store while hungry. It's almost like I want to put everything in the cart. We will have to remember to eat a real meal before going shopping next time. I'm sure that will help us save money. Thanks for the idea!

      Reply
    4. Coley

      November 09, 2015 at 2:48 pm

      Jessie! I just need to tell you how much I've been enjoying your posts lately. Shame on me for taking this long to you leave a comment letting you know. This is such an awesome, well thought out list. Keep up the good work!

      Reply
      • Jessie

        November 09, 2015 at 5:16 pm

        Coley! Thank you so much! It's been a fun couple of months for sure 🙂

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Jessie standing in a kitchen lifting a fork full of pasta.

    I'm Jessie, and I like to talk about food. On this website, you'll find well-tested recipes and tutorials to help you make weeknight comfort food you're proud of.

    Learn More →

    • Instagram
    • TikTok
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Easy Crusty French Bread (VIDEO)
    • How to Make a Cheese Plate (with step-by-step photos!)
    • 30 Minute Creamy Chicken Spinach Pasta
    • Butterless Chocolate Chip Cookies with Coconut Oil
    • Easy Creamy Mushroom Sauce
    • Cupcakes 104: How to Store and Freeze Cupcakes (With Video!)

    Easy Easter Recipes

    • Lemon Garlic Butter Steelhead
    • Easy Herb Biscuits (Video)
    • Smoked Salmon Scrambled Eggs
    • Lemon Poppyseed Scones
    • Raspberry Margaritas
    • Easy Whipped Feta Cheese


    Featured In

    A collection of logos from press outlets that have featured Life As A Strawberry.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    ABOUT US

    • Meet Our Team
    • Contact
    • FAQ
    • Work With Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Accessibility

    RESOURCES

    • Subscriber Resource Library
    • Meal Planning Resources
    • Sustainability Resources
    • Social Responsibility
    • At The Table Podcast
    • Everyday Artisan Bread Course

    RECIPES

    • Recipe Index
    • Homemade Bread
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Meal Ideas

    JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST!

    Life As A Strawberry logo
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    1% for the Planet logo

    About - Recipes - Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2012-2023 LIFE AS A STRAWBERRY