A Cheap Grocery List That Lets You Stock Up Without Breaking the Bank
Going to the grocery store is almost always the more financially sound option than ordering in, but if you’re not careful, you can easily pay much more money than you need to. (And if you’ve ever gone to the grocery store while hungry, then you probably know just how easy it is to toss your cheap grocery list to the side and pick up snacks you wouldn’t normally buy or desserts that seem more appealing than usual.)
Luckily, there are foods in every food group that are known for being particularly affordable. So if you’re looking to stick to a shopping budget or are trying to cut all-around costs in your day-to-day life, maybe consider consulting this list of cheap, low cost food options. Even just swapping out some of your more expensive grocery list items for some of the options on this list can be a game-changer when it comes to your financial health.
Fruits
When it comes to produce, and especially fruit, it’s not so much which fruits you buy but where you buy them. According to The Kitchn, budget-friendly grocery store Aldi had the cheapest produce available across the board. So it may be worth starting there if you’re able to.
No matter where you go, though, these tend to be the most affordable fresh fruits for sale, as Healthline points out:
Bananas
Oranges
Apples
Cantaloupe
Kiwi
Vegetables
According to MyMoneyBlog, there are a handful of fresh vegetables that are more affordable than others. So if you think eating healthy is ridiculously expensive, think again.
Potatoes
Cauliflower heads
Cabbage
Onions
Whole carrots
Celery stalks
Sweet potatoes
Lettuce heads
Baby carrots
When in doubt when it comes to saving money on vegetable, remember that the whole vegetables (as opposed to pre-cut or chopped) are always more affordable. That change alone can save a lot of money in the long-run.
Meat
According to the Christian Science Monitor, there are certain cuts and types of meat that will always be more affordable than others. This doesn’t mean that meat isn’t more expensive than produce, because it certainly is, but meat is a staple in millions of people’s diets, so it’s worth exploring the ways to cut costs where you can.
Lamb shoulder chops
Chuck roast
Flank steak
Whole chicken
If you’re looking to spend even more money on meat, it’s also worth considering purchasing wholesale meat instead, as PennyHoarder explains.
Pantry Staples
When it comes to dry and canned goods to stock up on for your pantry, there are a ton of affordable options (and a lot that are super healthy, too), as ThriftyFrugalMom points out. Plus, a lot of these ingredients are perfect for making cheap staples yourself — things like bread and soup that are hearty and incredibly versatile.
Flour
Sugar
Oatmeal
Yeast
Baking powder
Baking soda
Beans
Rice
Chicken stock
Eggs
Frozen Food
The best thing about frozen food is that it lasts forever, meaning it will never, ever go to waste. The downside? It can sometimes be a little pricey — but that doesn’t mean it has to be. And as a Yahoo! article points out, frozen food doesn’t have to be unhealthy, either. Here are some super cheap, very healthy freezer staples to stock up on.
Berries
Edamame
Brussels sprouts
Chopped spinach
Corn
Green beans
Mixed peppers
Mixed vegetables
Broccoli
If you’re looking for slightly more interesting (but nearly equally affordable) frozen foods, though, there’s always the infamous Trader Joe’s frozen food aisle to consider. According to The Penny Hoarder, some of TJ’s most popular frozen food items (mandarin orange chicken, chili lime burgers, vegetable fried rice, etc.) are less than $5.
You Might Also Like
