Make a list and stick to it.
At first it may seem overwhelming to go grocery shopping once a week, because you have to be stringent about meal planning, couponing and actually finding the time to go to the store. Here are my tips to help you save money on grocery shopping without spending a ton of time doing it!
- Sit down for one hour on Saturday night and look at the coupon matchups (store and manufacturer coupons).
- In that same hour, I clip coupons for what’s on sale that week.
- I also plan seven dinners for the week and incorporate as many of the sale items as I can.
- Print out my list itemized by category (i.e. frozen, fruits/veggies, meat, etc).
- Attach coupons with paperclip to top of list.
- Send husband to grocery store the next day with coupons and list in hand.
- Put away and organize all items so I know exactly what I have.
- Make one meal a day or two a day to save time the next day.
In addition to compiling the seven dinners, I always buy items for breakfast, like yogurt and cereal, and try to pick up the brands that are on sale that week. For lunches and snacks, I often use leftovers or sandwiches and pasta paired with fruits and veggies to make sure the kids and I are eating the recommended amount of each.
My best advice in how to grocery shop once a week is to get organized and plan ahead to avoid impulse buys and extra trips. This routine works well for my family and we consistently do this every week. It’s a great way for my husband to help out as well, as long as everything is organized and the coupons are all in one spot for him!
Keep in mind, I do all my grocery shopping at Meijer and go to Target two times a month for personal, health, cleaning, baby products and formula. I use the same routine for Target every other week as well, so you can use these strategies at any store!
