How to Save Money on Groceries

 

    Several years ago I wrote a post about how to save money on groceries sharing tips that I used as a single mom. It was a popular post, because everyone likes to save money when they can.  I realized recently that it is definitely time to revisit that post, and update it with new current money saving tips.  

You can read the original post here.

My first tip that I had in that post, is still my first tip in 2022.  Start planning your shopping trip by looking at the sales flyers.  In the last year, our food prices have increased in a huge way because of the inflation, and supply chain issues.  By planning your shopping list  with the items that are on sale, you will save money.   I do get some paper flyers left at our house, but I also check what's on sale by using store apps and websites.  Most stores have access to their sales ads online and coupons in their store apps.  My favorite stores in my area that I shop are Aldi, Meijer, Kroger, Walmart and Target.

Once I have a general idea  of what I might like to buy from the ads, my next step is to check is a website that finds deals and coupons for my selected store for me. My favorite sites are Bargains to Bounty, Living Rich with Coupons, The Krazy Coupon Lady, and Totally Target.    These sites are not only helpful with saving money on groceries, but with other household items and gifts as well.  

While paper coupons still exist, unless you subscribe to the newspaper, they are a bit harder to come by as they once were.  I still regularly use coupons, but I use digital coupons from my phone.  Many stores have coupons in their store apps with different names. Just a few examples are Meijer has MPerks, Kroger has Digital Deals, and Target has Circle.  If  you use the Coupons.com website or app, you can use those coupons at many different retailers. Just be sure and activate the coupon in the app before you buy the product. I often activate in while in the store.  I have found that they are often the same coupons that come in paper form in the newspaper, but without the cutting and remembering to bring them with me to the store. 

** this is an affiliate link to Dollar Tree 

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I am all about shopping at  the Dollar Tree.  This year many Dollar Trees have  expanded their grocery and freezer sections. They offer name brand foods on a regular basis.  In fact, the Old El Paso Street Taco Kit and the frozen Banquet meal pictured were items I found recently at Dollar Tree.  While you probably won't be able to find everything on your grocery list, you can find enough deals to help your food budget.  

Another thing that I like to do to save money is using reward apps that pay me back money on things I was going to buy anyway.   Here are my three favorites. 

Ibotta  is one of my favorite rewards apps.  I have been using it for a long time, and you can be rewarded for shopping at most major retailers, online purchases, restaurants, gas stations, and more. 

Fetch Rewards is another favorite way I earn money back. I earn points on by snapping my receipts, bonus points on many items, and more.  If you use the code PU8JQ, you will receive bonus points just for signing up and snapping a receipt.  You can use your reward points on such gift cards as Amazon, restaurants and other retail stores. 

Another site I have used for many years is my NCP Mobile app.  Back when I first started with National Consumer Panel we were sent a handheld scanner and scanned in our groceries by hand to earn points.  Over the years I have earned hundreds of dollars worth points, and earned some really great rewards.  A couple of years ago they updated their system, so that you can scan your purchases right from your phone.  If you are interested in becoming a NCP member and earning rewards from your grocery purchases, email me, and I will give you a referral code. 

I hope you find these tips helpful, and you too are able to save some money on groceries. 

Other money saving posts you might find helpful. 

See how I find so many great finds with  My Best Dollar Tree Shopping Secrets

While this is an older post, you can see how I used Kohls coupons and promos toSave Money Christmas Shopping

I share more Dollar Tree Tips in my post Things you should always buy at the Dollar Tree.

And lastly if you like to throw parties,  Ten tips on how to throw a birthday party on a budget.

 

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My Best Dollar Tree Shopping Secrets

 If you follow me on this blog or over at Instagram, you know that I love the Dollar Tree.  It truly is one of my very favorite stores to shop in.   

On Instagram , I share what's new at the Dollar Tree in my reels and posts.  Almost daily I will get a comment of someone saying that they can't find anything, or that my store is so much better than theirs.   The thing is my local store is not any better than other stores.  It is just an average Dollar Tree. The reason why I find so many great finds to share is because there are secrets to finding the best items. I have been shopping at the Dollar Tree for years, and I found out these secrets on my own, but I am going to share them with you so you can find great finds too.  

Using these secrets, I can find great stuff in literally every single Dollar Tree I go to and you can too.

There are a few things you need to know before I share my secrets though, Dollar Tree stores are NOT all the same. What your store gets in inventory is based on location, population demographics, volume of merchandise sold, and the size of store.  This is why you may notice if you go to stores in different areas, that one might have a bigger craft section, one might have more groceries, and one might have more beauty supplies. 

Another important thing is if you like to shop for seasonal items they come out in three waves.  The early wave is two, sometimes three months before the holiday.  Example of an early wave is Halloween items starting to  appear in late July, and Christmas items starting to hit shelves in late September.  I have heard people complain that is too early, but if you wait until a few weeks before the holiday, you might not find what you are looking for because things are already sold out.  A few weeks after the early wave, is the middle wave, and the last wave is about a month to six weeks before the holiday.    

 **This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links

Now onto my list of my BEST DOLLAR TREE SHOPPING SECRETS 

1. The best day of the week to shop is one to two days after the truck arrives.  If the truck arrives on Monday (like it did at my old store) the best days to shop for the new items were on Tuesday and Wednesday. If your store has a decent number of associates, they will start to put things on the shelves that first day, but if there is a lot of new stuff, it may take a day or two to get most of it on the floor.  If you have a smaller store with not a lot of staff, it will take a bit longer since associates ring up customers, and put out stock while they are not at the register.    

2. Go to the Dollar Tree more than once a week. If you are just an occasional shopper, you might not see something, because it is has already been on the shelf and sold out.   If you go two times a week, you have a greater chance of finding something you are looking for.  

3.  Go to multiple  Dollar Tree stores if possible. Not all stores get the same items, so if you don't see what you want at your store, go to another, because they might have it there.  When I lived in Michigan I had five different stores I liked to visit.  Now in Ohio, I have two near me that I go to the most, and then I visit others when I'm out and about.  Sometimes you find the best stuff when you stop by a Dollar Tree you do not normally shop at. 

4. Don't rule out going to a smaller store, just because it is small.   I have found hard to find items many times at the smaller less shopped at stores, because not as many people see them, and they do not sell out right away. 

5. When you are in the store, there are also some secrets to finding the best finds.  You need to go up and down every single aisle, and look at all of the display racks.  You never know where you might find an item.  Some of my best finds have been when another shopper changed their mind on it, and left it on a random shelf in another part of the store. 

6. Also, when you are going up and down those aisles, make  sure you are looking up to the top shelves, and down to the lowest shelves.  I have found many hidden treasures on those shelves. Make sure to also look at all the hanging strips and endcaps as well.   As you can see in the picture above, had I not looked down I would not have seen the football themed containers on the bottom shelf.  

7.  Bonus Tip - to find what new items are coming to the Dollar Tree look at their paper ads, on their website DollarTree.com, and follow Dollar Tree YouTubers online.  You can keep your eyes out for some fantastic deals, full size brand name finds, and can't miss items if you know what is available.   If you do not find something in store that you really want, you can also buy it on their website and have it sent FREE to your local store for pick up.  

I hope my tips help you to find those amazing finds! Happy Shopping.  

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Things you should always buy at the Dollar Tree

It is no surprise if you have been reading my blog for awhile, you know that I LOVE the Dollar Tree. I even recently became an affiliate because I spend so much time there, and love sharing about all the fun things I find.  While at the store recently, I realized how many every day items I always go to buy at the Dollar Tree, before I go anywhere else.  Here are the items I recommend you check out.

*This site contains affiliate links. I will be compensated a small commission if you buy anything through my links.

GIFT BAGS 

The Dollar Tree is the definite place to go if need a gift bag. They have an entire wall of amazing bags of all sizes, themes, and designs.  They have birthday bags, wedding bags, baby shower bags, holiday bags and more.  You can buy giant bags for only $1 that can cost several dollars at other stores.  

WRAPPING PAPER 

Instead of paying high prices on wrapping supplies, the Dollar Tree has big selection of wrapping paper, gift boxes, ribbon, tissue paper and bows. I would much rather only spend only a $1 on something that is going to be ripped and thrown away after opening. 

GREETING CARDS
 

Greeting cards is another item that I always look for at the Dollar Tree, especially if it is for a younger person who cares a lot more about the gift than the cards that come with it.  Dollar Tree carries Hallmark cards for all occasions. The heartline cards are 2 for $1.  There are some specialty cards and other cards that are $1 each, but even at $1, a lot cheaper than other stores. 

PARTY SUPPLIES 

I always go to the Dollar Tree for party supplies of all kinds.  There are two aisles dedicated to party supplies, not only to do that have many colors to choose from, they also have many themes. 

Recently the party aisle has expanded to include baby shower items, wedding/engagement party items, party favors, back drops, photo props, specialty balloons and more. (I have an upcoming post with a lot more info on the party supplies that will be posted shortly. 

CRAFT SUPPLIES 

Every Dollar Tree now has a crafter square with a variety of craft supplies.  While not all Dollar Trees have the same size Crafter Square aisle, you can find paint, paintbrushes, small canvases, wood to paint, yarn, and lots of miscellaneous items. I always check for craft supplies at Dollar Tree, before paying higher prices at the regular craft store. 

BOOKS

I check the book section on every single visit. I have found some amazing finds for only $1. I especially love their cookbooks. If you would like to see some of my book finds, I wrote about them in post about cookbooks here.  I have also recently found, best sellers, craft books, design books and celebrity biographies.

CLEANING SUPPLIES

You can save a lot of money buying cleaning supplies at the Dollar Tree.  I love their 6 pack of scrubbing sponges and dish brushes.  

TOILETRIES 

Cotton balls, Q-tips, and cotton rounds can really add up if you buy them at the big box store or drugstore. They don't have to though, because the Dollar Tree has large size packages of them for only $1.

I buy all of my toothbrushes and toothpaste at the Dollar Tree.  They carry brand names, often in multi-packs for a fraction of the cost.  If you are traveling, they also carry many travel appropriate toiletries and containers. 

MAKE UP

Did you know that the Dollar Tree carries brand name make up?  While you might not find everything you need, you can find Wet n Wild, and ELF all the time, and occasionally Maybelline, Flower and Hard Candy. I also really like the LA Colors brand that is the store's main brand. 

FACE MASKS

While I do not have a picture of the face mask section, I buy all of my faces masks at the Dollar Tree.  I am sharing this picture of the Oh K Hyaluronic Acid with Vitamin B3 and Sea Kelp Hyrogel Mask because I am very excited about this find.  After I bought this mask and loved it when using it, I found out it is sold at Meijer for $6.99. Score! I got mine for only $1.

HAIR ACCESSORIES 

If you have longer hair or girls, you must stop by the hair accessory aisle.  I get everything I need for my hair for a low price, and they are frequently name brands like Goody and Scuncii 

Here is a closer pic of some of the name brands that are a much higher price at big box stores. 

CONTACT PAPER

Dollar Tree has a large selection of contact in several different styles. I like to use it as drawer liner or in the fridge.  While I have not seen it in my store, they sold a chalkboard version not too long again. 

ORGANIZATION/STORAGE

You can't go wrong buying storage containers at the Dollar Tree.  They have many different styles, colors and sizes.  My store was a little low on stock in this picture, but the spring and summer storage lines are really good this year.  The spring colors are pink, peach and light gray, and the summer bright blue, teal, and bright pink.  You can see many of the options on DollarTree.com here

 

FLOWERS

The Dollar Tree has good quality florals cheaper than the craft stores that change throughout the seasons. I love the bright colors of the summer line this year.  

FOOD STORAGE

                

I have to pack my lunch to school every day, and there a food containers of all shapes and sizes in multipacks perfect for my lunchbox.  They even carry name brand products like Rubbermaid and Betty Crocker.  

GLASSWARE

If you ever need glassware, you can find what you need at the Dollar Tree. Stemware for a dinner party, they have it.  Margarita glasses for Cinco de Mayo, they have those those. (heavy duty amazing ones)  Decorative jars, or mason jars, they have them too.  

KITCHEN ITEMS AND GADGETS

Many items from their kitchen aisle are currently in my kitchen.  I love their strainers, and mixing bows with handle. I have serving and cooking tools like spatulas, tongs and scissors. I have their measuring cups and spoons.  I also use their cutting boards, paper towel holders and so much more.

CANDY 

I hit the candy aisle quite often.  I stop there when I want to have a variety of candy to decorate  cupcakes, gingerbread houses, or special treats.  I hit this aisle before movie night, road trips or just want a snack. The bags are a little smaller than the regular store, but that's okay because so is the price.

SNACKS 

I also hit the snack aisle.  They carry regular size chip cans,  Chex mixes and even brand name cookie mixes like Betty Crocker.  Do you like ice cream? If your Dollar Tree has a freezer section, you can find portion size containers of Snicker Twix and other brand name flavors of ice cream. 

SEASONAL

One of my favorite things to buy at the Dollar Tree are the seasonal items.  It is the perfect place to find basket fillers, stocking stuffers, and even holiday decor. 

This year I was missing a box of our ornaments when I wanted to decorate for Christmas.  Instead of worrying about where they were I decided to decorate our tree with Dollar Tree buffalo plaid and red truck ornaments.  I think it was one of my favorite trees to date. The missing ornaments did eventually turn up after I had already decorated the tree, so they stayed in the box this year.  

One last thing that I love about the Dollar Tree.  If you are trying to find something and you can't find it at your store, you can order it on the website and have it shipped to your local store for FREE.  I had a really good experience when I have ordered and currently ordering again because I need a certain item for a craft that I am making that recently sold out. 

What are you favorite things to buy at the Dollar Tree? 

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