Grocery shopping in Maryland can be a shock to the wallet. You leave the store with fewer bags, but you spend more than ever. If your budget is feeling the strain, you’re not alone.
The Maryland Food Bank reports a 20% increase in food distribution compared to pre-pandemic levels. While you can’t control inflation, you can take steps to keep your grocery bill in check.
The key? A smart grocery budget and strategic shopping habits.
Here’s how to shop smarter, save more, and make every dollar count.
Set a realistic budget and stick to it
Before heading to the store, know exactly how much you can afford to spend. Without a budget, it’s easy to overspend or underestimate food costs.
How to build a smart grocery budget
- Determine your total food budget: Most families spend 10-15% of their income on groceries. Use this as a starting point and adjust based on your needs.
- Break it down by week: If your monthly budget is $600, that’s $150 per week.
- Track your spending: Use the budget tracker in SECU’s online or mobile banking to monitor grocery expenses in real time.
- Make small adjustments: Trimming just $20 per week can save you $1,000+ per year.
To cut back on spending, start by reducing non-essential grocery items like snacks, bottled drinks, or pre-packaged foods. Small changes add up.
Use reverse meal planning to maximize savings
Most people plan meals first and then shop, forcing them to pay full price for ingredients. Reverse meal planning flips the process so you can buy what’s on sale.
How to reverse meal plan
- Check store sales before shopping: Use grocery store apps to find weekly discounts.
- Plan meals around what’s on sale: If chicken is $2 per pound and beef is $6 per pound, plan your meals around chicken.
- Substitute expensive ingredients: Swap pricey produce (like peppers) for budget-friendly options (like carrots).
You planned for taco night, but ground beef is $6 per pound. Instead, swap the beef for discounted chicken thighs at $2 per pound, a 66% savings. Over a month, these swaps can shave $30+ off your grocery bill.
Stack discounts for bigger savings
Many shoppers miss out on extra savings by only using one discount per purchase. Whenever possible, stack multiple discounts to multiply savings.
- Use manufacturer coupons found on Coupons.com or in Sunday papers.
- Apply store coupons found in the apps for grocery stores like Safeway, Giant, and Harris Teeter.
- Buy sale and clearance items to stack coupons with existing discounts.
- Use cash back apps like Ibotta, Fetch, or Rakuten after checkout.
Say a box of cereal costs $4.99.
- $1 manufacturer coupon drops it to $3.99
- $1 store coupon lowers it to $2.99
- $1 Ibotta cash back makes the final price $1.99 instead of $4.99
Stacking just a few discounts per trip can save you $20-$50 per month.
Buy in bulk without a membership
Buying in bulk can save money, but you don’t need a Costco or Sam’s Club membership to do it.
Where to buy bulk groceries in Maryland
- Friends & Farms (Columbia, MD): Fresh food bundles at discounted rates.
- MOM’s Organic Market: Bulk dry goods like rice, pasta, and nuts at lower prices.
- Local CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture): Seasonal produce directly from Maryland farmers at lower rates.
Instead of buying small bags of rice every week for $3.99, purchasing a 25-pound bulk bag for $15 can save you over $100 per year. Split bulk purchases like these with a friend or family member to save even more.
Buy “ugly” produce and clearance groceries
Grocery stores throw away food just because it doesn’t look perfect, but you can grab these items for half price or less. You’re paying for taste and nutrition, not looks, and stores sell these at huge discounts to avoid waste.
Where to find discounted groceries in Maryland
- Misfits Market & Imperfect Foods: Discounted “ugly” produce delivered to your home.
- Aldi’s Red Sticker Clearance: Major markdowns on dairy, meats, and pantry staples.
- Local Farmers Markets: Vendors often discount produce at the end of the day.
A bag of “ugly” apples costs 40% less than regular apples at the grocery store but tastes exactly the same. Plus, always check clearance shelves at the grocery store because these markdowns often aren’t advertised.
Use unit prices to beat “shrinkflation”
Shrinkflation means companies reduce volume or package size but keep prices the same. The best way to fight back? Compare unit prices.
How to avoid overpaying
- Check the price per ounce: Maryland law requires stores to display unit pricing. Use it.
- Compare different package sizes: The larger size isn’t necessarily the best deal.
- Choose store brands: They often have the same ingredients as name brands but cost 20-30% less.
A 12-ounce pasta box costs $1.99, while a 16-ounce box of another brand is $2.29. The larger box is the better deal per ounce.
You might not feel the impact of these strategies after one grocery trip, but over time, they add up significantly.
- Trimming $25 per week = $1,200 saved per year.
- Cutting back $50 per week = $2,400 saved per year.
That’s money that can go toward rent, savings, paying off debt, or treating yourself to a relaxing getaway where you don’t have to worry about groceries.
Save more with a free financial wellness checkup
If rising food costs are making it hard to manage your budget, SECU’s free financial wellness checkup can help. Our Member Advisors will work with you to:
- Create a grocery budget that fits your income.
- Identify areas to adjust spending.
- Use SECU’s financial tools to track and manage expenses.
Schedule your free financial wellness checkup with SECU today and start making your money go further.
