How a Monthly Grocery-Shop Has Saved Me Hundreds of Dollars a Month
How I Save Hundreds of Dollars Every Month by Doing a Single Monthly Grocery Shopping Trip
As a busy mom of two, one of the biggest challenges I face is balancing time and finances. Grocery shopping is no exception. For years, I found myself running to the store multiple times a week, grabbing whatever was convenient, and often overspending. It wasn’t just the dollars that were slipping away; it was also the time spent on frequent trips and the stress of last-minute decisions. And then wasting food that we didn’t use resourcefully.
That’s when I made a change: I committed to doing just one major grocery shopping trip each month. Since then, I’ve managed to save hundreds of dollars each month, reduced food waste, and streamlined my entire household routine. It might seem daunting at first, but with the right planning and mindset, it’s entirely possible — and today, I’m going to share exactly how I do it.
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The Benefits of Monthly Grocery Shopping
Before we dive into the specifics, let me start by explaining why a single monthly grocery trip works so well for my family.
Reduced Impulse Buying: When you’re at the store less often, you’re less likely to fall into the trap of impulse purchases. All those "extra" snacks, drinks, and random sale items can quickly add up. Sticking to a single shopping trip means I focus on what’s essential.
Time Savings: Doing one big grocery trip every month frees up hours of time. No more last-minute dashes to the store or multiple weekly trips that cut into family time or work. YES, there is a larger time investment up front, but the time-savings over the month FAR outweighs this.
Better Meal Planning: Monthly shopping forces me to plan meals ahead, which results in less food waste and healthier, balanced meals. When I know exactly what we’ll eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I avoid throwing together random meals or ordering takeout because "there’s nothing in the fridge."
Budget Control: With just one trip, I can set a strict budget for the month and stick to it. I divide the budget between groceries, household supplies, and extras, and that’s it. No more unexpected grocery expenses popping up mid-month.
Bulk Buying: Buying in bulk often results in significant savings. Items like pasta, rice, canned goods, and frozen foods are much cheaper when purchased in larger quantities, and they last for weeks or even months. I like to buy bulk items that are on sale and double-up with an Ibotta cash back savings whenever I can! It’s actually like a fun game to me!
If you’re curious about my Ibotta savings, read my post here: How I Use Ibotta to Get Hundreds in Cash Back - or use my sign up link here to get $5 from Ibotta after redeeming your first item!
Now that we’ve covered the benefits, here’s my step-by-step process for saving hundreds of dollars each month by shopping only once.
Step 1: Meal Planning for the Month
The backbone of monthly grocery shopping is effective meal planning. This was a game-changer for me, and once I got into the habit, it became much easier to stick with. Here’s how I approach meal planning:
1.1 Create a Family-Favorite Meal Rotation
I started by listing my family’s favorite meals. This includes breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. I aim to make meals that everyone enjoys, so I’m not cooking multiple dishes each day.
I keep a variety of meal types to avoid getting bored. For example:
Breakfasts: Smoothies, cereal, eggs and toast, or yogurt with granola.
Lunches: Sandwiches, salads, leftovers, or soups.
Dinners: Pasta dishes, casseroles, tacos, stir-fry, and slow cooker meals.
Having a "go-to" list makes meal planning easier. I generally rotate through 15-20 meals each month, making enough portions to have leftovers or freeze extra servings for busy nights.
1.2 Plan by the Week, Shop for the Month
I map out meals week by week, considering what ingredients overlap and how I can minimize waste. For example, if I buy a pack of tortillas for tacos one week, I’ll use the remaining tortillas for quesadillas or wraps the next week. I use this method across all types of foods — fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable items.
For each week, I plan:
5-6 dinners (I leave room for eating out once or twice),
5-7 lunches (most are leftovers or quick-prep meals),
Daily breakfasts (simple, repeatable choices like eggs, cereal, or smoothies),
Snacks (fruit, veggies, yogurt, granola bars).
Once I’ve planned out the month, I create a comprehensive shopping list.
Step 2: Inventory and List Creation
2.1 Check What You Already Have
Before I shop, I always check my pantry, freezer, and fridge. I do this to avoid buying items I already own, which helps eliminate waste and save money. It’s surprising how much we forget about when we’re doing multiple trips each week.
I also take this time to deep-clean the fridge and freezer. Anything creeping in the back of the fridge gets taken care of before the new items arrive!
2.2 Create a Master List
I break my grocery list down by categories: produce, dairy, meat, pantry, frozen, and household essentials (like cleaning products and toiletries). This helps me stay organized and ensures that I don’t miss anything. My goal is to buy everything I need for the entire month, so it’s important to be thorough.
I also consider items that can be bought in bulk, like grains, pasta, canned goods, or even toilet paper and paper towels, which typically offer discounts when purchased in larger quantities.
Step 3: Smart Shopping Strategies
Now that I have my list, the next step is actually executing my monthly shop. Here are the strategies I use to get the best prices and stay within my budget.
3.1 Shop at Multiple Stores
I don’t do all my shopping at one store. Instead, I divide my shopping between discount grocery stores, big box retailers, and warehouse clubs. Here’s why:
Big Box Retailers (Meijer, Kroger, Target, WalMart): This is where I get the bulk of my food items, and some household items like laundry detergent - I almost ALWAYS have an Ibotta cash back option for laundry detergent.
Warehouse Clubs (Costco, Sam’s Club): For items that I can buy in bulk and store, such as frozen vegetables, meat, or pantry staples, warehouse clubs are great for getting the best price per unit. When buying meat (like ground beef I get from Costco), I will divide it individually and use a vacuum sealer to store and freeze the beef in one-pound servings. You could obviously adjust for the amount that works for your family!
Shopping at different stores may seem time-consuming, but because I’m only doing this once a month, it’s a manageable commitment.
3.2 Use Cashback Apps and Coupons
I’m always looking for ways to save extra money, so I use apps like Ibotta to get cash back on my purchases. (You may have other apps you use like Rakuten, but I find that between the individual store’s coupons and sales AND Ibotta, that’s as much detail as I can manage without getting overwhelmed!)
Before heading to the store, I check these apps for any relevant offers and coupons. By combining store sales with cashback offers, I’ve managed to shave off anywhere from $10 to $50 from my monthly grocery bill.
3.3 Stick to Your List (But Be Flexible for Sales)
While it’s essential to stick to the list you’ve created to avoid impulse purchases, I also allow myself to be flexible if I find a sale on items we regularly use. For example, if chicken breasts are on sale for a great price, I’ll stock up and freeze them for later use, even if I didn’t plan to buy that much meat this month.
Step 4: Efficient Food Storage and Preservation
The key to making a single monthly shopping trip work is proper food storage. Without it, fresh food will spoil, and your plan to save money will backfire. Here’s how I make sure nothing goes to waste.
4.1 Utilize Your Freezer
I heavily rely on my freezer to store meat, bread, frozen vegetables, and even leftovers. I freeze extra portions of meals, especially if I’ve made a large batch. This ensures I have "emergency" meals for nights when cooking feels impossible.
When I buy meat in bulk, I portion it out into family-sized servings and freeze them in airtight bags or containers. This way, I can pull out just what we need each week without having to thaw an entire package.
4.2 Store Fresh Produce Properly
For fresh fruits and vegetables, proper storage is key. Some fruits, like apples and oranges, can last for weeks in the fridge, while leafy greens and berries are best eaten in the first week or two. I also use storage hacks like keeping celery and carrots in water to help them stay crisp longer.
4.3 Rotate Pantry Items
To avoid food going stale, I always rotate my pantry items, placing new purchases behind older ones so that I use up what’s already open first. This simple habit ensures that I don’t forget about items hidden in the back of the cupboard.
Step 5: Flexibility and Adjustments Throughout the Month
While I aim to get everything in one trip, I allow for a small buffer if I need to do a mid-month "fill-in" run for fresh produce or milk. I budget around $50 for these small trips, but the majority of my spending happens during that one major trip at the start of the month. When this happens, it’s usually because we want more produce, or we decide to cook an extra special meal that we didn’t plan for.
Final Thoughts
Switching to a single monthly grocery shopping trip has completely transformed how my family handles groceries, both financially and practically. By planning ahead, buying in bulk, and being strategic with sales and coupons, I’ve consistently saved hundreds of dollars every month. Not only has it helped my budget, but it’s also given me more time to focus on my family and less stress about what’s for dinner. No more asking the question - “WHAT’S FOR DINNER?!?!”
If you’re a busy mom looking for ways to streamline your grocery shopping and save money, I encourage you to give monthly shopping a try. With a little bit of planning, it can make a significant difference in your household’s finances — and you might even enjoy the newfound free time!