If you’re like me, you’re always looking for ways to save money on everyday purchases. That includes groceries. They’re among the most common household expenses, which also means they’re among the most frequent reminders of rising prices.
In general, some stores are more expensive than others, some cheaper. When I shop, I try not to buy the bulk of my groceries at the stores that typically charge higher prices.
But I don’t just consider cost when I choose a grocery store. I also think about proximity to my house, how likely the store is to have the items on my shopping list, the quality of the food and the overall store experience.
Like many of us, N&O reader Stewart Fussell Savin aims to be a frugal shopper, she told me in an email. But she found that when she only considered cost, she actually ended up spending more — because the groceries weren’t satisfying her, making her want to eat at restaurants.
“Now I try to balance being frugal with enjoying my grocery purchases,” Fussell Savin said. For her and her husband, that means eating a variety of foods and meals, trying out different recipes — but still being smart about what she buys and where.
Fussell Savin sent me some smart tips for saving money on groceries, and she’s not the only one.
Below are some of the money-saving strategies our Triangle neighbors use. And if you have tips you haven’t shared with me, my inbox is open. Reach me at Triangle Saver at [email protected].
From Stewart Fussell Savin:
- Take photos of your pantry, fridge and freezer, so you know what you have and what you need to use.
- Make a vegetable garden. You can grow fresh produce and herbs, and you can use leftovers as compost.
- Freeze excess ingredients.
- Check weekly ads and save digital coupons when they come out.
- You don’t have to do all of your shopping at one place. Fussell Savin does most of her shopping at Harris Teeter but goes to Aldi and Trader Joe’s at least once a month to stock up on certain items, because they’re sold at the lowest prices there.
- Make a list and stick to it.
From Carole Kelly:
- Check the store’s website and your pantry before you leave home, but don’t make a list. Instead, shop sales, and plan meals around them.
- Stock up on canned and frozen vegetables when they’re on sale.
- Rarely buy soda, snacks and prepared meals.
- “I don’t shop brands, I shop bargains.”
From Jeff Gorski:
- Visit the store early to take your pick of meats that are about to reach their “sell by” dates. “As a carnivore, this is a big savings area for me,” he said. Gorski once bought baby back ribs nearing their sell-by date, offered in a buy one, get one deal, for under $1.75 per pound.
- Check store ads and websites to plan shopping trips around what you need, not want.
- Choose store brands over name brands. And compare store brands of similar items. Gorski, for example, prefers the taste (and price) of Aldi’s striped fudge shortbread cookies to Food Lion’s.
- Get more bang for your buck by shopping at Harris Teeter, which also has a senior discount day, to get fuel points.
- Make a list and stick to it, but allow for what Gorski calls “a surprise special or the earned indulgence.” (Or, as I say, a little treat.)
From Jerry Doliner:
- Shop the buy one, get one deals. You sometimes need only to buy one item, not two, to get the discounted price.
- Learn the prices of items you buy often, so you know they’re on sale, and buy them when they’re on sale.
- Look for meats that are about to reach their sell-by date and have been marked down. You can either cook them immediately or freeze them.
- Use grocery store apps. You might get personalized coupons based on what you buy.
This story was originally published August 24, 2026 at 7:00 AM.
Renee Umsted
The News & Observer
Renee Umsted is The News & Observer’s Affordability Reporter. She writes about what it costs to live in the Triangle, with a consumer-focused approach. She has a degree in journalism from TCU.