Tips / Shopping smarter
Store brands, sales and stocking up
Store brands and well-timed sales are two of the easiest ways to cut a grocery bill without changing what you eat.
What to do
- Try the store brand
- For staples like flour, sugar, canned tomatoes, beans, rice, frozen vegetables and dairy, store brands are often similar and cheaper. Try one item at a time.
- Learn the sales cycle
- Many items go on sale on a regular rhythm. A price book helps you spot a genuinely low price.
- Stock up on shelf-stable sale items
- When pantry staples you use regularly hit a low price, buy enough to last until the next sale, within your storage space and budget.
- Use the store app or flyer
- Weekly ads and digital coupons in store apps can add up. Plan meals around what's on sale.
Ask yourself
- Which name-brand items do we buy only out of habit?
- What is a good price for the ten things we buy most?
Helpful resources
- Our free Pantry Price Book
- Track the best price you've seen for the items you buy most.
General information for US households. For food safety, follow FoodSafety.gov and USDA guidance. The Penny Stretcher isn't paid by any store, brand or organization mentioned here.