Saving money for groceries for one person can be a very difficult task, and yes it is really difficult. Statistics show that USDA estimates $299–569 for a monthly food budget for one person, but the real question is, how can a single person save money on groceries??.
After years of trial and error (and way too many science experiments growing in my produce drawer), I’ve figured out how to save my money on groceries from $320 down to $180 per month.
So in this guide, we will talk about how to save money on groceries for one person that actually works.
Tip 1: Master the Art of Meal Planning for One
Every Sunday, write down five dinners. That’s it. Five dinners for the week, with two nights built in for leftovers or “whatever’s in the fridge” nights.
The key strategy: plan meals that share ingredients. If cilantro gets purchased for tacos on Monday, Thai curry on Wednesday should use the rest of it. This overlap strategy alone saves about $15 every week because random ingredients don’t end up going bad.
Here’s a weekly routine that works: Thursday night, check what already exists in the fridge and pantry. Friday morning, plan five meals around those items first.
Keep a running note on your phone with meals you actually like making. No fancy Pinterest recipes that require 47 ingredients nobody will use again. Just real food people know they’ll eat. Ground turkey shows up in meal plans constantly because cooks can use it for everything from pasta sauce to lettuce wraps to chili.
Tip 2: Shop Like You Actually Care About Your Bank Account
Breaking this rule leads to coming home with fancy cheese, three types of crackers, and somehow a jar of truffle oil. Does anyone need that? Absolutely not. But stomachs make the decisions on those days, not brains.
Here’s what actually works for smart shopping. First, switch to store brands for almost everything. Blind taste tests show literally nobody can tell the difference between name-brand pasta sauce and the generic version. This delivers 40% savings on stuff that tastes identical!
Also, shop the perimeter of the store first. All the fresh stuff lives around the edges – produce, meat, dairy. The middle aisles hold all the processed junk that costs way more and doesn’t fill anyone up anyway. When venturing into those middle aisles becomes necessary, grab only what’s on the list.
Different stores have different strengths, too. Shopping in multiple locations makes sense. Hit up Aldi for basics because their prices destroy everyone else’s. Then go to regular grocery stores for specific items Aldi doesn’t carry. Yeah, it takes an extra 20 minutes, but it saves $20-30 per week. That’s like earning $60 an hour!
Tip 3: Embrace Your Freezer Like It’s Your Savings Account
Your freezer can save you so much money, but most people totally underuse it!
I freeze everything now. Leftover pasta sauce? Freeze it in ice cube trays, then pop the cubes into a bag. Leftover rice? Freeze it flat in a bag. Half an onion I didn’t use? Chop it up and freeze it. I even freeze cheese when it goes on sale because yes, you absolutely can freeze cheese!
Bread freezes beautifully, too. I know people think this sounds weird, but frozen bread toasts up perfectly, and you can keep it for months. No more watching half a loaf grow mold because you live alone and can’t eat it fast enough!
Tip 4: Cut the Convenience Foods and Takeout Habit
Many people grab takeout 3-4 times per week because cooking for yourself feels like too much effort. But then calculating what gets spent on takeout in a month brings literal gasps. $240! That’s almost as much as entire grocery budgets should run.
So make a rule: allow one takeout meal per week as a treat. The rest of the time, cook. But make it easier by keeping things simple. Rotisserie chickens from the grocery store count as cooking. Use that chicken for three different meals, and it only costs $6.
Strategic use of pantry staples makes a huge difference too. Keep rice, pasta, canned beans, and basic spices on hand at all times. When elaborate cooking doesn’t appeal, throw together a simple meal in 15 minutes using these basics plus whatever protein lives in the freezer.
Tip 5: Level Up Your Strategy
Once anyone masters the basics, even more savings become possible! Start shopping at multiple stores – hitting Aldi for basics and regular stores for specific items.
Cash-back apps and loyalty programs add up faster than most people think. Use store apps to load digital coupons before every trip, and earn points toward free groceries. Last year, these programs saved me an additional $180 without any extra effort beyond downloading apps.
Online grocery shopping helps avoid impulse purchases that destroy budgets. Add items to carts throughout the week, then review before checking out. This digital buffer saves about $15 per trip because shoppers make more intentional choices!
Also consider that shopping every 10 days instead of weekly, actually saves money. When people shop weekly, they always buy stuff “just in case” because they worry about running out of decisions. Shopping less frequently means buying more intentionally and wasting way less.
Conclusion
Saving money on groceries as a single person doesn’t require you to eat poorly or spend hours in the kitchen every day!
Start with one or two changes this week. Maybe that’s meal planning five dinners or switching to store brands for three items you buy regularly. You don’t need to overhaul everything at once! Small changes compound into big results.
What’s your biggest grocery challenge as a solo shopper? Drop a comment below sharing your best tips. We’re all figuring this out together, and your strategies might help someone else save money too!
FAQs
1. Why is grocery budgeting important when living alone?
Buying too much leads to food waste and overspending. A budget keeps your spending under control.
2. How much should one person spend on groceries?
It depends on location and lifestyle, but tracking your spending helps you set a realistic weekly or monthly limit.
3. What should I do before going grocery shopping?
Plan your meals and make a shopping list. This helps avoid impulse buying.
4. How can meal planning work for one person?
Choose meals with shared ingredients, cook smaller portions, and freeze leftovers.
5. Is buying in bulk a good idea for one person?
Yes, but only for non-perishables or foods you can freeze and actually use.
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