8 Ways to Save Money on Groceries (From a Former Trader Joe’s Employee)

I used to be a Trader Joe’s employee. You know, that place where everyone kind of seems to be happy that they work there?

And to be honestly, I really did like my time when working there; it was one of the funnest retail jobs I ever had. But it also opened my eyes to how people wasted so much money at grocery stores. And it also gave me some helpful insight on ways to save on grocery costs.

They’re easy money saving ideas, and once you adopt them yourself, you’ll be spending a lot less on each food run you make.

1. Look to the Back of Shelves

One of my duties (among many) was to stock shelves. And when I first started stocking produce (like bags of kale, spinach, or carrots) into shelves, my manager taught me to put the ones labeled with a closer expiration date up at the front, and the ones that were new in the back.

So when you’re shopping for produce (or any perishable items), make sure that you take the time to check the dates and reach for the back. Then you won’t be bringing food home that’s ready to go bad next day.

This really is one of the easiest ways to save money when grocery shopping!

2. Know What’s Actually Organic

Turns out that even when something is labeled organic, it’s sometimes completely unnecessary.

So for instance, you could buy organic mushrooms for $4.99 or save yourself the money and buy regular mushrooms for $2.99. Certain produce use little to no pesticides when growing, like mushrooms which are all grown inside a controlled environment (no need for pesticides).

Or their skin is thick (watermelons) and pesticides won’t even be able to reach the inside.

Thankfully there’s a list of what to buy and what not to buy organic. And knowing this is one of the best ways to save money at the grocery store.

What NOT to Buy Organic: Mushrooms, avocados, pineapple, onions, mango, asparagus, frozen sweet peas, kiwi, cabbage, papaya, watermelon, honeydew melon, sweet corn, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

What You Should Buy Organic (a.k.a. “The Dirty Dozen”): The Dirty Dozen changes on a yearly basis, so check out this site to get the updated list.

Last Tip on Buying Organic: Before making a final decision on the produce you’re buying, check out the organic produce as well. Sounds counter intuitive, but sometimes certain organic foods have lower prices.

3. Look at the Shelves Below Eye Level

When working at Trader Joe’s, I learned that some of the most expensive items are at eye level.

So let’s say you’re shopping for coffee or some other necessity (coffee’s a necessity right?). Well the first thing you see is at eye level, therefore making it the easiest thing to grab and go.

But one of the best ways to save money is to just look down. Some of the economical options (that are almost always the same), are gonna be a few shelves under eye level. It’s an easy hack to remember even if you’re in a rush.

4. Limit Yourself to Just 1 or 2 Impulse Purchases

Trader Joe’s is FULL of impulse purchases, as are many grocery stores. And they especially get you right at the cash register. Now I would usually say to ignore them, but that doesn’t always help. So instead, I’m gonna suggest that you get just one or two (relatively inexpensive) impulse purchases.

Reason for this? Well there are two reasons.

First, it might be easy to resist for a time, but then you might also feel like you deserve to get a few things that aren’t on your list since you’ve been pretty good at saying no to yourself. Or you just feel plain restricted when shopping.

So getting 1-2 impulse purchases allows you to not go overboard, but still get something you like.

Second, you haven’t really grown into the ability to say no to impulse purchases when shopping, and that’s ok. But in getting just one or two impulse purchases, you’re satisfying the part of you that feels like you need something fun to take home, but you’re not overspending at the store.

5. Always Keep Inventory

Besides having a grocery list on my phone, I also have an inventory list of food or home goods I normally buy on a weekly or monthly basis.

This makes it so that I’m not wasting time and money going to the grocery store more than I need to because I forgot to write down those one or three items for my previous grocery run.

Also, this just lessens the chance of you making extra purchases on random items you see in the store, or a deal that you didn’t necessarily need to take advantage of.

6. Be Careful of Convenience Buys

Trader Joe’s and other stores are full of fun and convenient purchases like chicken lettuce wraps or egg white bites. And while these might seem great since they’re easy + healthy, it’s still a drain on your wallet.

So instead, take the extra time in the kitchen to prep ingredients and make the dishes yourself. It really is a great habit to adopt if you’re cooking on a restricted budget.

7. Opt for Meatless Meals

Meat is a lot more expensive right now, so try working some vegetarian or vegan recipes into your weekly meal plan.

It’s a simple way to cut costs no matter where you’re shopping. Also, it’s one of the best ways to save on groceries if you like eating well or buying organic.

And if you need some ideas, then here are some meatless recipes you can try this week!

8. Rewards Program

Now I didn’t learn this from working at Trader Joe’s (since TJ’s doesn’t have one), but I did learn this from shopping elsewhere.

So yes, you can cut coupons or use money-saving tips like grocery apps, but why not add on your local grocery store’s rewards programs to cut back on even more costs? It’s not an in-store credit or debit card, and it’s one of the best ways to save money on groceries.

And I’ve been able to rack up a meaningful savings by joining a store’s rewards program. Also, the best part is that it’s basically effortless!

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