10 Ways to Save Money on Groceries

With the rising cost of food, you may find yourself adjusting what you buy, where you shop, or how you plan meals from week to week to make your budget work. If grocery shopping has been feeling more stressful lately, you are not alone.

Here are some ideas you might consider to help stretch your grocery budget.
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1. Check if You Are Eligible for CalFresh

‍CalFresh, California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), can help reduce some of the pressure of grocery costs and help food budgets go further. CalFresh Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards can be used at grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and even through some online grocery delivery or pickup services.

As a general reference, in 2026, a single person may qualify with a gross monthly income of around $2,610 or less, and a household of four may qualify with around $5,360 or less. Individuals who are seniors or have a disability may be able to qualify with higher incomes.

Eligibility guidelines and household circumstances can change over time, so it may still be helpful to revisit eligibility requirements—even if there was a previous denial. Programs like CalFresh exist to help, and checking eligibility can help ensure grocery benefits and resources are not being left on the table for Californians that qualify.

If you’re interested in learning more, you can use our Benefit Screener to see if you may qualify for CalFresh and other programs. 

If you already receive CalFresh, there are ways to make your benefits go further. Many farmers’ markets offer programs that match your benefits, so if you spend $10, you may receive an additional $10 to use on fresh food.

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2. Check Out Free Community Resources

‍Local food pantries, food distributions, and mutual aid groups can offer free groceries. You can find food bank locations statewide in CA through 211CA.org. Buy Nothing is a mutual aid group where neighbors share items, including food and household goods, at no cost. If transportation is a barrier, some programs may offer delivery options. There are also programs that provide medically tailored meals for people with certain health conditions, such as diabetes or other dietary needs. Calling 211 can be valuable in helping you understand what resources may be available to you.

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3. Check Weekly Ads and What’s in Season

Staple items like bread, rice, eggs, and milk can vary in price from store to store. Looking at weekly ads can help you see what’s on sale and decide where to shop or what to prioritize that week. You can also ask store employees when certain items tend to go on sale or when discounts are typically added. Some stores discount items that need to be used soon, which can be helpful if you plan to cook them right away or are feeding multiple people. When possible, shopping for in-season fruits and vegetables may also help lower costs.

4. Consider Generic Brands

‍Store brands are often less expensive than name brands and may be similar in quality. In many cases, items are manufactured in the same facilities as well-known brands. For example, Trader Joe’s pita chips are made by the same manufacturer as Stacy’s Pita Chips. Tyson produces chicken for Walmart’s Great Value brand, and Costco’s Kirkland Signature coffee is roasted by Starbucks.

5. Pool Resources with Others

‍Consider sharing costs and benefits with friends, family, or others in your circle. This can help reduce waste and make bulk purchases more manageable. For example, buying in bulk or sharing a subscription to order groceries can lower costs while helping reduce waste.

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6. Start with What You Already Have and Plan Ahead

‍Before heading to the store, it may help to take a quick look at what’s already in your kitchen. After checking what you have and what’s on sale, you can plan meals in a way that maximizes ingredients across the week.

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7. Freeze Perishable Foods for Later

‍If you find a good deal on fruits, vegetables, or meat but can’t use them right away, freezing them can help extend their use. Labeling items with a date can help you keep track of what to use first.

8. Double Check Your Receipt

‍Mistakes can happen at checkout. You might be charged the wrong price, miss a discount, be given the wrong discounted price, or even be charged for the same item twice.

9. Save Receipts for Flexible Returns

‍If you’re unsure about a purchase or weren’t able to find something on sale, it may help to keep the receipt and wait to open the item until you know you’ll use it. In some cases, if the item goes on sale later or you no longer need it, you may be able to return it depending on the store’s policy. This can give you a bit more flexibility when making decisions at the store.

10. Keep Track of What You Use

‍Paying attention to what you actually use, and what tends to go to waste, can help you make more informed decisions at the store.This might look like noticing which items you run out of quickly, which ones sit in your fridge, or what doesn’t get used in time. Over time, this can help you adjust how much you buy and reduce food waste.