Three ways to save money on groceries in 2024

March 18, 2024

Elena Kwan is a UBC Dietetics student who, like many, is finding creative ways to keep grocery bills within her budget.

Guest post by Elena Kwan, a UBC Dietetics student

As a dietetics student at UBC, I love grocery shopping. However, I’ve noticed that I’ve been more selective about which foods to place in my basket due to a rise in my grocery bills. Like many other Canadians, I’ve found it challenging to keep up with inflation and I’ve had to be creative to keep my grocery bills within my budget.

According to the 2024 Canada’s Food Price Report, vegetables, meat and bakery items are expected to have the greatest price increases this year. On the bright side, dry goods and non-perishable goods are expected to stay the same. Dairy and fruit are expected to have smaller price increases compared to foods in vegetables, meat and bakery.

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Top three ways to save money on your grocery bill

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Top three ways to save money on your grocery bill

Two hands of a person wearing a yellow puffy coat holding a grocery bill in front of a grocery cart

Here are my top three tips for saving money on groceries in 2024.

1. Create shopping lists, use online flyers and collect points!

I love to create shopping lists before grocery shopping. This allows me to plan out my meals for the week ahead, stay within budget, and helps prevent me from buying too many groceries.

I also use online flyers and coupons to create my grocery list, as it allows me to buy items that are on sale that week. Shopping at stores that have loyalty programs to convert my points into free groceries is another great way to reduce my grocery bill.

2. Shop in the dry goods and canned foods section

Since dry and non-perishable goods are one of the areas that will be least affected by price increases in 2024, take advantage of it! I have been buying dried grains such as quinoa, rice and oats. Canned chickpeas, beans and dried lentils are great alternatives to meat, they last longer and save me time cooking.

A girl with a hair bun and wearing a black turtleneck holds a red grocery basket in front of a freezer at a grocery store

3. The freezer is your best friend

I love to shop in the frozen aisles. Frozen meat, poultry and fish are often cheaper frozen than fresh. Also, frozen vegetables and fruits are often cheaper, have a longer shelf life, and are just as nutritious as fresh produce. Lastly, I love to make meals and batch freeze them. With this, I save time on cooking fresh meals, reduce food waste and can plan for more variety with my meals.

20 Ways to Save Money on Your Groceries (Unlock Food)

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Dietitians at Interior Health work to improve access to healthy food, improve people’s food shopping and preparation skills, and promote the social and cultural aspects of eating.

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March is National Nutrition Month, and Dietitians of Canada is shining a spotlight on their profession. Learn more.

This article was written by Elena Kwan, a UBC Dietetics student living in Vancouver. She completed her Population Health practicum with Interior Health.