11 Ways AARP Readers Save Money on Groceries

Follow their lead to cut costs at the supermarket

Daniel Bortz,

AARP

Comments

Published September 23, 2025

food, money, receipts and sales signs pointing to a shopping cart on a yellow background

AARP (Getty Images, 11)

You’ve probably noticed that your grocery bill is getting bigger. Eggs, cheese, fruits and vegetables, seafood — they’re all going up in price due to the one-two punch of lingering inflation and tariffs on imported foods.

Your morning cup of joe? Ground roast coffee prices jumped 20.9 percent from August 2024 to August 2025, reaching $8.87 per pound. Your breakfast omelet? A dozen large eggs now cost $3.58, up from $3.20 a year ago.

The good news: AARP readers are a savvy bunch when it comes to finding ways to cut their grocery costs. We asked them how they do it. Here are some of their money-saving strategies. (Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.)

1. Shop generic and store brands

A recent CNET study of groceries sold at Wegman’s and Stop & Shop found that generic products cost up to 40 percent less. Readers say that many taste just as good, if not better, than their name-brand counterparts.

“Buy store brands. The price is lower, and most are made by the name-brand companies.” —Tony
“We buy a lot of generics. They are just as good as the brand names. My dad worked for a wholesaler and said they come off the same line but different labels!” —Cheryl

More tips: 7 Products You Should (Almost) Always Buy Generic

2. Check receipts for errors

Sometimes cashiers make mistakes. For example, you could have overpaid if you were rung up for organic lettuce when you purchased conventional lettuce. Reviewing receipts can help you spot costly errors.

“Always check your receipt to see if things are priced correctly. Example: I purchased one bundle of broccoli, but the checker rang it up as 11 bundles. An easy mistake, but still, it necessitated a stop at the customer convenience counter the next time I went to the store to get back the $20 overcharge. I wait until I get home to check my receipts so I don’t feel rushed and have time to look them over closely. I can’t tell you how many times I have found errors.” —Zambi

More tips: The Pros and Cons of Receipt Apps to Earn Extra Cash

3. Get the most out of coupons and sales

Some readers check weekly circulars religiously, use grocery store apps and hunt for digital coupons to find the best deals.

“I was a couponer for many years. Habits I continue are studying the ads, loading digital coupons and creating a list based on these and focusing on it. I don’t even see other things [at the store].” —Rondo
“I make my weekly menu based on the store ads.” —Kee
“My wife goes to one grocery store, and I go to another. Using each of their apps and weekly ads, we often save up to 50 percent on our total orders.” —Troy

More tips: I Saved $26 on Groceries by Using Coupons, 7 Couponing Mistakes You Can’t Afford to Make

4. Don’t shop on an empty stomach

This is time-tested advice, according to many of our readers.

“Eat BEFORE you go grocery shopping.”—Moyra
“Go preferably in the morning, when you’re NOT hungry!” —Marva
“Shop after eating a good meal. A hungry man can turn a ‘quick trip for milk’ into a $100 adventure real fast.” —Christopher

More tips: 11 Mistakes Retirees Make at the Supermarket

5. Reduce food waste

On average, Americans throw out more than 400 pounds of food per person annually, according to research from the National Resources Defense Council. Our readers offered a few suggestions to cut down on food waste.

“Be creative with leftovers. Reinvent a new dish!” —Dorene
“Freeze extras so nothing is wasted.” —Nancy
“Buy the same things every time, necessities only.” —Stacy
“Force yourself to eat leftovers promptly before they go bad and you have to toss them. That’s another meal you don’t have to pay for.” —Blake

More tips: 9 Ways to Reduce Food Waste at Home, Smart Guide to Reducing Food Waste”

6. Cook flexibly

Don’t be afraid to try making a new dish or adjust a recipe when certain ingredients go on sale or prices rise.

“I have cut meat costs down by using less in soups, stews and casseroles.” —Cindy
“I sometimes change what I am going to cook if the ingredients are too costly.” —Nancy
“Try experimenting with vegan cooking. Animal products are the most expensive items on your shopping list.” —Martika

More tips: Stretch Your Food Budget With Tips From Chef Lidia Bastinich

7. Go grocery shopping online

In an April 2025 survey of U.S. consumers by Coresight Research, more than half of respondents ages 45 to 60 and nearly 2 in 5 adults over 60 said they had purchased groceries online in the previous 12 months. Readers who shop for groceries online say it helps them avoid impulse purchases.

“Order online and have the order delivered, or pick it up. That saves time, and you are not tempted to buy things not on your list.” —Jayne
“If I never step foot in the store, there’s no way that I can buy something extra to add to the price of my grocery list, or that looks so good that I can’t resist throwing it in my shopping cart.” —Peggy
“I started shopping online again with home delivery, like I did during the COVID shutdown. Even with the fee and tip, I am saving money because there is no impulse buying.” —Darlene

More tips: 13 Smart Tips for Online Grocery Shoppers

8. Don’t shop at just one store

Food prices and sales can vary by grocer. Many of our readers said they shop at several supermarkets to find the best deals.

“Shop at different stores for different things. You could be at a store and go to a different one and get the same thing for half the price.” —Wendy
“I buy pizza crusts, burrito wraps and most nonfoods, like soap, at Dollar Tree. I get my favorite seafood from a local Asian grocery store.” —Thomas
“Compare prices on frequently purchased items at several local stores.” —Sandra

More tips: 6 Signs You’re Becoming a Cheapskate at the Supermarket”

9. Make a list and stick to it

Dozens of our readers said this helps them save money by preventing impulse buys.

“Make a list beforehand and abide by it.” —Marcus
“Make a list of essentials! Don’t cruise the aisles.” —Moyra
“We have a basic list of regular items in a spreadsheet with columns for each week to check off what we need.” —Patreecia

More tips: 10 Ways You’re Wasting Money at the Supermarket

10. Buy in bulk when your favorite products go on sale

When their favorite items get marked down, our readers stock up to maximize their savings.

“Buy meat in bulk when it is on sale and freeze it.” —Anne
“My husband likes olives with garlic and jalapeno. I get a 32-ounce jar at Costco for the same price as a 6-ounce jar at our local grocery store.” —Claudia

More tips: 10 Products to Buy in Bulk

11. Use senior discounts

A number of grocery stores, including major chains such as Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter and Weis Markets, offer discounts to older shoppers, typically picking one day per week or per month. These discounts generally range from 5 percent to 10 percent off your grocery bill or select items. (Deals can vary by location, so it’s best to check with your local store.)

“My Brookshire’s gives a 5 percent discount on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s not much, but every little bit helps.” —D.J.
“Every Tuesday, the ACME market in New Jersey where I shop offers 5 percent discounts to those 60 and over.” —Patrick
“Whenever possible, I shop on Tuesday to take advantage of my grocery store’s senior discount. It’s 6 percent off everything, no matter how much I buy. It may not seem like much, but it does add up.” —Patricia

More tips: 13 Supermarkets That Give Seniors a Discount

%{postComment}%

Daniel Bortz is a personal finance editor at AARP. His work has been published by the New York Times, Washington Post, Consumer Reports, Entrepreneur, Kiplinger, Newsweek, Money and other national publications.