“The nerdy side of me has an Excel spreadsheet of our current inventory, so I don’t overbuy items.”

"The nerdy side of me has an Excel spreadsheet of our current inventory, so I don’t overbuy items."

"Switching to eating vegetarian about eight years ago has saved about 30-40% on grocery bills. We used to eat meat at almost every meal."

"The pantry check right before leaving is huge. The habit that finally made that stick for me was doing a 'use first' shelf/bin in the fridge: anything half-used, close to expiring, or already cooked goes there, and the next two to three meals have to start from that bin before I plan anything new. It sounds tiny, but it changes the question from 'what do I feel like buying?' to 'what do I already need to rescue?' A couple of examples: sad carrots and onions become fried rice/soup base, leftover beans become quesadillas or a bean salad, extra cooked chicken becomes wraps. It saves money mostly by preventing the quiet $5–$10 leaks from duplicates and forgotten leftovers."

"I go for the best of both worlds. Convenience: frozen corn, peas, broccoli, mango, and refrigerated triple-washed spinach. Freeze/prep myself for significant cost savings: berries (when on super sale), pineapple, onion, celery, carrot, various peppers, garlic, ginger. The main money-saving tip is just using the freezer to prevent food waste."

"When we go to Costco, we always stop and get a slice of pizza before we grab a cart and start shopping. It’s a huge slice, and it really helps."

Note: Responses have been edited for length/clarity.