Podcast Summary: How to Money – "Butchering Your Grocery Bill (Bestie Ep) #1003"

Release Date: June 30, 2025

Hosts: Joel and Matt
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts

Introduction

In the milestone episode #1003 of How to Money, hosts Joel and Matt delve into a universally relatable topic: managing and reducing your grocery bill. Aimed at providing actionable insights for everyday financial challenges, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help listeners take control of their grocery spending without sacrificing quality or enjoyment.

The Importance of Managing Grocery Expenses

Joel kicks off the discussion by highlighting the significance of groceries in personal budgets:

“Everyone out there has to buy groceries. This isn't one of those expenses where you're thinking, oh, you know, this isn't an expense that applies to me.”
— Joel [10:34]

Matt adds context by mentioning the impact of inflation on grocery prices, noting that as of December, grocery costs had risen by nearly 12% compared to the previous year. This sets the stage for why effective grocery budgeting is more crucial than ever.

Practical Tips to Butcher Your Grocery Bill

1. Budgeting Techniques

• Assess and Set Realistic Budgets:

  Joel emphasizes the importance of understanding past spending to set attainable grocery budgets:

  “Use previous numbers to help you come up with an attainable dollar amount to shoot for.”
  — Joel [25:11]

• Monthly to Weekly Conversion:

  Breaking down monthly budgets into weekly limits can make them more manageable:

  “If you have a $600 grocery budget per month, let’s say you hit up the store once a week. Well, we're talking about $150 like that is roughly what you should be spending each time.”
  — Matt [26:32]

2. Meal Planning

• Plan Meals in Advance:

  Allocating time each week to decide on meals helps create precise grocery lists, reducing impulse buys:

  “Knowing what you're going to be eating helps you make a grocery list. And sticking to the list is one of the best ways to make sure you don't overdo it.”
  — Joel [27:19]

• Incorporate Leftovers:

  Strategically planning for leftovers can extend meal options without additional costs:

  “If you have a couple containers of pulled pork in your fridge, the ability to then use that to make barbecue sandwiches or fritters is something you want to pounce on.”
  — Joel [32:05]

3. Shopping at Discount Stores

• Switch to Discount Grocers:

  Transitioning to stores like Aldi or Lidl can result in significant savings. Matt shares a personal anecdote:

  “Once we started shopping at Aldi, literally overnight we saw a 30% reduction in our grocery budget.”
  — Matt [38:30]

• Limited Options as a Benefit:

  Fewer choices mean less time spent comparing prices and more streamlined shopping:

  “Your grocery trips are going to be shorter just because of the footprint of these stores.”
  — Joel [39:32]

4. Utilizing Apps and Digital Coupons

• Leverage Store and Third-Party Apps:

  Utilizing apps like Flipp for sale flyers or Ibotta for cashback can enhance savings:

  “Check out Flipp.com to see what's going to be on sale this week and plan your shopping accordingly.”
  — Matt [36:01]

• Digital Coupons Over Physical:

  Emphasizing efficiency, Matt suggests using digital coupons provided by grocery store apps instead of hunting for physical ones:

  “I use Kroger coupons when it's easy. I'm not searching the Internet for coupons because I think for most people that's a waste of time.”
  — Joel [36:48]

5. Buying Store Brands

• Switch to Store Brands:

  Store brands often cost significantly less while maintaining comparable quality:

  “Consumer Reports found that 76% of store brand products tasted just as good as the name brand.”
  — Matt [41:53]

6. Buying in Bulk and Managing Leftovers

• Strategic Bulk Buying:

  Purchasing in bulk from stores like Costco can lead to savings, provided you manage portions and storage effectively:

  “Take bulk items and portion them into smaller, manageable sizes to prevent waste.”
  — Joel [43:59]

• Investing in Storage Solutions:

  A deep freezer can make bulk buying more feasible by reducing food waste:

  “Matt, my father-in-law buys like half a cow at a time... He had to buy a deep freezer in order to make that make sense.”
  — Joel [34:29]

7. Avoiding Processed Foods

• Focus on Whole Foods:

  Steering clear of processed foods not only benefits health but also reduces spending:

  “By eating these whole real foods, it's gonna be better for you. It's gonna help your waistline. It'll help what you're spending on groceries as well.”
  — Matt [48:20]

8. Using the Right Credit Cards for Cashback

• Maximize Cashback Rewards:

  Utilizing credit cards that offer cashback on grocery purchases can amplify savings:

  “The American Express Blue Cash Preferred will snag you 6% cash back at the grocery store on up to $6,000 of expenses a year.”
  — Matt [50:40]

9. Additional Strategies

• Eat What You Have:

  Encouraging the use of existing pantry items to craft meals reduces the need for additional purchases:

  “Use sites like SuperCook to create recipes based on the items you have on hand.”
  — Matt [53:34]

• Portion Control:

  Being mindful of portion sizes can prevent overeating and unnecessary spending:

  “A lot of us are just eating more than we actually should. This has led to us becoming a pretty fat and overweight nation.”
  — Joel [55:04]

Personal Anecdotes and Quotes

Throughout the episode, Joel and Matt share personal experiences to illustrate their points:

• Joel’s Exploration of Shipping Services:

  Joel recounts his experience using Shipley to ship a desired piece of furniture:

  “By the end of the bid, because everyone's competing against each other, the bids were in the low $200s to move this thing.”
  — Joel [06:08]

• Matt’s Transition to Aldi:

  Matt explains the drastic reduction in their grocery bills after switching to Aldi:

  “Once we started shopping at Aldi, literally overnight we saw a 30% reduction in our grocery budget.”
  — Matt [38:30]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Joel on Breathing Better Analogies:

  “If you're able to improve something as fundamental as breathing, similarly, getting better at grocery shopping can lead to a lifetime of happiness.”
  — Joel [09:02]

• Matt on the Psychology of Cooking:

  “It's the psychology of cooking and tricking yourself into some of the different ways which makes certain habits stick.”
  — Matt [19:22]

• Joel on Avoiding Defeat in Budgeting:

  “What use is coming up with a number that you're never going to actually meet?”
  — Joel [25:16]

Conclusion and Final Insights

Joel and Matt wrap up the episode by reiterating the importance of adopting sustainable and enjoyable habits to manage grocery spending effectively. They emphasize that while macroeconomic factors like inflation are beyond individual control, strategic personal actions can significantly impact one's financial health.

Joel encourages listeners to share their own grocery-saving tips via email, fostering a community of shared knowledge and support.

Additional Resources

For listeners seeking to implement the discussed strategies, the hosts direct them to their website howtomoney.com where they provide links to all mentioned resources, including discount sites like Shipley and apps like Flipp and Ibotta.

Closing Note:
As best friends and financial enthusiasts, Joel and Matt continue to provide valuable, jargon-free personal finance advice, ensuring that listeners are equipped with the tools necessary to lead a financially healthy and enriching life.