What is better, buying groceries every day, weekly or monthly? (2024)

FAQs

What is better, buying groceries every day, weekly or monthly? ›

“In either case, shopping the sales is going to be the best move,” she said. For a smaller household, she said shopping on a weekly basis makes you more likely to purchase only what your household can actually consume before the food goes bad.

You can be organised by planning your meals and creating a shopping list in advance. This can help you avoid forgetting items or buying unnecessary items. Buying weekly also prevents those little trips to get one or two things each day; more often than not you will buy more things and spend unnecessary money.

It forces me to plan.

Once-a-month grocery shopping forces me to plan out a month of meals at once, which ends up saving me time in the long run and reduces the stress of having to make a new meal every night.

Doing your weekly grocery run on Wednesdays can save you some cash. “This is when many stores offer mid-week specials and reduce prices on items that are getting close to their sell-by date,” said Susan Anderson, founder of The Worthy Goods, a guide for consumers looking to make conscious purchasing decisions.

While once- or twice-per-month shopping trips have been proven to save time and money, not everyone's life can accommodate it. If you're adamant about having fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet, then a once-per-week trip is more realistic.

Whether it be for weekly groceries or last-minute items, people go to the grocery store or make an online grocery order an average of 6 times per month.

The Habit: We go to the store more than once a week. Statista reports that Americans visit the supermarket 1.6 times per week. That probably doesn't shock anyone. We all know what it's like to get home, start cooking a fabulous meal, then realize we're missing a key ingredient!

According to the USDA guidelines, you might spend $979 a month on a thrifty plan, $1,028 on a low-cost plan, $1,252 on a moderate-cost plan and $1,604 on a liberal plan. The USDA guidelines can provide a starting point for a food budget, but they don't consider all the variables that can affect cost.

If you want to maximize the chances of paying low prices at the grocery store, shopping mid-week may be the way to go. Specifically, many experts advise shopping on Wednesday and Thursday.

What is the best day to buy groceries? ›

Wednesday is the best day of the week to go grocery shopping because stores are usually less crowded mid-week. For the freshest items, time your shop for store opening or closing. This increases the likelihood that bakery, deli, and other produce items were recently restocked.

In fact, Wednesday (at least in North America) is the best day to head to the grocery store. Stretching your precious minutes is just as important as stretching that dollar, and shopping on Wednesdays can help you tick both boxes. Plus, you'll enjoy the process and your selections a whole lot more!

For those who want a quick and easy answer: It's generally cheaper to cook food at home than eat out. The reason so many people can get stuck on the question is the human psychology variable. People don't always spend wisely, and it isn't as if prices are always the same at a supermarket or a fast food restaurant.

The 50/30/20 budget rule states that you should spend up to 50% of your after-tax income on needs and obligations that you must have or must do. The remaining half should be split between savings and debt repayment (20%) and everything else that you might want (30%).

The average food budget for a single person is between $250 and $300 a month, but that's just a guideline. If you can buy meals at a discount or visit family and eat with them, you might be able to spend less. Figure out the budget that works for you.

On average, groceries cost between $290 and $548 per month for one person. However, expenses can vary depending on location, dietary choices and personal spending habits. If you don't budget for groceries and instead just buy what you need — and want — at intervals throughout the month, you could be overspending.

I am here to test out an accepted truth: that one visit to the shop per week is more cost effective than a few little ones (normally bought after work on the way home). Most people would agree that a well-planned-out shopping list executed once is better for your wallet than a few impulse buys.

The average shopper gets groceries 1.6 times per week, per Statista. The average shopper drives four miles to their favorite grocery store, per the USDA)

Wednesday is the best day of the week to go grocery shopping because stores are usually less crowded mid-week. For the freshest items, time your shop for store opening or closing. This increases the likelihood that bakery, deli, and other produce items were recently restocked.