Everyone’s feeling the squeeze right now.

Between interest rate hikes and inflation going through the roof - rising prices are all around including your basic needs, groceries!

So how can you save more on that weekly food shop?

Here are 9 hot tips to save money on groceries.

1. Use a discount code

Did you know Coles and Woolworths regularly post discount codes right on their website? You can use these to get discounts when you order your groceries online. I’ve received $10 - $20 off many times, just by using these codes on my online shop.

2. Join rewards programs

Coles has Flybuys and Woolworths has Everyday Rewards. You can earn points by joining these reward programs, then convert your points into $10 off your next grocery shop.

In addition, Flybuys also regularly has special 4 week offers, where if you spend a certain amount every week for four weeks at Coles, you could save $50 or $100 off your next shop!

3. Buy your groceries with discounted gift cards

This one is so simple, I wish I'd found out about it sooner!

You buy a supermarket gift card at a discount of up to 3%, then use it to pay for the groceries you were buying anyway.

Same trolley, smaller bill.

If you're spending around $250 a week on groceries, a 3% discount would save you about $390 a year.

Woolworths – 3% off

You can get 3% off Woolworths gift cards through memberships like RACQ and NRMA, or through Bupa if you already have their health insurance. Not a member of any? RACQ Lifestyle is the cheapest way for just $5 per year.

Everyday Rewards also sometimes sells Woolworths gift cards at 3% off, and it’s free to join. You can use the gift cards in store or on your online order. Plus, you earn Everyday Rewards points when you buy the gift card and again when you scan your card at checkout. Check it out here.

Budget a little tight this week? You can even pay for the gift card with PayPal Pay in 4, so you can split the cost of a big shop into four payments. Just make sure you can comfortably cover the repayments and next week's shop.

Coles – Up to 3% cashback

ShopBack sells Coles gift cards with cashback. It's usually 1%, but it sometimes gets upsized to 3%. Note that Coles gift cards only work in store, not on Coles Online. Get it here.

New to ShopBack? Click here for a $20 bonus when you sign up.

4. Grab a markdown bargain

Looking for some last minute groceries for dinner? Go into the supermarket after 7:00 PM, as that’s when a lot of produce, meat and dairy that will expire soon tends to get marked down for the day.

5. Rethink your recipes

Try something new and make that dollar stretch further with some budget friendly recipes. Taste and Best Recipes have 100 recipe ideas that cost less than $5 a serve.

6. Try some freebies

You could save a bit of cash by trying out some free meal kits and boxes. Many of these services often offer freebies or heavy discounts for trying out their service.

• HelloFresh offers up to $200 off your first 6 deliveries.

• Soulara offers up to $100 off your first 4 boxes for plant-based meals. Click here for an additional $30 off your first order!

• Dinnerly offers up to $150 off your first 3 boxes.

• Marley Spoon offers $190 off your first 6 orders.

• YouFoodz offers up to $200 off your first 5 boxes.

7. Write a list and stick to it

This might seem obvious, but you’ll be surprised how many people impulse buy. Shopping with a list ensures you only buy exactly what you need. Better yet, order your groceries online, so you’re less likely to browse the aisles and impulse buy. Plus you’ll be able to review your items and the total amount you're spending before you finalise that order.

8. Go to market

If you have the time, shopping outside the big chain grocery stores can save you some cash. Check out farmers markets, go to a local butcher or try a community produce service.

For example, in Sydney, Pendle Hill Meat Market often has meat specials that are cheaper than Coles and Woolworths, and you can pick up a huge fresh box of fruit and veg from Boxa Greens for just $70!

9. Sign up to Receipt Jar

This hack won’t save you money in the moment, but it will give you some extra cash for the money that you are spending. Don’t waste your receipts, simply share them for points and turn it into gift cards! Check out my full review here.

Conclusion

There you have it, 9 tips on how to save money on your next grocery shop. Try them to help you save some extra cash and counter that crazy inflation.

Do you have a tip to save more money on groceries? Leave me a comment below!