As a Mom of 3 Kids, Here’s How I Save on Groceries in 2026

In 2026, two of the expenses that hurt many families the most are gas and groceries. The average cost of gas nationwide earlier this month was $4.51 per gallon. Grocery costs are also up 2.9%, according to USA Today. When you've got multiple kids at home, as I do, and they'll go through a pound of strawberries before you've even unloaded the rest of the groceries, it's hard to keep up with the cost of food for the family.

No matter how or where you shop, groceries are always going to be a large part of your budget, but with some of these tips, you can save money and avoid overspending on your family's favorite foods.

Best Ways to Save on Groceries in 2026

It doesn't matter whether you have toddlers or teens — it's always going to feel like they go through groceries faster than you can buy them. Our family shops at multiple stores, and with three kids, it feels impossible to leave any grocery trip without spending hundreds of dollars. If you're looking for ways to save on groceries, here are some of my best tips as a family of five.

Buy the Membership

If you don't already have a membership to a wholesale store like Sam's Club or Costco, you might wonder if it's worth paying the fee. While you won't save money buying every product wholesale, there are a lot of things worth purchasing in large quantities. Often, the money you save cancels out the amount you pay for an annual membership.

Take Costco's membership, for example. The cost of a Costco executive membership in 2026 is $130/year. This is more than twice the cost of the Gold Star membership, but you get an annual 2% reward for the money you spend in store. If you spend enough, it will cover the cost of the membership.

Get Familiar With the Store Brands

The store brand at places like Costco and Target is typically much cheaper than name brands. Not all store brands are great quality, though. To save money and prevent food from going to waste, it's important to know which store-brand products are worth purchasing.

We love many of the Kirkland Signature products at Costco, and they're a lot cheaper than the alternatives. Some of our favorite Kirkland products that our family buys to save money are the organic maple syrup, organic peanut butter, and Greek yogurt.

Take Multiple Shopping Trips

If you've got little kids, you know that simply a trip to the grocery store can be exhausting. That being said, the suggestion that you should take more than one shopping trip might frustrate you (and honestly, I get it). But shopping around is one of the best ways to save money on groceries.

Most grocery stores run weekly deals, and you can save a lot of money when you take advantage of them. Target has different offers that you can get when you download the Target Circle App. Just recently, there was a promotion where you got $15 off if you spent $75 on groceries. It may not seem like much, but every little bit adds up.

Get Rewarded

Speaking of how every little bit adds up, rewards apps are another great way to save money while buying groceries. The Target Circle does offer different promotions, but there are also apps such as Brandclub or Ibotta.

These rewards apps give you cash back on your purchases, which is great when you get rewards for things you're already buying. Even if it's only a couple of bucks back on each shopping trip, it can give you extra to spend on future groceries or other bills.

Use What You Have

It may seem obvious, but avoiding wasting food is an important part of saving money. Before your next grocery trip, check your pantry and fridge for items that might expire soon or that you forgot about.

It's easy to feel like you need to run to the store as soon as you start to run out of things at home, but using the last of the food you have can make a big difference and help you avoid buying food items you don't really need.

Get Creative in the Kitchen

Kids are often creatures of habit and may prefer to eat many of the same meals all the time. If you've got picky eaters in the house, you're not alone. However, if your kids are willing to try different things, consider switching up your meals based on what's on sale that week.

Instead of planning an elaborate meal every night, you can try a snack dinner or get flexible with your meal planning. This might look like doing a mix of fresh and frozen foods throughout the week or batch cooking to use all the ingredients you have.

Remember, Moderation Is Key

Like most parents, you probably want to feed your kids healthy foods. But let's be real — healthy foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, can often be a lot more expensive than processed foods. Rather than feeling guilty that your kid is eating chicken nuggets for lunch again, remember that moderation is key.

If it's simply too expensive to buy a lot of fruits and veggies right now, do the best you can with your budget. Frozen vegetables and fruit are often cheaper than fresh, and they provide you with the same nutrition!

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Prostock-studio/Shutterstock.com