How to save money on groceries in India: 2025

Groceries are a non-negotiable expense in every Indian household. Whether you’re a bachelor, a family of four, or a student, monthly grocery costs can eat into your salary quickly. But what if you could cut down 20–30% of your grocery bill without compromising on quality or quantity?

In this blog post, I will provide smart, practical ways to save money on groceries in India, including tips for urban families, online shoppers, and even rural buyers.

“One thing I’ve learned: Eating healthy is actually cheaper and saves time — but most of us avoid it, not because it’s hard, but because we’re just too lazy to try.”

Grocery Spending Stats in India

Understanding where and how Indians are spending on groceries can help us make smarter money choices. Here are some grocery spending stats in India:

• Food now accounts for less than 50% of household spending — a historic low. While incomes rise, our essential food budget is shrinking in proportion.
• Cereal consumption per person is falling — we’re moving away from traditional staples towards packaged & processed foods.
• Rural Indians spend more of their income on food than urban population.
  → Average monthly spend per person:
  • ₹3,773 in rural areas
  • ₹6,459 in urban areas
• Spending on processed foods and beverages is rising fast — a shift that may affect both our budgets and long-term health.
• The online grocery market was worth ₹74,329 crore in 2023 and is expected to grow at 31.33% CAGR until 2029.
• Despite this, kirana stores and local markets still dominate, especially in semi-urban and rural India.
• India’s top 5% urban households spend 10x more on food than the bottom 5%. This sharp income inequality creates very different grocery habits.

Groceries are not just about food — they reveal our lifestyle, health priorities, and financial well-being. Small changes in how you shop and store food can lead to big savings over time.

10 Tips to Save Money on Groceries in India

1. Make a Weekly Grocery List and Stick to It

Impulse buying increases bills. Create a list before shopping — either on paper or using apps like:

• Google Keep
• Listonic
• Notion or Evernote

Pro Tip: Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry. You’ll over-buy!

2. Buy Staples in Bulk (But Wisely)

Items like rice, dal, atta, sugar, and oil are cheaper in larger packs. You can save 5–15% by buying:

• 5–10 kg packs instead of 1 kg
• Combo deals from BigBasket, Jiomart, or D-Mart

Avoid bulk buying perishable items like fruits, veggies, or snacks unless you’re sure of usage.

3. Use Grocery Cashback & Discount App

Cashback + Coupons = Instant Savings.

Top Indian grocery-saving apps:

4. Shop on Specific Days for Discounts

Many stores offer deals like:

• Big Bazaar Wednesday Bazaar
• D-Mart Thursday Discounts
• Flipkart Grocery SuperSaver Days
• Amazon Fresh Weekends

Time your grocery shopping for maximum savings.

5. Buy Local & Seasonal Vegetables

Don’t get tempted by exotic vegetables every week. Seasonal, local produce is:

• Fresher
• Cheaper
• More nutritious

Example: Buy drumsticks, brinjal, spinach, and bottle gourd during their peak season in your area.

6. Switch from Branded to Quality Generic Brands

Some items offer the same quality at 30–40% lower price.

For Example:

• Branded Atta vs Store Brand
• Maggi noodles vs Local masala noodles
• Haldiram Snacks vs Local bakery options

Try and test — shift gradually.

7. Control Packaged Food Purchases

Avoid consuming packaged food items. They are costly and ungealthy.

• Stick to a monthly budget (e.g., ₹500 max for snacks)
• Buy only during offers (BOGO, 50% off, ₹1 deal packs)
• Make homemade snacks like murmura, roasted chana, and fruit chaat

8. Avoid Waste: Store Food Properly

In India, over 25% of household vegetables rot due to improper storage.

• Store onions & potatoes in a dry, dark place (not fridge!)
• Use airtight containers for dals, flours, and masalas
• Freeze green peas, coriander, and curry leaves in reusable pouches

9. Join Local Co-ops or WhatsApp Groups for Sharing Deals

Many apartments, communities, and offices have:

• Bulk buying WhatsApp groups
• Local Kirana group buys
• Monthly milk/vegetable delivery clubs

You save ₹300–₹1,000/month by joining such trusted circles.

10. Use the Right Credit Card or UPI App

Cards like:

• Amazon Pay ICICI Card (5% cashback on Amazon groceries)
• HDFC Millennia (5% cashback on online groceries)
• Axis ACE (2%–5% on Google Pay grocery UPI spends)

UPI apps like PhonePe and Paytm offer scratch card cashback every week.

Sample Monthly Grocery Budget for a Family of 3

Remember, the average per capita consumption of food in urban is around ₹6500.

My Experience

You believe me or not, I am now healthy, control over my spendings on Groceries. Here is what I am following striclty for the past one year:

• I took a resolution to be healthy by going gym and eat good food.
• I completely avoid buying Sugar, Oil as a first step.
• I prepared a routine diet for myself with rich in protein.
• I started eating same diet every day (one cheat meal per month)
• I grow green leaves like palak, coriander and pudeena in my home, which reduce my monthly expenses by 1000 rupees.

Frequently Asked Questions

You don’t need to sacrifice quality or variety to save on groceries. By planning, comparing, and shopping smart, you can reduce your monthly grocery bill by 20–30% and invest the rest for your future.

You can also read our popular article on how to save money from your salary.

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