Many Americans spend an average of $150 on food every week.

Those food bills can add up fast. A lot of people can’t afford to spend that much money on food.

But buying the groceries you need for a decent amount can be difficult.

Take a look at these clever tips that’ll help you save money on food the next time you go shopping.

1. Keep Track of What You Don’t Need

When you’re writing your shopping list, spend a few extra minutes writing what you don’t need. This way, you’ll avoid buying more of something you already have. The next time you go shopping, you won’t have to try remembering everything in your pantry.

You should also create a meal plan before you shop. Knowing what meals you’re going to prepare will tell you what ingredients you need. If you see something in the store that’s not one of your ingredients, don’t buy it.

2. Use a Smaller Shopping Cart

People who use larger shopping carts tend to fill them up. Choosing a small cart can save you well over $200 every year. Don’t grab the first cart you can find at the grocery store. If you aren’t shopping for a lot of people, you might be able to get away with a basket instead.

3. Shop on Wednesdays

A lot of stores have new deals every week. Those deals tend to end and start on Wednesdays. Because the old deals end the same day the new deals begin, Wednesday often has double the deals.

Sales should be your best friend when trying to save money on your grocery list. Keep an eye on when things are on sale and compare the prices with other stores.

You can even get into the couponing world. Using Freshly promo codes and coupons can save you a big bulk of money every year.

4. Buy Fresh Produce When It’s In-Season

The price of fresh produce goes way up when it’s not in season. There are two ways you can get around this problem. You can either stop buying it or you can stock up on it when it’s in-season.

Freeze whatever you can’t finish and eat it during the off-season.

If you have trouble buying a lot of fresh produce to begin with, buy frozen fruits and vegetables. They tend to be as healthy as normal fruit and vegetables, but they don’t cost as much money.

5. Buy in Bulk When You Can

When you buy in bulk, you can get a lot more while spending a lot less. But there is a bit of a trick to buying food in bulk.

Don’t buy anything that will spoil before you can finish it. Stay away from buying perishables, fruits, bread, and vegetables in bulk. Instead, stick to things like pasta, dried beans, cereals, rice, spices, oats, etc.

The freezer comes in handy when you’re buying in bulk. You can buy a lot of cheese and freeze most of it. You can even freeze bread to prevent it from molding.

Ways to Save Money on Food

Make sure you eat a snack before you go shopping. When you’re hungry at a food store, it’s easier to buy a bunch of items you don’t need. One of the most important tips to help you save money on food is to keep yourself from impulse buying. Write a shopping list, take advantages of sales, and always buy things in bulk when you can.

You thought the food at your grocery store was expensive? Take a look at the world’s priciest food.