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1. Stop Buying Food You Don’t Need
👉 In a Nutshell: Only buy what you'll actually eat to stop wasting food and money.
Have you ever gone to the grocery store hungry and suddenly think you need a whole pineapple, three types of cheese, and a family-size bag of avocados?
Then, a week later, you’re throwing half of it in the trash because it went bad 😑
That’s your money disappearing.
Poof. Like a magic trick no one wants to see.
Grocery stores are designed to make you buy more than you need, so without a plan, you’re playing right into their hands.
Stick to a list, don’t fall for the “just in case” trap, and stop stocking your fridge like you’re feeding a soccer team.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
Step 1: Make a grocery list: Write down only what you need before heading to the store.
Step 2: Eat before shopping: Never shop hungry, or you’ll buy random snacks and extras.
Step 3: Use a basket, not a cart: If you’re buying just a few things, it limits impulse purchases.
2. Plan Ahead to Avoid Throwing Away Food
👉 In a Nutshell: Plan meals before shopping so nothing gets wasted.
Let’s be real. How many times have you bought a bunch of veggies with the intention of eating “healthier” and then forgotten about them?
Days later, you find them in the fridge, sad and wilted, looking like they belong in a horror movie 🥴
Planning your meals before you shop means you actually buy with a purpose instead of just vibes.
It’s the difference between having a well-thought-out grocery haul and just playing grocery store roulette.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
Step 1: Plan meals for the week: Write down what you’ll eat each day.
Step 2: Check your fridge first: Use what you already have before buying more.
Step 3: Stick to your plan: Don’t let a “2-for-1” deal throw you off.
3. Make Leftovers Your Best Friend
👉 In a Nutshell: Stop tossing leftovers. Turn them into easy next-day meals.
Listen, leftovers are not the enemy.
They’re just future meals that need a little remix.
That rice and chicken from last night? Boom. Fried rice 😜
That extra pasta? Mix it up with some sauce, and you’re good to go.
Get creative, and you’ll save time, money, and a whole lot of guilt from wasting perfectly good food.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
Step 1: Store leftovers properly: Use clear containers so you actually see them.
Step 2: Schedule leftover nights: Pick a day to eat what’s already cooked.
Step 3: Remix your meals: Turn yesterday’s dinner into something new.
4. Use Expiring Ingredients First
👉 In a Nutshell: Use food before it goes bad so you’re not throwing money away.
Do you ever buy something and completely forget about it until it’s way past its prime?
Next thing you know, you’re tossing out yogurt, veggies, and bread like you’re running a mini landfill.
The key is simple: put expiring food where you can see it and use it first 🤓
Think of your fridge like a store. New stuff goes in the back, and older stuff moves upfront.
If you can see it, you’ll actually use it before it turns into a science experiment.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
Step 1: Do a fridge check: Move older food to the front so you see it.
Step 2: Plan meals around it: Use soon-to-expire items in your next meal.
Step 3: Label leftovers: Write dates on food so you know when to use them.
5. Store Food Correctly to Keep It Fresh Longer
👉 In a Nutshell: Proper storage keeps food fresh so you waste less and save more.
If you’re stuffing everything in the fridge without a system, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
☝️ Bananas don’t belong in the fridge. Bread dries out if you put it in there.
Avocados? Keep them on the counter until they ripen, then move them to the fridge.
Food has rules, and if you follow them, it stays fresh way longer.
Learn how to store things the right way, and you won’t have to keep throwing money in the trash.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
Step 1: Separate fruits and veggies: Some make others ripen too fast.
Step 2: Store dry goods properly: Keep them in airtight containers.
Step 3: Learn fridge zones: Dairy, meat, and produce all have their spot.
6. Keep an Eye on Expiration Dates
👉 In a Nutshell: Check dates so you actually eat food before it goes bad.
Expiration dates are sneaky.
Sometimes they mean “actually bad,” and sometimes they just mean “best by.”
Milk a day past the date? Probably still fine 😅Sealed yogurt? Give it a sniff test.
Food isn’t a ticking time bomb. Use common sense before tossing it.
Trust your eyes, nose, and taste buds before you throw money in the trash.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
Step 1: Check labels when buying: Get the longest expiration dates.
Step 2: Rotate your groceries: Put newer items behind older ones.
Step 3: Use common sense: Smell or taste test before tossing.
7. Use Your Freezer to Prevent Waste
👉 In a Nutshell: Freeze food before it spoils so you don’t waste it.
Your freezer is basically a pause button for food.
😏 Leftover soup? Freeze it. Extra bread? Freeze it. Ripe bananas? Freeze them for smoothies.
If something is about to go bad, throw it in the freezer before it gets there.
You’ll have extra food ready when you need it and waste way less.
↪️ Here’s How You’ll Do It
Step 1: Freeze food before it spoils: Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Step 2: Label everything: Write the date on frozen food to keep track.
Step 3: Use what you freeze: Don’t let it sit in the freezer forever.
You don’t need to be perfect. Just start small, and progress will follow.
“The simplest way to save money is to stop throwing it away.”
Hi! I'm the founder of Money Vice and a passionate personal finance enthusiast.
Here we love to talk about money using a unique type of blender, where we combine juicy chunks of money lessons, slicing them into bite-sized steps, and sprinkling some South Florida vibe for that little zing! (the perfect cocktail to learn how to stack cash to achieve financial independence).
