5 Tips You're Overlooking To Save Hundreds on Groceries, According to Rachel Cruze
Rachel Cruze, daughter of Dave Ramsey and a personal finance expert, shared grocery saving tips that go beyond the usual advice. She started her YouTube video with an unusual hack she saw on TikTok that actually works.
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Stay in Your Work Clothes and Cook Immediately
Cruze showed a TikTok video of someone explaining why momentum matters when cooking after work.
The woman said: “The key to cooking after work is you’ve got to come home and you can’t take your clothes off. I still have my badge on. I left it out, so I know I wasn’t playing. I mean, shoes off, but I can’t even sit down. I’m not even going to pee. I’ve got to start now.”
Cruze said she could relate to the advice. “When she said that, I was like, that is so true. I feel that way when I come home and go put my cozies on. Then I’m like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to go cook.’”
She explained the reasoning behind it: “An object in motion tends to stay in motion, right? That momentum — it is real."
Staying motivated helps you cook instead of spending money on food delivery or takeout.
The tip may sound silly, but it works. Change into comfortable clothes and you may lose the energy to cook. Stay in work mode, and you’re more likely to power through meal prep.
Meal Plan With Cheap Ingredients
Cruze recommended getting strategic with inexpensive ingredients. Her go-to meals include breakfast for dinner using eggs as a cheap protein source, beans and rice, and quesadillas with shredded cheese.
“That’s what we say at Ramsey all the time, but for real, get that. Get some shredded cheese. Make some quesadillas. It’s great,” she said.
After a long, exhausting day, thinking of cheap meal ideas can feel impossible. Cruze suggested checking out meal-planning guides to get ideas flowing.
Never Shop Hungry
This old-school tip still matters because food choices can be emotional. “When you’re bored or sad or angry — whatever it is — food can become the thing that you end up going to,” Cruze said.
Shopping while hungry, especially if you’re hangry, can lead to overspending. You may walk down aisles choosing what sounds good in the moment, only to lose interest in those items later.
Cruze recommended making a list of exactly what you need. When you plan meals for the week, you know precisely which ingredients to buy — and can avoid impulse purchases.
Buy in Bulk and Reuse Ingredients
Cruze suggested buying foods that work in multiple meals throughout the week. Rotisserie chicken can go in casseroles or chicken salad. Rice works as a side dish, in soup or as a taco topping. Lettuce fits in burritos, sandwiches and salads.
"Especially if it's fresh produce, you want to be able to say, 'Okay, where can I use this up?' Because man, that's the stuff that goes bad and that's where we tend to waste our money," she said.
Use Your Freezer Strategically
Cruze shared that her mom, Sharon, freezes everything.
Cruze said, "We were literally on vacation over Christmas and she brought out a little box that's been frozen for like 18 months, dessert that she was trying to give the kids and I was like, 'Hey, mom, we got to put a boundary somewhere.'"
You don't need to go as extreme as Sharon Ramsey. Think about what freezes well, like hamburger patties or soup. Keep them for when you're in a pinch and need dinner fast.
Cruze mentioned her kids love chicken puffs made with cream cheese, chicken, butter and crescent.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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