I find Target cheaper than grocery store for most items. Canned goods, rice, frozen veggies, yogurts, eggs. Juice, milk…. I get all that at Target.
Do you buy separate kid food? If you do, stop doing that. Kid eats what you eat.

Aldi helps a lot.

I find I save a ton there when I stop in for in-between trips, like where all I need is grapes, orange, onions, peppers, lettuce, cilantro, and sour cream. I can get all that plus berries and cheese for way less, and those trips add up.

Less meat. More beans, tofu, preparations that rewire less meat (instead of a huge flank steak for fajitas, use leftover meat and make beans and fajita veggies).

Less prepared stuff. No pre-cut fruit, no $7 soups (make soup and freeze), etc...

Get better about planning. If you buy a $4 pack of basil for a small recipe, find another recipe you can use it in before it spoils.

Freezing double batches of things (chili, red sauce, chicken tinga) makes my freezer more of a grocery store and I shop less.

Shop when not hungry, like right after a big dinner. This really really helps.

I'm struggling to get my grocery budget under $600 for one grown-up and one 10-year old. I spent $750 already in January. Hoping to do better in February.
I will try to divide a month into that 4 weeks or 10 days and stick to the budget this way. I know my bottom prices and try not to buy if it's too much over. Eating soups may help me in February.

Start slow. Read all of the circulars every week and make lists. Maybe make a list of your staples and how cheap they can go, then stock up when it's a good deal on non-perishables or things you can freeze.

Be sure to sign up for the rewards cards/apps. Nowadays a lot have digital coupons. They will advertise $2/5 but only with digital coupon, so you have to be sure to log in and add that coupon before shopping. This is also how they limit you to buying only 2 of the item. Make a second account in DH's name so you can buy twice.

Do math when you're at the store. Divide by the number of ounces and figure out the price. I've noticed store brand pasta is cheaper but it's only 6 servings compared to a box of Barilla at 8 servings, so Barilla on sale is sometimes cheaper.

Walmart.com is cheaper for a lot of household items and medicines so I just order from there, waiting until I have enough in my cart for free shipping.

If you like Campbell's Chunky soup like Sirloin burger or beef w/ vegetables, Giant has on sale for $1 a can (you need to buy 6 cans).

With only two adults and a toddler I’m guessing you’re buying a lot of prepackaged snacks and meals for your bills to be that high. Or a lot of expensive meat at Whole Foods.

A lot of great recommendations here. Building meals around the cheaper proteins (eggs, beans, tofu) helps a ton

House brands not national

Aldi and Lidl have been huge money savers for us. But I also shop the circulars and compare prices. Meal planning is based on what is on sale, not what we feel like eating. Yes, I do often go to Aldi and Giant in the same trip, but that might be because Giant has an awesome deal on something.

We stretch meat with other proteins like beans. I blend beans in with some veggies before adding to meat sauce. Added nutrition AND saving money.

Plan your meals and stick to the plan.
Cook from scratch.
Avoid buying prepared foods at the grocery store.
Don’t overbuy.
Don’t shop too often.

I’ve heard the advice to shop at Lidl and Aldi and while I’m sure that will save money I can’t find everything on my list in one of those stores. I go to Wegmans and as long as I stick to my list and avoid getting tempted by the baked goods or ready to eat section I do okay.
As for ethnic stores being cheaper, do your homework first. H-Mart produce has gotten pretty expensive and isn’t really cheaper than a regular grocery store.

Giant Food has a pretty good points/ rewards system I get free food & milk just about every week.

Shop at Aldi/Lidl.

Eat meat at dinner only, and not every day.

Cook large-batch sheet pan meals, stews, pasta bakes, etc - things that generate leftovers.

Eat seasonally, and leverage frozen fruits/vegetables for things that aren't in season.

Add legumes and interesting grains to your diet - lentils, chickpeas, farro, bulgur.

Buy as little packaged food as possible (breakfast cereal, cookies, chips) and prepare versions at home instead.

1. No bought snacks or semi prepared food, like the stuff that you only need to pop in the oven.
2. Plan all the meals for a week, and also plan when you do the prep. E.g. we’ll have biutternut squash soup on Friday - peel/cube the squash on Thursday evening.
3. Eat more vegetables and some carbs - salads, stews, soups. I found that even if I buy the ingredients in Whole Foods, it’s still isn’t too bad money wise as long as I buy just the raw ingredients. Buy those family packs of chicken parts on sale and freeze.
4. Buy the veggies and grains at the ethnic stores, not the supermarkets.

Ramit Sethi says don't aim to go from 1200 to 700-800 in one month. Aim to go from 1200 one month to 1100 the next month to 1000 the next month, and so on.

Use a grocery list and stick to it. Freeze leftovers. When making your meal plan for the week - check out your pantry and freezer and see what you already have that you can use.

Rice
Pasta
Potatoes
Beans
Eggs
Oatmeal

Only get fruit you will actually eat, don’t let it go bad, don’t buy organic for bananas, oranges, apples, etc that are not porous. Only buy what is on sale.

Eat all your food before you buy more.

Don’t shop at Whole Foods

We spend a lot on groceries currently and would like to spend $700-800 monthly max (before averaged $1200) for 2 adults and toddler (we don’t eat out). What helps your family save? Budget meal ideas, best stores, coupon recommendations? Thank you!