Grocery budgets can quickly get out of hand, especially if you go shopping without a plan. Being strategic about grocery shopping can help you enjoy nutritious meals while making your retirement budget stretch. The Gardens serves delicious restaurant-style meals, but if you're preparing your own meals, these tips can save you money.

1. Create Low-Cost Meal Plans

It's easier to save money at the store when you have a meal plan in mind. You can create a specific list so you have all the right ingredients without buying extra items you won't use. Think about the meals you enjoy regularly, particularly dishes that use low-cost ingredients. Add them to your menu and create your shopping list based on which ingredients you're missing to make those dishes.

2. Shop the Sales and Deals

Grocery stores typically put out weekly sales ads with special deals on various products. You might find extra 1- or 2-day sales some weeks with even bigger discounts. Check the ads each week to look for low prices on staples. Your local store might also have special discount days, such as a day of the week when wellness products are cheaper or a senior discount day.

Stock up when you find a low price for items you use regularly. Knowing the typical prices for those items makes it easier to spot an extra-low price. Be careful not to buy too much, though. If you over-buy, especially on produce or items that can go bad quickly, you could waste money if it spoils before you can eat it.

3. Learn the Markdown Schedule

It's common for stores to mark down certain items on a regular schedule. Fresh meat is a good example. Most stores have a specific day when they discount their meat products to sell them before they pass their expiration date. Take note when you see a lot of discounted items in a particular section to determine which day your store uses. You can also talk to the employees in the meat department to see if they have a markdown schedule. Shop on those days to get a good deal.

4. Use Loyalty Programs and Store Apps

On top of sale prices anyone can get, many stores also have loyalty programs or store-specific apps with extra deals. These programs are usually free to use, but you'll need to sign up for them or download the app to your phone. You'll receive special deals or discounts for being part of those programs.

5. Download Rebate Apps

You can also download general rebate apps that can work for several stores. Ibotta is a good example, with lots of rebates available for grocery items. When you find a rebate for an item you're buying, you submit your receipt and the rebate amount gets added to your account. You can cash out the money in different ways depending on the app you use. Some offer cash, while others let you buy gift cards. You can usually receive the rebates even if you used coupons or received other discounts at the store.

6. Prepare Food Yourself

Grocery stores have lots of prepared foods, including assembled sandwiches, chopped produce and heat-and-eat meals. While these items are convenient, they're usually more expensive than making the items yourself. Instead of buying muffins from the bakery, whip up a batch using inexpensive ingredients you already have on hand. Buy whole fruits and veggies and cut them up when you get home from the grocery store so they're ready when you want them.

It can also be helpful to have items on hand that satisfy cravings. For instance, keeping ingredients for microwave desserts in your panty lets you satisfy your sweet tooth at home. This might prevent a trip to the ice cream shop or bakery, where you'd likely spend more money than you would having a dessert at home.

7. Buy in Bulk

Households are often a lot smaller in retirement, but you can still benefit from bulk buys. Larger packages are often cheaper per unit, so you can stock up and save money. For instance, 2-pound packages of ground beef often cost less per pound than 1-pound packages. You might find bulk packages of chicken, steak and other proteins. Meat freezes well, so you can divide that bulk package into smaller portions and toss the extra in the freezer.

Bulk bins of grains, dried beans and other products can also be useful. Measure out just the amount you need instead of buying a larger bag that might not get used completely.

8. Compare Brands

Generic or store brands are often cheaper than name-brand grocery products, but that's not always the case, especially when you factor in deals and coupons. Look at all the brand options for the items you need to find the lowest-priced one when you're shopping. Check each time you go, too. Pricing can change, or weekly deals could affect which version is the cheapest at that time.

9. Choose Senior Living

Senior living can help with your financial planning in your retirement years. Seniors in assisted living and memory care typically receive meals as part of their monthly costs, while independent living residents can choose flexible meal plans. This makes it easier to budget for meals and helps you avoid overspending at the grocery store.