Do you want to know how to live in Oahu on a Budget? I have tips on how to save money on food and groceries. Some people may be surprised by the prices of food and groceries after moving to Hawaii, but do not fear! As I have learned over the years, Hawaii’s food prices aren’t as bad as you may think. There are ways you can find good deals on food.  You can live cheap in Hawaii and learn  to save money on food and groceries. Living on my own in Hawaii, I’ve learned to budget and spend between $25 to $50 dollars on groceries per week. Living in Oahu on a Budget it not as difficult as it may seem.

In addition to the following tips below, also check out my post on 5 Money Saving Apps. Combine these tips and the use of these apps, and you will be saving lots of money!

5 tips on how to live in Oahu on a Budget:

Tip 1:  Apply for a Costco or Sam’s Club Membership

I have a Costco membership, and use it often. There are three types of Costco memberships, and you pay an annual fee for the membership. The first is the executive membership, and the other two are the Business and Gold Star membership. Check Costco Membership Prices. The difference between the Executive and Gold Star is the cash back rewards. Paying for the executive membership gives you 2% cash rewards on qualified Costco purchases. Depending on your budget, the Gold Star membership will suffice. The bulk deals at Costco are definitely worth it.  Costco has great deals for the amount you get for a product.

Tip 2: Check out the Local Weekly Ads

Check out the local Weekly Ads. One way to receive the ads is by subscribing to Midweek, which will have ads to local supermarkets such as Foodland, Safeway, Times, and Don Quijote. I look through the ads and make meals based on what is on sale. I also plan ahead by looking out for food items that I may need for future meals and check to see if they are on sale. Fruits can be pricey in Hawaii, but every week there is at least one fruit item that costs around 0.99 cents per pound or less.

One of the local markets, Safeway has $5.00 Fridays so look out for those deals. If you don’t want to subscribe to Midweek, you can check these ads online. Also don’t forget to sign up for loyalty cards for the local markets mentioned above. Don Quijote and Times Supermarket do not have loyalty cards.

Tip 3: Buy Food and Groceries from Chinatown/Asian Markets 

Chinatown has one of the cheapest prices on produce and meats. There is a variety of stores and vendors you can check out. The downside is finding and paying for parking, but parking is free on Sunday. Another option is going to Asian markets like Seafood City and Pacific Supermarket in Waipahu. My other recommendations for Asian markets are Asian Grocery on 1319 S. Beretania Street and Chinatown Marketplace on 1199 Dillingham Blvd. Chinatown and Asian supermarkets tend to be cheaper than the local markets like Foodland and Safeway.

Tip 4: Farmer’s Markets

Browse Oahu’s farmer’s markets and choose one close to where you live or venture out to one outside of your area. There are many farmer’s markets in Honolulu, for example, at Kapiolani Community College, Manoa, and Kakaako. The produce at the farmer’s markets is very fresh and locally grown. Support local farmers and help grow Hawaii’s local economy. Yelp has a list of farmer’s markets in the Oahu.  So check out where the the nearest farmer’s market is located.

Tip 5: Coupons

COUPONS COUPONS COUPONS!!!! They are your best friend. There’s no excuse for not having access to coupons; you can find them online by clicking here. Also Walmart, Safeway and Target have manufacturer’s coupons that you can print out on their websites. Don’t think of finding coupons as a chore, but more like a game on saving money. The more you do this, the better you will get.

Please leave a comment below if you have any more tips on how to live in Oahu on a Budget. I will add them to my list!