Grocery prices have been in the news a lot in recent years, and that doesn't appear to be changing in the near term. If you are looking for ways to deal with these high prices, consider the following ten tips.
1. Plan Your Meals
Planning meals ahead of time can help you save money on groceries, particularly if you plan for meals with shared ingredients. This way, you won't have to buy as many items when you go to the store. Having a plan will also ensure you're more easily able to buy only what you need without impulse buying.
2. Stick to Your List
Speaking of avoiding impulse buying, it's a good idea to always stick to your grocery list. Make out a list of everything you need or want before you go to the store and maintain tunnel vision once you're walking down the aisles. There are mobile apps that can help if you don't want to carry around a piece of paper. In fact, ordering your groceries through an app can help keep you from impulse buying.
3. Make Fewer Trips
Go to the store less frequently. If you can plan ahead and stick to your list, you can buy for multiple weeks in advance, which will prevent you from impulse buying on multiple occasions. It will also save you gas money.
4. Think Twice About Convenience
It can be tempting to opt for convenience while shopping, but typically, items made to be more convenient will also cost more. For example, you're likely to get more for your money if you buy a whole watermelon than if you buy the pre-cut watermelon in a plastic container.
"Our fast-paced society encourages convenience, and the food industry has capitalized on this trend," says Lisa Smith at Investopedia.* "Ready-made meals are easy to buy but come with a premium price tag. Instead of putting that rotisserie chicken and macaroni salad in your cart, buy the ingredients and prepare the meal yourself. The same concept applies to frozen entrees, baked goods, ready-made sandwiches, ready-to-nuke meal kits, and any other prepared food."
5. Buy Store Brand
Buying store-brand alternatives to name brands has always been a good way to save some cash, and that still holds true for the most part. Compare prices, and you're likely to find that store-brand versions of the products you like are often much cheaper. They're often just as good. Even if you don't want to switch in every case, you can likely identify products where you're willing to try the off-brand.
6. Buy in Bulk
Buy more of your groceries in bulk. Doing so can cost more upfront, but for products you would buy frequently, bulk can save significant money. You might be able to find bulk versions of products in traditional stores, but consider becoming a member of a store like Sam's Club or Costco, where you can buy mainly bulk items. Be sure you have room to store your purchases.
7. Don't Shop While You're Hungry
It's a good idea to go to the store after you've already eaten. If you go while you're hungry, you may find that many items are attractive at the moment, which is bound to lead to impulse buying. Go with a full stomach so you aren't thinking about how much you want to eat while you’re shopping.
8. Take Advantage of Discounts for Stocking Up
Bulk is great for stocking up on items, but another good option is to keep an eye out for sales and discounts. When a product you like is cheaper, that is the time to buy multiples and save some for later.
"Stock up on discounted and sale items," says Eat Real America.** "Many stores will have clearance sections or have foods randomly marked down (sometimes 50% or more) throughout the store. Often, these are foods approaching their 'best by' dates — they are typically perfectly fine to eat, especially if you are using them in the next day or two, or if you can freeze them for future use. Personally, our pantry and freezer are loaded with these “clearance” reduced stickers. You can also find great deals by monitoring weekly ads and using online coupons from your local stores."
9. Shop By Yourself
Go to the store alone to get your groceries. This will prevent feeling the pressure to cater to the impulse wants of others. Children are notorious for wanting many of the products they see at the store, so if you have kids and are able to leave them with your spouse or another family member while you go to the store, your bank account is likely to remain in better shape.
10. Eat Less Meat
Even if you are a meat eater, you can save money by eating less of it. You'll need to get your protein, but there are other great non-meat sources that are easier on your wallet. For some meals, consider opting for things like beans, lentils, tofu, nuts, or seeds.
High grocery prices can be frustrating, but if you are smart about how you shop, you can deal with the prices in ways that allow you to get more for your money. The tips above should help.
* https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/08/fight-food-costs.asp
** https://eatrealamerica.com/2022/04/15-ways-to-beat-high-food-prices/