It is no secret food prices have risen in the past few months, so how do we combat these rising food costs? Keep reading for top tips to fight rising food prices this winter.
1. Create Your Shopping List
If you expect to save money without creating or sticking to a list, you may experience sticker shock on your regular grocery haul. If you fill your cart with everything that catches your eye, be prepared to spend a lot more than you planned. By creating a list in advance, you have the opportunity to create a list of meals and ingredients, to plan for the week. This also allows you to shop for sales at local stores near you.
2. Stick to Your List
Avoiding impulse buys is key to fighting these rising food costs, and if you stick to your list, you won’t be as tempted to go down an aisle you don’t need to. Many say all the products you need are on the edge of the store, avoiding a couple of isles is a win! If you could use some help creating your list, check out these
3. Don’t Shop on An Empty Stomach
We’ve all been grocery shopping on an empty stomach and can agree with shopping while hungry will only fill your cart with unnecessary purchases. When grocery shopping on an empty stomach there is a likelihood of overspending and veering from your list. Stick to your necessities by grabbing a bite to eat or a small snack before you begin your shop.
4. Substitute the Expensive Items
If you notice an item you use frequently has a price that is consistently climbing, look into finding lower-priced alternatives. For example, olive oil you could swap with apple sauce in some recipes, which can help cut the cost for these higher priced ingredients nearly in half.
5. Prices Are High, Look Low
They strategically set up grocery stores to tempt you to spend money. You can avoid higher priced items by not shopping the end caps or checkout areas. The highest-priced items are placed where it is easy for you to look, such as the middle of the shelf at eye level. If you look down, chances are you’ll find generic and cheaper alternatives.
6. Shop Fresh Over Prepared
Life can be hectic, and things happen fast, so it easy to opt for already prepared items when shopping at the grocery store. Whether it’s done out of convenience or to know you have something “quick” on hand, these pre-ready meals come at a premium price tag.
7. Analyze Your Consumption Habits: Is Buying In Bulk Best?
Buying in bulk can save you time and money. It is important to pay attention to the prices of family-sized options – if the price per unit is lower it is can be well worth your money to buy. If you have items you go through consistently, it may be well worth the cost to purchase those at a big box bulk retailer such as Costco or Sam’s Club.
If you find you are not utilizing a membership at a big-box retailer as often as you had thought, consider canceling. Chances are you don’t need nearly as much on hand and are paying for bulk along with the membership price. It is very important to pay attention to your spending habits at these stores as well as your overall consumption. The prices at the big-box stores are often no bargain compared to discounts at other stores. In addition, the family-size packaging at these stores could mean you buy more than you need, driving up your grocery bill. If you are wondering whether buying in bulk is saving or costing you money, check out this article by Investopedia on ‘Why Buying in Bulk Doesn't Always Save You Money’.
8. Sign Up for Rewards
If you are visiting the same stores consistently, it is well worth it to sign up for their rewards program. Some stores may raise their prices when they offer rewards so without rewards benefits your bill could be higher. Look into the rewards and all of their benefits, not only on food items but on things like discounts on gas and other perks. Take advantage of the benefits at places you are already utilizing, here is why.
9. Maintain a Well-Stocked Kitchen
Shopping infrequently, or only when you need to, is another key to keeping your total food costs down. If you shop when the best deals are available, you can save big.
10. Should You Eat Out Less?
Dining out can be an extremely expensive option, especially since you already have to budget for a full list of groceries. If you think about it, many meals you purchase out can be made for a fraction of the cost at home. Fast food can be cheaper often, but this is when your health comes into play – high-calorie and low-quality food may not keep you full nearly as long. Truth be told depending on your diet and food budget, eating-in or eating out could be the right option.
Food is an expense that no budget can avoid. Be a careful and well-prepared shopper to minimize the amount of money you spend on each visit to the local grocery store.
