Grocery prices are higher than ever, and most people are feeling it. You can’t control inflation, but you can control how you shop. A few practical changes can help stretch your budget without sacrificing real meals. These tips are smart ways to spend less and still get what you need.
Go Frozen, Not Broke
Fresh produce is great until it goes bad before you even remember it’s in the fridge. Stocking up on frozen fruits and veggies saves money, cuts down waste, and still gets dinner on the table. Bonus: no peeling, chopping, or guilt about that sad bag of spinach in the back.
Use the Price Tag’s Fine Print
Those small numbers under the big price? That’s your new best friend. The unit price tells you what you’re really paying per ounce or pound. Use it to compare sizes and brands. Sometimes the bigger bottle isn’t actually the better deal.
Make a List, Stick to It
Wandering the store without a plan usually ends with a cart full of snacks and nothing for dinner. A simple grocery list saves time, money, and sanity. You’ll buy what you need, skip the extra, and avoid playing fridge Tetris with random impulse buys.
Trade Meat for Something Cheaper
Protein prices are wild right now, so don’t be afraid to mix it up. Beans, lentils, eggs, and canned fish are all budget-friendly and pack plenty of protein. You won’t miss the meat as much as you think, and your wallet will breathe a sigh of relief. This bean soup is easy, hearty, filling and cheap!
Check Your Cabinets Before You Shop
You probably already have half of what you think you need. Look through your pantry before heading out and build your meals around what you already own. Less waste, fewer duplicate buys, and fewer mystery cans gathering dust.
Eat First, Then Shop
Walking into a grocery store hungry is like shopping with no filter. Everything looks good and suddenly five different chips are in your cart. Grab a snack before you go and stick to your list like a pro.
Buy Big When It Makes Sense
Bulk shopping can save serious cash if you’re smart about it. Stock up on staples like rice, oats, and canned goods. Just don’t turn your pantry into a warehouse of stuff no one in your house even eats.
Stick With What’s In Season
Out-of-season produce comes with a markup. Sticking to what’s in season means better prices and better flavor. Think berries in summer, squash in fall, and citrus in winter. Your meals get more variety and your budget gets a break.
Shop the Outer Edges
Most of the real food lives on the perimeter of the store — produce, meat, dairy, etc. The middle aisles are where your budget goes to die. Focus on the outer ring and only head down the middle if you need something specific.
Be Strategic About Sales
Sales are only good if you actually use what you buy. If pasta’s half off and you eat it regularly, stock up. If that random jar of pickled something is cheap but you’ll never eat it, leave it behind. Saving money only works when the stuff doesn’t go to waste.
10 Fancy Foods That Aren’t Worth The Hype Or The Price
We all love treating ourselves to something fancy now and then, but some gourmet foods just don’t live up to their reputation. These pricey indulgences can leave you wondering if they’re really worth it. Let’s take a closer look at some high-end foods that are more about hype than flavor and why you might want to think twice before splurging on them.
Read it Here: 10 Fancy Foods That Aren’t Worth The Hype Or The Price
10 Foods That Have Gotten Obscenely Expensive Thanks to Inflation
Inflation has been silently (or not so silently) ramping up our grocery bills, making each trip to the store a bit more of a gulp moment than the last. We’re shining a light on ten foods that have become so expensive lately people just aren’t buying them as much any more.
Read it Here: 10 Foods That Have Gotten Obscenely Expensive Thanks to Inflation
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Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
