Grocery Inflation Hacks: How to Fill Your Fridge for Less
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So you’ve committed to eating out less in order to save money.
But the price of groceries is no picnic either. Even with the rate of inflation slowing dramatically, the overall cost of groceries is still 27% higher than before the pandemic started, making food shopping a weekly challenge for many Americans. A growing number of people are even using Buy Now Pay Later loans at the supermarket.
One bit of good news: Grocery costs dropped 0.4% between March and April. That might not sound like much, but it’s the most they’ve fallen in a single month since 2020, according to the Consumer Price Index. In fact, it was only the fifth month there was any decline at all since 2020.
Which prices changed the most? The price of eggs saw the biggest decline, falling almost 13% in April as the impact of bird flu outbreaks waned. They were still 49% pricier than just a year earlier, but moving in the right direction. Frankfurters saw the second-biggest drop, followed by oranges, frozen vegetables and frozen/chilled baked goods.
But what about coffee with your eggs and ketchup and mustard for your hot dog? Condiments saw the biggest increase — rising by 8% during the month — followed by coffee, both roasted and instant, and tea.
So what can you do to relieve the pressure of inflation?
First, sign up for any free loyalty programs to make sure you’re getting all of a store’s sale prices and have access to their digital coupons. (Here’s one list of the best ones.) That alone might save you $30 or $40 on a $150 bill.
But there are plenty of other ways to cut your tab if you’re strategic with your shopping. Here are a few of our favorites.
Choose your protein wisely. As a category, the cost of protein — meat, poultry, fish and eggs — has gone up more than any other over the past year. So now’s a great time to learn about cheaper protein sources, whether that means moving toward a vegetarian diet with beans, nuts, and dairy or finding ways to make a pound of chicken stretch further in casseroles and soups.
Use unit pricing. You want the best deal, but it can be hard to compare prices when things are sold in different-sized packages. Avoid this by comparing the unit prices on grocery items using a calculator or app like this one. (You can also use the store’s unit pricing labels on the shelf — they’re often right next to the regular price.) Then determine what’s cheapest — maybe it’s the store brand, the on-sale product or a bulk size. If the price is right, buy family-size packages of meat or bread and freeze in smaller portions.
Buy frozen fruits and veg (or freeze them on your own). Buy only the produce you’ll use before it goes bad. Otherwise you’re wasting more than money. The U.S. throws out more food than any other country in the world: nearly 60 million tons — 120 billion pounds — every year, according to waste-collection company Recycle Track Systems. That’s estimated to be almost 40 percent of the country’s entire food supply.
If you regularly throw out fresh produce, look for frozen or canned alternatives. Frozen versions are often harvested at peak ripeness and will last longer and potentially cost less. You can also buy produce on sale or in season and then freeze the savings. If your bill is higher because you’re buying organic, consider the Clean 15 — non-organic produce that has lower amounts of pesticide residue.
Ask the grocer for help. Speaking of avoiding waste, grocery employees may be able to cut the amount of certain items to your needs and budget. And not just at the deli counter. If you only need half of a cabbage or won’t eat that many grapes in a week, ask the person in charge of produce nicely if they can trim it down and repackage. If it’s at the deli, don’t be afraid to ask for a couple of slices of cheese if that’s all you need.
Switch grocery stores. Grocery store prices can vary a lot, so it’s worth branching out to stores you don’t normally use in order to compare. You can also do online research to see what others like and dislike about various chains. You might even find it’s worth it to make two trips a week — shopping at one store for all your produce and another for your milk and cereal, for example.
Related Reading
• Grocery Store Swaps That Will Help You Save Money (Mashed)
• 12 Grocery Shopping Tricks That’ll Save You Money Every Week (Real Simple)
• 15 Secret Grocery Shopping Tips You Need to Know (Taste of Home)
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