Feeding the Family or the Debt: It’s Time for Grocery Shopping on a Budget
The financial stress related to grocery shopping has reached an all-time high for American consumers. Households need help juggling the increasing costs of inflation. Prices for simple items such as eggs have reached historical highs. According to The New York Times, the average price of a dozen eggs in the U.S. was $4.25, more than twice what they cost a year earlier.
Do you walk into stores and easily spend over $100 but only walk out with a bag or two? Those groceries might only cover you for a portion of the week. You are not alone. Everyone is feeling the effects of inflation. Let’s take a look at a few facts from Drive Research about your shopping experience:
- On average, people go to the grocery store eight times per month
- During those eight times, they spend an average of $155.62 on groceries per trip
- Most people grocery shop at a mainstream grocery chain (55%) or a supercenter (54%)
Shopping for household products or groceries is a necessity. Since trips to the grocery store aren’t going to stop, Beyond Finance wants you to be prepared to save money with these five small tips that could significantly impact your wallet for the better.
1. Whole Discounts
Take advantage of all discounts available to you. For example, as an Amazon Prime member, you receive a discount at Whole Foods during checkout. All you have to do is log in to your account and go to the shopping cart icon.
Once at that screen, the top toolbar will say Whole Foods Code. Stores like Target and Kroger have downloadable apps that offer exclusive discounts and rewards for gift cards or points for gas. Most importantly, signing up for a credit card is unnecessary.
2. Savings at Your Fingertips
Remember the TLC show Extreme Couponing? Once upon a time, they thought being that concerned about saving seemed unconventional. These days, families would be relieved to see the site of a fully stocked pantry that didn’t break the bank.
Modern technology has made it, so you don’t have to use paper coupons. There are apps made for couponing, like coupons.com or The Coupons App.
3. Shopping Inclusivity
Consumers have preferences for one store over another. Those essential choices begin with knowing where your dollar will count the most, such as Aldi or dollar stores.
A CNBC poll shows more than 1 in 5 consumers buy groceries at dollar stores. There is no shame in shopping at a place where you get the same quality products but at a fraction of the cost. Take advantage of those savings!
4. Meal Prep
Planning your weekly meals allows you to budget appropriately, alleviating impulsive buys. You can write out the cost of every meal and store the food according to the meal schedule.
Proper dating and marking refrigerated and frozen foods help to avoid wasting food; there is nothing worse than finally getting around to cooking a meal and realizing your ingredients are no longer fresh. Try using a meal planning app like Paprika to plan out your meal. This app also creates a grocery shopping list you have for use in-store.
Pro Tip: Opt for a pickup order if you are the type to grab things off your list. You shop online using your list and then pick up your groceries curbside when ready.
5. Cash Back Rewards
If you need to shop for groceries with a credit card, pay attention to what cards you use. Use those with the best cashback or reward points. Some cards offer more for shopping at certain stores or during specific times. This is helpful if you spend more than anticipated. Those points or deals come in handy for future use.
When deciding how and what to feed your family, you shouldn’t have to choose between buying groceries or incurring debt.
With inflation rising, grocery shopping on a budget is essential while protecting you and your family. Beyond Finance wants to provide you with the tools and resources to make better decisions on your journey to financial wellness.