Fighting Back at the Grocery Store

 

Over the last two years, the amount of money that I find myself spending each month on groceries has increased by about 75%. Last month I was shocked and awed to find that I had spent just under $600 to feed myself. What and how much I was buying had not changed in any appreciable way. I do buy mostly fresh or frozen foods and ingredients and I make most of my own meals from scratch. I spend extra for organic in many cases. I have been doing this for many years. But all of a sudden the cost of feeding myself has exploded. And I am only feeding myself. How does a family of four or five people afford to eat any more?

Partly this is my own fault. I tend to hate shopping for food so I make my list of what I need, go to the store and buy it. I tend not to look at alternatives to what I like or am used to, I stick with certain brands and familiar products. But between the prices rising so much and the contents of the packages steadily shrinking, it is time for a change. I am not prepared to change from fresh food to processed garbage, even though that tends to be a lot cheaper. But something had to give.

So here are five not very challenging ways that you can start to fight back against endlessly rising food prices. 

1. Make a list. Check it twice.
    Never, never ever set foot in a grocery store without a shopping
    list. Don't put     anything on it that you do not need. That means
    knowing what you plan to eat until your next trip to the store.
    This used to be a real pain before the dawn of meal planning
    apps, which are now powerful, plentiful and usually free. (I like
    Mealime.com but you will have no trouble finding one that suits
    you.) If it is not on your list, don't buy it.

2. Stock up on long lasting staples.
    Buy staples with a long shelf-life in bulk or when you find them on
    sale. (Just buy things you will use! Its not cheap if you don't use
    it.) Canned goods, rice, grains, flour, beans, onions, potatoes,
    frozen foods and anything else that will keep until you will use it
    up.

3. Check unit prices for the best deal.
    Instead of picking up the items with the lowest price, grab the
    ones with the lowest unit prices. This is often the largest package
    size, but not always. Check. It won't likely be on the package but
    nearly all supermarkets post the unit prices (price per ounce,
    say) on the shelves below the items. The lowest unit price is the
    best deal.

4. Forget brand loyalty.
    Your favorite brands are no longer loyal to you, its time you
    stopped being loyal to them. Store brands or generic products
    are often exactly the same ingredients as the brands you have
    been buying, often made for the stores by the same
    manufacturers! Read the ingredient label.

5. Avoid shopping online and using delivery services.
    Online grocery shopping and delivery services are convenient,
    but don't kid yourself that they are not costly. You may not
    always find the size you’re looking for online and could be
    forced to trade up to a bigger size for a higher price. You may
    also only see what the seller wants you to see. Additionally,
    some grocery orders at Amazon are fulfilled by third-party
    sellers. These could carry shipping costs, which add to your
    bill.

Here are 30 more ways you can cut your food bill. What other ways have you found to help control your grocery bill? Post your best ideas in the comments so that others can use them as well. Its us against them now.