Eight ways to combat rising grocery prices

It’s not just the price of eggs that is going up at the grocery store.

Leaving the supermarket with enough to feed your family has now become even more of a challenge. Here are eight tips for combatting rising grocery prices.

1) Compare prices and stores

Now more than ever, it is good to compare not only prices of different brands of products, but prices among the stores in your area as well. Usually, there are high-end grocery stores that charge a few cents more for the same product versus their competitors. For those of you who are used to the amenities of the high-end supermarket (e.g., grocery bagging services), it might be time to sacrifice those and switch to a store without the perks.

You can also explore these alternatives to traditional supermarkets:

• Try nontraditional sources such as pop-up grocery stores in Minnesota like Fare for All, or online shopping sites like Imperfect Foods, which sells perfectly good organic food, fresh produce and more. Vegetables might be extra big or a different shape but still have all the flavor and nutritional value.
• If you have a stand-alone freezer, go to a butcher directly to buy your meat in bulk.
• Wholesale grocery stores, as well as small shops, co-ops and culturally-specific stores, sell certain foods in bulk. Figure out what you eat a lot of so you can stock up.

2) Eat locally and seasonally

There are many advantages to buying locally-purchased foods, including health benefits, freshness and investing in your local farms and communities. Buying locally and planning your meals based on what is in season can also save you money. 

• Farmers markets give you access to more organic produce and produce without genetically-modified organisms, if that is important to you. You can search for a farmers market near you by using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) food portal.
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms save you money by investing in the farm before the growing season begins. Throughout the growing season, you then receive a weekly box of produce, meat or whatever the farm produces, which you pick up at a location near you (usually a volunteer’s front porch). However, there is some risk in using CSAs. The weather is unpredictable, which affects how much you receive. You also have to flex your cooking and prep muscles when you receive vegetables in quantities and varieties that you might not be used to. Find a CSA near you.  
• Grow your own vegetables and herbs in your yard or windowsill. You can even grow vegetables from veggie scraps; there are websites available to show you how.
• Create a barter system among your neighbors. For example, provide labor to your neighbor in exchange for vegetables, eggs (if they raise chickens) and more.

3) Know your food budget

In my financial counseling sessions, food costs tend to be the expense that fluctuates the most. You can rein in this cost and make it more predictable by having a monthly allotment for what you spend on your groceries. 

Tracking your food expenses can be extremely time-consuming. Instead, start a separate food checking account with its own separate debit card. Automatically transfer a set amount of money to that account either weekly, monthly or whatever works for you. Keep the bank app for that account on your phone to check your balance before making any purchases. If you run out of money, buy nothing more. Use what you have already in your pantry and fridge when your food checking account is close to $0. If your food budget is tight, you will be flexing your creativity muscles. Thankfully, there are many DIY videos of other people also “buying food on a dime.”

Here are a few suggestions to figure out your food budget:

• Allocate 10%-15% of your monthly net household income toward all food costs, and stick with that amount.
• Use the Grocery Budget Calculator developed by Iowa State University. This tool is based on the different food plans set by the USDA. It will give you an idea, based on your family size, what baseline amount you should spend monthly on groceries.
• Do a deep dive into your budget. If there is not enough money to pay all monthly expenses, figure out what expenses you can cut so there is enough money left over for food. Pay regular monthly bills first, and account for and break down periodic expenses (car repairs, insurance, summer camps, etc.) into monthly costs. For example, a yearly car insurance premium of $1,200 would be $100 per month. Add up all regular bills and periodic expenses as a monthly figure. Subtract this from your net monthly income, and that is your starting point for your monthly food budget.

4) Use a grocery list

It’s always good to have a plan of action and not go into a situation blindly. Grocery shopping is no different. Without a grocery list, you are going to purchase whatever seems appealing at that moment in the supermarket, which leads to overspending.

A list also helps you remember what you ran out of. When your kid yells, “Mom, we’re out of milk,” you can now just say, “Write it on the list.” Keep the list on the fridge so everyone gets on board.

Creating a list is a two-step process:

• Step 1: Plan your meals a few days in advance. Determine what you will serve over a set period of time (week, half-month, month, etc.). Then do a thorough inventory of your pantry to make sure you do not accidentally purchase anything you might already have.
• Step 2: After you plan your meals, then create your list. You can resort to the old school method of writing it down on a sheet of paper, or you can use your smart phone’s “To Do” list or notes app. There are also free apps you can use, including AnyList, Mealime, Our Groceries, Bring!, Cozi Family Organizer or OptUp. In addition, many recipe sites offer a grocery list option.

5) Buy canned, generic, bulk and frozen

Generic store brands often are just as high in quality as their name brand counterparts, You’d be surprised how much you can save by switching even a fraction of your food purchases to the generic store brand for items such as milk, eggs, pasta, meat or household products. Some grocery stores have gained popularity because they sell primarily generic items.

Try substituting canned, generic, bulk or frozen food when a recipe calls for fresh. Unprocessed foods that are frozen such as fresh berries can be a fraction of the price and have the same nutritional value. And frozen can taste just as great as fresh in a daily smoothie or oatmeal breakfast.

6) Shop for deals

Believe it or not, it is common for the average consumer to take coupons and deals for granted. Heck, we just go in get what we want and go about our lives. However, it’s important to take a step back and notice these small gems that can make a large impact on our wallets.

Usually, grocery stores have their printed list of specials for the week. Also, remember that pesky junk mail you receive regularly? You might have been quick to shred it or throw it into the trash, but take a moment to search for any valuable coupons for your next supermarket visit. You can also consider getting an app like Flashfood to help you find deals. 

Keep in mind that some grocery stores have rewards programs where coupons are linked automatically to the store app, rewards card or fob. Using these rewards can sometimes save you money elsewhere, like gasoline. It’s all free, too; you just have to remember to use your app/card/fob when you check out at the grocery store to use coupons/earn rewards.

7) Curbside pickup or home delivery might be for you

If there are too many distractions in the store that will make you spend more, then try curbside pickup. Those distractions can be from your own kids begging for something not on the grocery list or from your own personal struggles in maintaining focus. Curbside pickup or home delivery is also helpful for people who don’t have a car, who might need to ask a friend for a ride or pay someone to deliver. 

Here are resources for food delivery or pick up:

8) Change your diet or lifestyle

This sounds drastic, but nothing should be off the table when it comes to helping you live within a sustainable budget.

• Eggs, meat, cheese and milk are some of the priciest groceries. But protein can also come from other sources, such as dark green vegetables — which are cheapest when local and in season. Dry goods that all have protein and a long life include quinoa, bulgar, oats, beans, legumes, nuts, peanut butter and canned fish. Some people who love their eggs and meat opt to raise their own chickens and buy meat from the whole or half of an animal directly from a butcher.
• Research what foods and beverages are best for your own body’s needs. You might have health conditions that are made worse by what you currently consume. Talk with your doctor for recommendations of what foods to avoid and which ones would be better.  
• Make observations of all you ingest. Junk food, as its name implies, usually doesn’t offer much nutritional value, but it still costs money. Look for alternatives to other pre-packaged snacks and treats. For example, you might want to get a kettle popper for popcorn and a cake pan and cookie sheet for homemade treats. Drinking fresh water from your faucet with a filter can be a healthier — and free — alternative to canned and bottled beverages.
• Instead of eating out, eat in or pack a picnic lunch for a visit to a park.
• Be vocal about your budget needs with family and friends. Happy hour at the bar might need to become a potluck style happy hour in someone’s yard.

If you are looking for other ways to reduce your monthly expenses, LSS Financial Counseling can provide support, tools and advice. Our certified financial counselors can work with you on a budget that will assist you in keeping expenses under control. Call 888.577.2227 to schedule a free, confidential appointment, or get started by creating a financial profile online.

Author Sarah Jannusch is a certified financial counselor with LSS Financial Counseling.