While inflation has become a household name due to its frequency in the news, food prices have long been affected by drastic events, including weather, disease, war, and supply chain disruptions.

To help keep your pantry stocked in the face of inflation, here are some tips to spend less and save more.

1. Know which foods are the least affected by inflation.

Not so shockingly, eggs have become the highest-priced grocery item with a 160% increase since 2019. According to the Consumer Price Index, eggs, frozen orange juice and sugar are the top three grocery items with the most inflation.  

While prices tend to ebb and flow with inflation, it’s important to adapt your grocery list to swap out those expensive items for cheaper alternatives. Foods like rice, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, and pasta have remained stable.  

2. Plan your weekly meals based on deals.

Meal planning is a great way to ensure you’re not overspending at the grocery store. To take it one step further, planning for your meals based on weekly sales will help limit food and money waste. When produce like bell peppers are on sale, it may be beneficial to pivot your dinner menu for the week. So, instead of breaking the bank, try getting creative with cheaper ingredients and pretend you’re in an episode of Food Network’s Chopped.

Some apps like Basket scour several grocery stores in your area to narrow down affordable grocery items on your list. Similar to using a gas finder app to find discounted fuel, this app helps locate the best produce sales to help you save on groceries.

3. Comparison shop using weekly ads.

It’s easy to get comfortable shopping at your local grocery store but switching it up based on sales will help your budget go further. Rather than tossing those grocery ads in the trash, take a gander and compare prices before heading out. Most grocery stores also offer exclusive deals and digital coupons when you enroll in their free memberships online.

4. Avoid pre-shredded or pre-cut produce.

While buying pre-shredded cheese or pre-cut vegetables may help save time when meal prepping, the price difference is notably different. When pinching pennies, the extra money saved on shredded cheese can stretch to cover more expensive items like baby formula or feminine hygiene products.

5. Visit drugstores for sale items.

Some drugstores host weekly sales offering more significant discounts than your typical grocery store. They also have email newsletters or mobile apps to help keep track of when those grocery and non-grocery items go on sale.

Some of the most common items on sale at drugstores include:

• Cereal
• Eggs
• Milk
• Toothpaste
• Personal care items
• Store-brand diapers

6. Only buy in bulk when it makes sense.

Warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club offer great deals on everyday items that deplete quickly. Shelf-stable products or household items like toilet paper are typically cheaper in bulk and keep you from making weekly store runs, saving you money.

Here’s a list of foods with long shelf lives when adequately stored:

• Honey
• Dried Beans
• Maple Syrup
• White Rice

7. Avoid shopping on an empty stomach.

We’ve all been there: at the grocery store just before breakfast or dinner, and suddenly everything in the aisle looks good. When you’re hungry, saving money becomes the last thing on your mind. So, if possible, try to grab a snack at home before you shop.

8. Use order pickup to avoid impulse buys.

Another hack to avoiding shopping beyond your means is leveraging order pickup features. Sticking to your grocery list online will help reduce the number of impulse buys or last-minute snacks at the checkout line.

It’s clear food prices are in a constant flux, but these tips are here to help you save. For more tips and tricks, visit our Savings Tips page at efirstbankblog.com.

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