The price of buying groceries just keeps going up.
Food prices increased by nearly 8% between April 2022 and April 2023, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index.
Fresh strawberries or ripe avocados don’t feel as satisfying when they cost an extra $1.50 compared with before.
Even with higher prices, grocery shoppers still have choices. There are plenty of strategies to shield your wallet from the pinch of pricier food.
9 Grocery shopping mistakes that add up
Don’t let rising grocery bills derail your finances. Here are practical ways to better control your food spending.
1. Shopping without a list
It’s 2023 — there’s really no reason to show up empty-handed without a list!
You don’t need paper: make it on your phone.
A list keeps you focused on the items you need during the trip. It reduces roaming the aisles trying to remember everything — and encountering tempting extras you hadn’t planned for.
By sticking to what’s on the list, you’ll also protect your budget. If the gourmet olive selection isn’t listed, skip it and avoid impulse buys.
2. Overlooking unit price
Larger packages can feel like bargains, but not always.
Reading the unit price helps ensure you’re getting the best value for your money.
So what is unit price? It shows how much you pay per pound, ounce, liter, etc. — whatever measure the product uses.
For instance, a 2-liter carton of milk priced at $3.80 equals $1.90 per liter. An 8-ounce cream cheese at $3 works out to 37.5 cents per ounce.
Unit pricing makes it easier to compare different package sizes. If a 16-ounce cream cheese costs $5, that’s about 31.25 cents per ounce, which is a better deal than the 8-ounce option.
If a unit price isn’t posted, divide the item price by the number of ounces or other units. This is increasingly useful given shrinkflation, where package sizes shrink while prices stay the same.
3. Dismissing store brands
In many instances, especially with specific items, the store brand will cost less than the national brand.
In our own store-brand vs. name-brand comparison, we checked prices on many products at Publix and Walmart and compared them with their name-brand counterparts. From peanut butter to cereal to pain relievers, the store option was cheaper in each case. (And our taste tester often couldn’t tell the difference.)
People often assume store brands are lower quality, but that’s not necessarily true. Compare ingredient lists and you’ll frequently find they’re very similar, sometimes identical.
Even if you love a particular soda brand, that doesn’t mean store-brand pasta, peanut butter or body wash are inferior.
4. Failing to check what you already own
There you are in the condiment aisle thinking: I’m pretty sure I bought ketchup last time — or did I?
Unsure, you buy a new bottle. Back home, you find a three-quarters-full bottle in the fridge and an unopened one in the pantry. Are you collecting ketchup or just forgetful?
The real issue is you didn’t take a quick look through your kitchen to see what’s on hand!
A simple fix: make your list, then mark off what you already have in stock. Shop your pantry first.
5. Skipping store memberships
You likely know you can save with a Costco membership or at other warehouse clubs. Costco fees start around $60 a year, roughly $5 a month.
But nearly every grocery chain offers some kind of membership or loyalty program, and many are free. Whether it’s Publix, Kroger, Wegmans or Winn-Dixie, signing up can trim your grocery bill.
These programs often send coupons and targeted deals for items you commonly buy. Most let you pay through the store app and track receipts. You might even get special perks, such as birthday offers.
Signing up is fast and usually free, so it’s an easy way to start saving immediately.
6. Not scheduling a planned splurge
Even on a tight budget, it’s healthy to let yourself indulge occasionally.
Don’t go overboard, but permit a planned “fun” purchase now and then — and budget for it. Set a dollar cap or allow one treat item per trip.
At the store, that could mean buying the real Diet Coke instead of the generic this week. Next week you might pick a New York strip instead of a sirloin.
Small, scheduled treats can keep you motivated when money is tight. Limiting yourself to one splurge each week or month prevents binge buying while keeping spending under control.
7. Doing all the grocery shopping in person
In recent years, many shoppers have shifted to buying groceries online. Statista reports roughly 150 million online grocery customers, nearly half the U.S. population, and it’s expected to grow.
Ordering online and picking up or having groceries delivered offers several advantages. You’re forced to make a list (see No. 1), you can plan and budget beforehand, and you often see a running total while you shop. That makes you less likely to overspend or be tempted by unplanned BOGO deals.
Even if you pay for delivery, the reduction in impulse purchases frequently outweighs delivery fees. We’ve come a long way from scrawled lists on the back of an envelope.
8. Ignoring sales cycles
Every grocery store follows a sales cycle.
That’s simply the time of year when specific items are promoted. Generally, January brings diet products, cold remedies and snacks and drinks for the big football game.
June often features discounts on dairy and grill-friendly foods for Father’s Day, graduations and summer gatherings. October commonly has sales on seafood for National Seafood Month, as well as deals on Halloween candy and baking staples like canned pumpkin, pie crusts and flour.
If you’re unsure what’s on promotion now, check your store’s weekly ad flyer; it’s usually available online.
After a few years of using these seasonal deals, you’ll become adept at saving because you’ll know what to expect each month.
9. Routinely buying pre-cut produce
Sure, pre-cut produce saves time — and time is valuable. But if you have a few extra minutes before dinner, you can save money by cutting fruits, vegetables and proteins yourself.
Pre-packaged, pre-cut items are always more expensive. For example, Vice compared prices of pre-cut versus whole produce and found striking differences.
The article noted a whole red onion at Walmart priced at 49 cents per pound, while chopped onion was about $4 per pound. PeaPod listed a whole head of romaine for $1.99, whereas a 22-ounce bag of chopped romaine hearts ran $3.99. Prices change, but the principle remains.
Pre-cut foods include labor costs, so you’ll save by using your knife and doing the prep yourself.
Marcus Hale is a senior staff writer at Savinly covering earning, saving and managing money. He has written about personal finance for more than a decade.
