By Arizona Milk Producers General Manager Tammy Baker and Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Director Julie Murphree
Have you noticed how much groceries have gone up over the last several years? By just reviewing some smart shopping tips and paying more attention you can slice off as much as $100 from the cost of groceries.
Tips to stretch your grocery dollar. Photo Credit: Flickr.com
Saving at the supermarket is important, after all, we all must eat! So, let’s dive into the art of saving money at the grocery store. Whether you’re budgeting for a family or just trying to stretch your dollar, we’ve got you covered with practical tips and tricks.
Here are some top ways to save on your food purchases:
Plan Your Meals:
- Create a weekly meal plan based on what you already have and what’s on sale. This reduces impulse buying and helps you use what you already have. The average person typically eats eight different dinner-time meals and has even less variety for lunch and breakfast, so a meal plan isn’t too difficult!
- And, shop the perimeter of the store as this is where all your basic items are located like your dairy products, eggs, protein meats, fruits, and vegetables. That way you don’t pay for additional processing, just fresh, nutritious foods.
Use a Shopping List:
- Stick to a list to avoid unnecessary purchases. Apps or just a pen and paper can help keep you on track.
Shop Seasonally and Locally:
- Buy fruits and vegetables when they are in season and local when possible. They are not only cheaper but also fresher and tastier. Arizona’s local milk has “04” printed on the top, most milk at our Arizona grocery stores is from Arizona and only takes 48 hours to go from farm to table.
- And a bonus of buying local products is you are supporting the AZ economy
- org has a section on “What’s In Season” that includes fun infographics for a quick view of the fruits and vegetables available.
Go for Store Brands:
- Store brands are often significantly cheaper than name brands and can be just as good in terms of quality.
Bulk Buying for Non-Perishables:
- Items like rice, pasta, canned goods, and spices can be bought in bulk to save money over time, but only if you have storage space and will use them before they expire. You can also buy items that can be frozen. But be careful about a bulk purchase, no one saves money if you must throw it out!
Price Comparison and Coupons:
- Use apps or websites to compare prices at different stores. Also, utilize coupons, especially digital ones which are easy to apply at checkout.
- Don’t discount the value of checking the weekly circulars. Many still plan their meals around what store items are on sale.
- Shop high and low. Many of the better deals can be overlooked when they are not at eye level
Shop at Discount Stores:
- Stores like Sam’s Club or Costco often have lower prices on groceries. Also, again, remember local farmers’ markets for fresh produce at potentially lower costs.
- Also, buy at the farmers’ market when it’s near closing time. The farmer will often offer a deep discount to get rid of all his produce.
Avoid Pre-Packaged and Processed Foods:
- These are usually more expensive. Buying ingredients and making food from scratch can save money.
- At a minimum, evaluate the nutritional value of the items you purchase.
- While often a favorite with kids, some of the most expensive foods are a variety of boxed cereals with many containing too much sugar and not providing the needed protein for growing bodies.
Loyalty Programs:
- While an obvious quick savings, remember to sign up for loyalty programs at supermarkets that can offer discounts, cashback, or special deals.
- And on this point, mix up the grocery stores you shop at based on what discounts are being offered. It also helps if you check prices and make sure you get the best deals on all your food.
Freeze and Preserve:
- If you find good deals on items that can be frozen (like meat, bread, or certain fruits and veggies), buy them in bulk and freeze. This can also apply to cooking large batches of meals.
- This might also be the time to evaluate precut versus whole. One of our moms would always purchase a whole chicken and then cut it up. The whole chicken was more economical than purchasing pre-cut. Sadly, today most don’t know how to cut up a whole chicken. But if you do, remember to keep your knives sharp.
Grow Your Own:
- While this one takes more time, some home gardeners also value the personal time for gardening and suggest it contributes to not only healthy eating but also mental health.
- If you have space, even a small herb garden can reduce your spending on fresh herbs and some vegetables. But be sure to weigh your time and talent in this area. Your friend might be great at gardening, but if you have a brown thumb you might have to pass on this suggestion. That friend of yours probably shares the bounty of her harvest.
Check Unit Prices:
- Sometimes larger packages aren’t cheaper when you look at the price per ounce or gram. Always check the unit price for the best value.
- The unit price is usually marked in smaller types below the main price on the shelf.
Avoid Shopping on an Empty Stomach:
- Any time you are not hungry! You’re more likely to buy more than you need if you’re hungry. And it is easy to overbuy when you are hungry. Many staples, like milk, are placed in the back of a store because retailers know if you walk through the whole store you will probably pick up additional items and if you are hungry, you may pick up a lot more
Use Leftovers Creatively:
- Turn leftovers into new meals rather than letting them go to waste. This not only saves money but also reduces food waste.
- When meal planning, ask yourself what menu items will make a perfect leftover the next day.
Shop on the perimeter of the store:
- Turn leftovers into new meals rather than letting them go to waste. This not only saves money but also reduces food waste.
The Key Takeaways
- Plan (list, menu planning leftovers)
- Buy local, in-season
- Be Pric Conscience: (price comparisons of store brands, sale items, and shopping the perimeter for fresh, minimally processed foods)
Of note, the farmer’s share of the food dollar dipped below 15 cents in 2022. Specifically, U.S. farms and ranches received 14.9 cents per dollar spent on domestically produced food in 2022 as compensation for farm commodity production. This portion, called the farm share, is a decrease of 0.3 cents from a revised 15.2 cents in 2021.
All can help you be healthier and wealthier. And, when your plate is full, your wallet still will be too!