Effective Ways To Reduce Your Grocery Bill
With inflation hitting a 40-year high of 8.6% in June 2022, the general prices of goods continue to soar at unprecedented rates. And while certain luxury expenses can be avoided in times of uncertainty, groceries sadly do not fall into that category. But even as food prices continue to surge, your grocery bill doesn't have to. Use some easy yet savvy techniques to slash your next grocery bill.
Cook instead of ordering in
Ordering take-outs instead of slaving away in the kitchen sure sounds tempting, especially after a long day at work. Unfortunately, this approach does come at a significantly higher cost. Make sure to set aside time in your schedule to grocery shop and cook your own food. It's a good idea to bulk buy everything you need at once and to complete as much cooking over the weekend as possible to prepare for the week ahead. While more expensive than raw items, ready-made meals from grocery stores are still cheaper than restaurant dishes.
Buy generic
The next time you go to the grocery store, look at the difference in price between brand-name items and the store-brand versions of the same product. While the ingredients are most likely similar, if not identical, store-brand versions are usually cheaper. For this reason, it's a good idea to stick to generic versions of basic items when possible.
Sign up for loyalty programs
Is there a grocery chain that you visit regularly? If yes, then you should sign up for their loyalty program. By doing so, you'll earn points each time you shop to use to save money on future purchases. What's more, many stores offer special discounts that are exclusive to cardholders, so you'll want to make sure that you're eligible to enjoy such benefits. Over time, the little bit of cash that your loyalty program saves you during each visit can add up to a significant amount.
Buy frozen foods
While fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat are tasty, buying them consistently can also lead to a lot of waste — especially if you can't eat them before they go bad. To reduce the waste of food and money, try purchasing frozen alternatives. Many of the vegetables lining our freezer sections are frozen at their peak of ripeness, so opting for frozen over fresh isn't a compromise on quality.
