Grocery expenses are widely recognized as a significant budgetary concern. Traditional cost-saving methods, like utilizing coupons and purchasing store-brand products, may prove insufficient for many consumers.
According to data from the US Department of Agriculture, adhering to a moderate cost plan reveals the substantial monthly expenditure on food at home.
Men aged 19 to 50 following this plan spend an average of $374.20 per month, while women in the same age group allocate approximately $315.50 monthly towards grocery expenses.
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Smart Ways to Trim Your Grocery Bill
Dominate the Farmers Market
Blanca Garcia, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Health Canal, expressed her appreciation for farmers markets despite acknowledging their potentially high prices.
Nonetheless, she highlighted the availability of matching systems for individuals utilizing Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards at certain markets.
According to Garcia, by approaching staff members at participating farmers markets, individuals can request a matching amount to their desired expenditure.
For instance, if one intends to spend $10, the staff member may provide an additional $10 for purchasing.
For those who do not receive assistance, Garcia proposes an alternative solution: attending farmers markets during the final hour of operation.
She explains that during this time, vendors are often inclined to offer significant discounts on their remaining produce to avoid transporting unsold items back.
Utilize Discounts on Basic Food Items
Being mindful of sales can lead to substantial savings on your grocery expenses.
According to Garcia, the key is to resist the temptation to purchase every discounted item encountered.
Instead, she advises only buying products that are regularly consumed in one’s household.
Garcia herself employs this strategy as a means of reducing expenses.
Negotiate for Bargains on Fruits and Veggies
According to Garcia, if you believe that supermarket prices for fruits and vegetables are consistently non-negotiable, you may be mistaken.
In certain instances, there may be flexibility for negotiation.
“The most challenging aspect of budget-conscious shopping is overcoming the apprehension of hearing ‘no’,” she explained. “Once you surpass this hurdle, new opportunities arise.”
Garcia noted that when grocery store employees are clearing out a section of produce to make room for different items, they often discard the fruits or vegetables being replaced.
In such cases, she has intervened in the past to negotiate a discounted price for the discarded items.
Search for Undesired Foods
Garcia stated that most grocery stores typically stock imperfect produce or items nearing their expiration, often located on trays or stands discreetly positioned in the back of the store.
Opting for these discounted items can yield substantial savings, especially if appearance is not a priority.
According to her, opting for these “ugly” produce items can lead to substantial cost savings, as they can be effectively utilized in various dishes such as soups, casseroles, and smoothies.
Additionally, she mentioned that if the produce appears to be approaching its expiration date, it can be frozen for up to three additional months.
However, Garcia cautioned that consumers should remain vigilant about expiration dates on these items.
Embrace Meal Preparation
Andrea Woroch, a consumer and money-saving expert, emphasized that when adhering to a budget-friendly approach to cooking, the primary focus should be on minimizing food wastage, a goal that can be achieved through effective meal planning.
She recommended consulting your weekly calendar to ascertain the days designated for home-cooked meals versus dining out.
She recommended utilizing meal-planning applications to discover straightforward and economical recipes.
Snap Your Grocery Receipts
“Though not a conventional approach, photographing your grocery receipts can yield significant savings,” suggested Woroch.
She advised utilizing the Fetch app, which allows users to earn points by uploading images of their grocery receipts. These points can be redeemed for gift cards valid at various retailers such as Target, Amazon, Walmart, and Sam’s Club, providing opportunities to save on future grocery expenses. Woroch also recommended checking the app’s ‘special offers’ section to identify grocery stores or brands offering additional points, enabling users to accumulate free gift cards more swiftly.