How to Budget Groceries When Prices Keep Going Up

Grocery store prices keep climbing, and it can be overwhelming to see how much you owe at checkout. If it feels like your budget is stretched to its limits, you’re not alone.

The good news is that there are ways to make your money go farther. ​With a few adjustments to how you shop for and prepare food, you can maximize the value of your grocery budget. 

Ready to build new money-saving habits? Here are a few grocery-buying tips for times like these, when ongoing inflation makes shopping pricier. 

Prioritize Shopping at Low-Cost Retailers 

Changing your spending habits by shopping at a different retailer could save you money. Where you do your grocery shopping can significantly impact your wallet.

Some retailers to consider, depending on where you are, include:

• Aldi

• Lidl

• H-E-B

Shopping at small international markets is often another way to keep costs in check. If you do some or all of your shopping at big-name national and regional grocers, you may be overpaying. 

Opt for Generic, Unless Brand-Name Sale Items Are Cheaper 

Another strategy to maximize the value of your grocery dollars is to choose generic brand essentials. In most cases, generic brands are cheaper than their name-brand equivalents, and with most products, you likely won’t notice any difference.

But before adding a generic item to your shopping cart, check whether the name-brand version is on sale—it may be a better buy than the generic with added discounts. 

An easy way to comparison shop is to check the per-unit price. Package sizing often varies across brands, so pricing may appear similar even when the real value varies by a lot. Compare per-ounce or per-pound prices to make sure you're getting the best deal.

Review Weekly Sales Fliers

As you draft your shopping list—and you should always be shopping with a list!—take a few moments to review sales fliers. Don’t worry about finding the paper copies in the back of your mailbox: most grocery stores upload digital sales fliers to their website or mobile app.

For those who like trying new recipes and ingredients, sales flyers can also serve as an inspiration as you think about what meals to prepare. Making your grocery list and planning around sales can be a win for your wallet. 

Don’t Overlook In-App Exclusive Deals and Coupons

If your preferred grocery retailer has a mobile app, explore it. Many grocery stores offer additional deals, discounts, and coupons in their apps. But these offers may not apply automatically at checkout. Often, they’re linked to a store rewards or savings card account. 

You don’t need to physically cut out coupons like in the old-school days of couponing, but you may need to virtually add coupons or deals to your account to get a discount. Taking five minutes to do this before checkout could help you extend your budget for groceries. 

Take Inventory of Your Pantry Before You Shop

It’s nearly impossible to remember what's in your pantry when you’re in the midst of grocery shopping. So take inventory of the food and essentials you already have in your kitchen before you head to the store. This can help you trim your next grocery bill and reduce food waste. 

Make Bulk Buys

Buying in bulk can also offer savings. You spend more upfront because you’re buying a larger quantity, but the per-serving price is often much lower. One example is buying bulk meat packages at your grocery store—you can repack it into smaller portions and freeze it for later.

Another option is to invest in an annual warehouse club membership to buy bulk household goods, groceries, toiletries, and more at discounted prices. If you have the space to store bulk buys at home, this may help you stretch your budget further. 

Just make sure you're only bulk-buying items you can use up before they expire. You probably won't save much money if you wind up throwing out half of what you buy.

Use Rewards Cards and Rebate Apps

Besides your grocery store's mobile app, you can find a variety of rewards or rebate apps that let you save money on groceries and household goods. Many let you scan your receipt and get rebates on popular products.

You may also earn cash back on your grocery store purchases with the right rewards credit card. Some cards offer 5% or more cash back on grocery store purchases. Only use credit cards if you can pay them in full each month, though. No amount of credit card rewards is worth paying high interest fees.

Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference 

You can’t control what grocery stores charge for their products, but you can control how you plan and budget for groceries. There are a lot of ways you can save money shopping without sacrificing your lifestyle entirely.

Making small changes and developing new habits can make a big difference in improving your finances in the long term. For those working to reach big financial goals, like debt relief, every dollar saved adds up.