Look no further than the price of eggs to understand how tough it is to stay on a budget at a grocery store. The average American household spends $165 per week on groceries, according to The Food Industry Association. The costs add up quickly.
Consumer savings expert Trae Bodge shared some planning tips and money hacks that add up to meaningful savings.
“Always buy the store brand,” said Bodge. “It will be less expensive than the name brand all the time.”
Pay close attention to unit prices, which will help you find the best value for your money.
“The unit prices will always be lower the more you buy,” said Bodge. “And that applies, too, if you have a wholesale club membership and you guy things in wholesale versus at a retail store.”
Bodge also recommends comparing prices on frozen versus fresh food. “I think frozen is a really good option,” said Bodge. “The price tends to be a bit lower, but you’re not always gonna get that same flavor, that same texture, so it really depends on the item you’re buying. But I always like to look at frozen to get a sense of the prices versus fresh and then make my decision.”
From a nutritional standpoint, consider all things equal.
“Fresh vegetables, canned vegetables, and frozen vegetables really have the same nutritional punch,” said Chris Zellers, an assistant professor at Rutgers University, who teaches a course about saving money at the grocery store.
“If you compare a can of green beans - the ounces in a can of green beans - and potato chips, potato chips are almost double the price of green beans per ounce,” said Zellers.
Zellers also recommends shopping for what’s in season. “Look for those fruits and vegetables that are in season, that are in the circular,” said Zellers.
Bodge suggests downloading your grocery store’s app to maximize savings and look for hidden clearance spots.
“It’s usually at the end of an aisle on the end cap or in one corner of the store,” said Bodge.
Bodge also recommends looking for discounts the day of - and subsequent days after - a holiday.
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