Thanks to inflation, many consumers have probably noticed their grocery bill creeping up. Experts share tips on how to save at the supermarket.
Inflation is increasing at its fastest rate in decades, and anyone who’s been to a supermarket lately can tell that one of the hardest-hit groups is food. The cost of bacon is up more than 18% from last year. Meanwhile, chicken and egg prices have swelled by more than 10%. If your grocery bill is busting your budget, here are some tips to reduce it. Make sure your kitchen and pantry are always stocked with certain basics, experts say. Doing so will allow you to buy fewer new items each week. Some of the most useful foods to have on hand include eggs, pasta, rice, bread, canned tomatoes, frozen vegetables and fruit, onions and potatoes, aid Leanne Brown, author of Good Enough, a self-care cookbook. Consider buying these products in large quantities, if you have the space, to cut costs over time. Many meals can be made with these ingredients alone, and they serve as the foundation for countless more. Don’t show up to the supermarket without a grocery list and some ideas of what you’ll be cooking for the week, said Leanne Brown, author of Good Enough, a self-care cookbook. «Meal planning definitely reduces costs,» Brown said. «If you stick to it, you don’t waste food that you bought without a plan.» While you map out your dishes for the week, try to think of recipes that are easily repurposed, Brown said. That will make you able to buy less. For example, a pot of chili can later be used to fill burritos or as nacho toppings.
