Throughout our Grocery Store series of posts, we will share tips and resources on how to save money grocery shopping while still affording healthy and nutritious foods. During this period of food price inflation, learning how to create and maintain a food budget is especially relevant and useful. In this first part of our series, we will discuss habits you can practice before even going to the grocery store that are sure to save you money.
CAUSES OF INFLATION
You may be wondering: what is causing the food price inflation right now? In the past couple of months, grocery prices have increased at record rates. The United States Department of Agriculture predicts that all food prices will continue to rise throughout 2022. You may have wondered why this inflation (increase) of prices is occurring and when will prices go back to normal. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict when this inflation will end because there are many causes for the rise in food prices. We include some following factors below as some of the main causes of food inflation prices:
- COVID-19 pandemic: The COVID-19 pandemic, among other disease outbreaks, led to the closure of many businesses, power plants, factories, and caused labor shortages that have strained food production and distribution efforts.
- Ongoing Russia-Ukraine War: The Russian invasion of Ukraine affected the inflation of food prices. Russia and Ukraine contributed a large percent of wheat, corn, and fertilizer to the global trade. Russia also previously contributed a lot of the fuel used globally, which directly impacted food transportation and distribution. The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has limited the export of all these items.
- Climate Change: An increase in extreme weather events caused by climate change has inhibited agriculture and food growth.
BUDGET BEFORE THE GROCERY STORE
Before even going to the grocery store, it is extremely helpful to have a clear understanding of your food budget and food goals. The following tips provide guidance on exactly how to do this:
#1: Track your spending on food:
When you know how much you regularly spend on food, you can more easily observe the areas in your food budget that you can change to save money.
- Save your food receipts (from the grocery store, restaurants, vending machines, etc.) for two weeks and make a list of the food you purchase and how much you spend on it. Using the receipts, add up the total amount of money you spend food in two weeks. Decide if there are any changes you want to make in your food spending, such as decreasing the amount of money you spend on a certain brand or product.
- Use this totaled amount to create a food budget for your household. By creating a food budget and designating a specific amount of money you intend to spend on food per month, you can avoid overspending on food. Use this Grocery Budget Calculator to more easily calculate your budget:
https://spendsmart.extension.iastate.edu/plan/what-you-spend/
#2: Write out a grocery list:
When you write out a grocery list before going shopping, you are less likely to get distracted and overspend when you are in the store. By detailing exactly what you need to buy, grocery lists are also helpful in preventing you from buying something you may already have at home.
- Keep a grocery list on your fridge that your regularly update when you run out of food items.
- It is helpful to physically place to your grocery list in your kitchen so that you can easily update the list right as you run out of a food item.
- Use the grocery list when you are shopping and only purchase the items that you have listed on there.
- Because of grocery store marketing and normal human impulsivity, it can be easy to purchase more food than you intended to. A list is a good way to keep yourself on track with your food spending, and it also allows you to cut down the time you spend grocery shopping!
#3: Meal plan:
Meal planning involves deciding what your household will eat ahead of time. You can plan your meals for 3-4 days, a week, or several weeks ahead of time. Meal planning helps you create a grocery list and that allows you to get all your ingredients you need for your meals in one grocery trip. Meal planning saves a lot of time and stress from having to decide what to eat everyday.
- Involve your entire household in meal planning. Use the following meal planner weekly calendar to write out the meals you plan to prepare: https://myplate-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/2020-12/Create%20a%20Grocery%20Game%20Plan_Weekly%20Calendar.pdf
- Use the following recipe tables to come up with healthy meal ideas:
- Plan meals that use ingredients you have coupons for, are on sale nearby, or use ingredients that you already have in your cupboard.
- Use your meal plan to create a grocery list that you bring when you go grocery shopping.
#4: Search for coupons and local deals:
Couponing and local sales can save you a lot of money when used efficiently!
- Use these resources to easily find coupons and local deals:
- Coupons.com (https://www.coupons.com/coupons/): this site allows you to quickly search for coupons by narrowing your search to the category of items (foods, beverages, etc.) and your preferred grocery store
- Flipp (https://flipp.com/home): Flipp is a free phone app that allows you to look through store-specific categories, search for local sales on specific food items, and create a digital grocery list.
- Only choose and use coupons for items that you actually need.
- It can be appealing to use a coupon that is offering a huge discount on a certain item but make sure to evaluate whether or not you actually are using that item in your daily life.
- Always double check whether the store brand of an item is cheaper, even if there is a coupon for a name-brand item.
How will you save money at the grocery store? Let us know in the comments!
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