16 Terrible Grocery Shopping Habits That Cost Americans Money
If you inwardly cringe when the cashier tells you the final amount of your grocery haul, you’re not alone. With recent inflation driving up the costs of many foods, it’s more important than ever to know about ways you can save money on your grocery bill.
Sometimes, that means taking a hard look at your current spending habits. When you know what you’re doing wrong, you can take steps to fix the problem and stay within your grocery budget.
These are 16 shopping habits that may be costing you money at the grocery store. If you’re guilty of any, you can also find helpful tips to manage your spending and save money on groceries.
1: Shopping While Hungry
If you want to save money at the grocery store, eat a meal or a snack before you go. There’s some evidence to suggest that shopping on an empty stomach can cost you money.
A recent survey found shopping while hungry costs Americans an extra $26 per trip. Over 75% of survey participants said they’re more likely to overspend on groceries if they shop on an empty stomach.
2: Neglecting to Meal Plan
For many Americans, meal planning seems like a tedious chore. But without a meal plan, you risk spending money on groceries you don’t need or won’t use.
Knowing what you plan to eat allows you to purchase only what you need, eliminating temptations and impulse purchases. Make a weekly or monthly meal plan so you know what ingredients to buy at the store. This planning can also help you focus on making low-cost meals with inexpensive ingredients.
3: Not Checking the Pantry
How many times have you purchased an ingredient at the store only to get home and realize you had the same item already sitting in your pantry? Much like skipping a meal plan, not checking the pantry before your shopping trip may be costing you money.
Along with the pantry, check your fridge and freezer as you make your grocery list. It’s also a good idea to check expiration dates so you can use up the food you already have before it goes to waste.
4: Using a Big Cart
Despite your best efforts to meal plan, you may find yourself needing to make an extra trip to the store for a few ingredients. When this happens, don’t make the mistake of choosing a big cart.
Instead, use a small cart or a basket for your quick trip. Both hold fewer items than a standard cart, so you won’t be tempted to throw in a couple (or more) things you don’t need.
5: Impulse Buying
Flashy displays and shiny packaging can tempt even the most disciplined shoppers to stray from their grocery lists. Resist the urge to impulse buy on your next shopping trip to save money.
Recent Statista research shows that American consumers spend about $150 on impulse purchases each month. While clothing is the most common type of impulse buy, grocery items and household goods also rank high on the list.
6: Shopping at Busy Times
If you’re like many Americans, you may find yourself grocery shopping on the weekends. A recent survey found the most popular time to shop for groceries is between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays. Shopping at busy times can slow down your trip, leading you to grab items more quickly just so you can escape the crowd.
Instead, plan your grocery trips for less crowded times, such as weekdays or earlier in the morning on weekends. You’ll have more time to compare prices and choose lower-priced ingredients when you’re not rushing to get out of the store.
7: Not Using Coupons
Can’t remember the last time you clipped a coupon? Finding coupons may take some time, but it can often yield big savings at the grocery store.
Online and mobile coupons have made it even easier to find deals on items you’re already planning to buy. Taking advantage of online coupon codes could save you an average of $122 per month or around $1,465 per year, according to one study.
8: Throwing Away Flyers
Grocery stores often send out weekly flyers with information about upcoming sales and promotions. Rather than tossing these flyers directly into the trash, take the time to review them as you plan your grocery list.
Many stores also have apps you can download to get sales notifications on your phone or mobile device. When you know what’s on sale that week, you can skip higher-priced items in favor of discounted deals.
9: Buying Name Brand
Many grocery stores stock their own brands of items, such as cereal or canned goods. Often, these items taste nearly identical to their name-brand counterparts, but they cost much less.
One reporter switched to store-brand groceries to see how much they could save. Turns out, they saved 40% off the name-brand costs of 20 pantry staples, including spaghetti, peanut butter, tortillas, ketchup, and potato chips.
10: Choosing Organic
Organic produce typically has lower traces of pesticides, which is why many Americans choose to buy organic. However, there are some instances when organic products cost you more money without providing substantial benefits.
The Environmental Working Group analyzes foods to find ones with the lowest amounts of pesticides, known as the Clean Fifteen. These foods include avocados, onions, asparagus, watermelon, and other types of produce. Buying pricier organic versions of these foods may not make sense, since they’re already low in pesticides.
11: Paying for Convenience
Convenience items, such as pre-cut vegetables, bagged salad, and frozen meals, can save you time during the week. But is it worth paying extra for this convenience?
If you can, stay away from these products and buy whole foods instead. You may have to spend some time chopping veggies or rinsing lettuce, but the cost savings can be worth it.
12: Buying in Bulk
In some cases, it makes financial sense to buy products in bulk. Other times, buying in bulk can be both costly and wasteful.
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers some guidelines to help you determine when it’s a good idea to buy in bulk. In general, avoid buying bulk amounts of fresh fruit and veggies unless you plan to freeze them. You can also skip the mega-packs of junk food, cheese, olive oil, and eggs.
13: Buying Out of Season
Produce is generally cheaper when it’s in season, since there’s a higher supply ready to sell. On the other hand, produce that’s out of season costs more to import, leading to higher prices for consumers.
Knowing the seasonal produce in your area can allow you to make budget-conscious decisions about what fruits and veggies to buy at different times of the year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) also offers a seasonal produce guide for easy reference.
14: Not Shopping the Perimeter
Many grocery stores have similar layouts, placing produce and fresh foods around the perimeter. In the middle of the store, you can usually find non-perishable items and junk food.
As much as possible, aim to shop the perimeter of your store for the most savings. However, be careful of strategic displays in these areas. Brands often place their displays around the perimeter because they know people tend to shop there.
15: Ignoring the Bottom Shelves
Store displays aren’t the only ways brands aim to sell their goods in grocery stores. Manufacturers often pay to place products in the middle of shelves so they’re eye-level with customers.
If you want to find the lowest-priced items, make it a point to check the bottom shelves. Stores usually place lower-cost generic and bulk items on the lower shelves.
16: Not Making a Budget
It sounds obvious, but making a budget is one of the best ways you can save money on groceries. When you’re committed to staying within a budget, you’re more likely to stay away from high-priced foods and choose cost-effective ingredients.
A grocery budget for a family of five will undoubtedly look much different from a single person living alone. To help you get an idea of what to spend, the USDA releases four food plans each month. These plans range from thrifty to liberal and account for different age groups.
25 Discontinued Foods That Americans Miss Seeing on the Shelf
Every once in a while, big-name brands pull products with huge followings off the shelf, saddening Americans across the country. These are the foods Americans want back the most.
25 Discontinued Foods That Americans Miss Seeing on the Shelf
24 Things You Never Knew About McDonald’s
There’s no doubt McDonald’s has left a mark on popular culture. Here are 24 facts about the burger giant that few Americans know about.
