Battling The Rising Cost Of Groceries

The cost of food has been rising. Here are some ways to battle the rising cost of groceries.

If you have been trying to feed a family in 2023, you already know that the price of food is growing at an alarming rate.

Here in Canada, in 2017, the average family spent $200 per person per month. (The numbers are going to be different in the United States, but from what I can tell, the same general trend is happening.)

In 2021, that number had risen to $302.35 per person per month. That’s a significant increase that should concern us all.

Statistics for 2023 are not available yet, but based on the recent trends and factors such as inflation, fuel costs, and supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic3, we can expect the price of food to continue climbing. In fact, according to Statistics Canada, the average grocery bill in Canada was $233.30 in February of 2022, which is about 13% higher than the average bill in February of 2021.

And THAT is when it gets scary. How many of us now have that much money to spend on food? Unemployment is high, jobs are disappearing, wages are frozen. How many of us are actually earning more now than we did in 2017? I know that we aren’t.

So what can we do? Back in the 1990s, I was given a compliment (by someone who honestly didn’t like me much). “I’ll give one thing to Marie – she can convince a dime that it has 25 cents worth of buying power.”

And THAT is what we are going to have to do – figure out how to get 25 cents of buying power out of every dime.

Inventory What You Have

You know what really grinds my gears?

When I buy something at the grocery store, thinking I’m being smart and frugal, and then I get home and realize I already have the same thing in my kitchen.

Like, seriously? How did I forget that I had a whole jar of peanut butter in the cupboard? There’s still a dozen eggs in the fridge? A bag of frozen peas in the freezer? It’s like I’m throwing money down the drain. And don’t get me started on the clutter and the spoilage.

That’s why I always do a quick inventory of my food stash before I hit the store. I take a peek at what I have, what’s about to expire, and what needs to go ASAP. Then I make a list of what I need to buy, and what I can make with what I have.

Sometimes I get creative and whip up some amazing dishes with random ingredients.

Other times we pull everything edible out of the fridge and gather around the table. “Who has gravy? I’ll trade you that for half of the pasta.” It’s like trading cards, except with food. Whoever has the tastiest plate wins.

Either way, I save money and avoid wasting food.

Know Your Prices

One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to know the prices of the items you buy regularly. This way, you can spot a good deal when you see one, and avoid paying more than you should.

Let me tell you a story. In 2009, I noticed that there was a problem with the sugar crops in Australia and the US. I predicted that there would be a shortage and a price hike soon. At that time, a 2-kilogram bag of sugar was only $0.97. How did I know? Because I had a price book and wrote it down.

So I did what any smart shopper would do – I stocked up on bags of sugar.

Two weeks later, I went back to the store and saw that the same bag of sugar was now $2.97. That’s a 300% increase in price! When I told the cashier about it, she looked at me like I was crazy. She said, “Hasn’t it always been that price?” No way, Jose. It took years for the price to go back down (I can get a bag at Walmart right now for $1.47, which is not bad.)

The moral of the story is this: The shortest pencil is better than the longest memory – WRITE DOWN THE PRICES.

Compare the Prices

Another thing you need to do is to compare the prices of different products and brands. Don’t just look at the price per box or container. That can be misleading. You need to look at the price per unit of weight or volume. That’s the only way to know which one is cheaper.

For example, here in Canada, I try to bring everything down to the price per 100 mg or 100 ml. That way, I can compare apples to apples (or sugar to sugar). You can use a calculator or an app to help you with this.

Use Coupons and Flyers Smartly

Coupons and flyers can be great tools to help you save money on groceries, but only if you use them right. Here are some tips to avoid falling for the coupon trap.

First of all, only use coupons for items that you would normally buy. Don’t let the coupons dictate your shopping list. That’s how they get you. You end up buying things that you don’t need or want, just because they are on sale. That’s not saving money, that’s wasting money.

Secondly, compare the prices and make sure you’re actually getting a good deal. Sometimes the coupons aren’t worth clipping. For example, I once had a coupon for 50 cents off a box of cereal that was $5.99. But I usually buy another brand of cereal that’s $3.99. So even with the coupon, I’d still be paying more for the same amount of cereal. No thanks.

The same goes for flyers. Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale. Check if it’s something that you need and want, and if it’s cheaper than what you usually pay. Otherwise, you’re just falling for their marketing tricks.

Buy in Bulk

Another way to save money on groceries is to buy in bulk. This means buying larger quantities of items that you use frequently or have a long shelf life. You can often find better prices per unit when you buy in bulk, especially at wholesale clubs or cash and carry stores.

For example, I can get No Name all-purpose flour at Superstore at $8.49 for 10 kg ($0.08 per 100g) or Sunspun at Superstore Wholesale at $14.97 for 20 kg ($0.07 per 100g). That’s a small difference, but it adds up over time.

But here’s the catch: buying in bulk only makes sense if you’re actually going to use up what you buy. Otherwise, you’re just wasting food and money. And trust me, you don’t want to end up with a 4-litre jar of mayo that expires next month and takes up half of your fridge space.

So before you buy in bulk, ask yourself these questions:

• Do I have enough storage space for this item?
• Will I use this item before it goes bad or loses quality?
• Is this item cheaper per unit than what I usually pay?
• Do I really need this much of this item?

If you answer yes to all of these questions, then go ahead and buy in bulk. If not, then stick to smaller quantities or look for other deals.

Meal Plan

One of the best ways to save money and avoid wasting food is to plan your meals ahead of time. I know you don’t want to, but I promise this will make your life so much easier.

You won’t have to stare at your fridge every night and wonder what to make for dinner.

You won’t have to run to the store every other day and buy things that you don’t need.

You won’t have to throw away food that went bad because you forgot about it.

Right? Three things you don’t want to be doing, but you’re doing all three because you’re not meal planning.

The first step is a slight repeat of what I already said – check what you have in your kitchen and what’s about to go bad. Then, look for recipes that use those ingredients or that you and your family like to eat. Leftover chicken? Make a chicken salad, a chicken soup, or a chicken pot pie. Or you can just eat it cold. Sprinkle a bit of sea salt on and enjoy. No one has to know.

Next, make a list of the ingredients that you need to buy for your meals. Check the flyers and coupons to see if there are any deals on the items that you need. (Again, though, be careful with those sales)

Most recipes are not written in stone! You can often swap ingredients for cheaper or more available ones. The price of broccoli is way up there with Elon Musk’s rocket? Buy cauliflower instead. A pound of beef costs more than you make in an hour? Grab the chicken thighs.

Finally, put that meal plan on the fridge and follow it! This is important, people: Don’t make your meals too fancy and complicated, or you’ll give up on the plan!

It’s better to plan “Chicken fingers and fries” and actually make it than to plan “Chicken cordon bleu and pommes dauphinoise” and let the ingredients spoil in the fridge while you order pizza!

By the way, don’t forget to feed your freezer. If a recipe says that it freezes well, consider doubling up and putting one away. Schedule it into your meal plan.

Reduce Food Waste

How about some sobering stats?

About 39% of all food waste happens in our homes. That’s 42 billion pounds of wasted food every year just in the United States. Billion with a b.

The average American family of four tosses out $1600 a year just in produce. Could you use an extra $1600 in your bank account? I could. What’s worse, though? Produce isn’t the food we waste most often – that dubious honor goes to dairy. 22% of municipal solid waste is food. Yuck.

Okay, now that I’ve depressed us all, can I say — stop wasting food!

There are four steps to that:

• Prep it smartly
• Store it properly
• Serve it appropriately
• Dispose of it responsibly

Prep It

When prepping your food, try to use the whole vegetable or fruit, including the peel, stem, seeds, or core. Bones, skin, or fat of meat or poultry make excellent broth or stock. Compost what you can. Or consider just eating it. Before everyone was making potato skins as pretty little hollowed out shells, savvy pubs were tossing the long, skinny potato peels into the deep fryer. Apple cider vinegar? It’s literally made with apple cores and peelings.

Store It

I lose my mind when I see someone sticking uncovered food in the fridge. The next day they’re complaining that it looks gross or tastes bad. Of course it does. Store leftovers in airtight containers or bags, and label them with the date. That’s particularly important if you store your leftovers in margarine or yogurt tubs, which I’m told we’re not supposed to do. Ever try to butter your bagel with yesterday’s stew? Not funny before my coffee.

Part of storing the food right is actually checking it and using it up. No one wants a science experiment in the fridge.

Serve It

Restaurants shouldn’t be piling plates up high and neither should you. Serving too much means either overeating or leftovers, neither of which you want. Use smaller plates or bowls to control the portion size. Minimize the amount of leftovers and make a plan to use what there is. That’s not the same thing as planned leftovers or “planovers” which mean specifically making a dish, like roast chicken, in order to make another dish later, like chicken soup.

Dispose of it

Food waste should go into the compost or a garbage disposal, but there shouldn’t be too much of it.

And that’s a wrap! You’ve learned some awesome ways to battle the rising cost of groceries. You can check what you have, shop smart, buy in bulk, plan your meals, and waste less food. These tips will help you feed your family well and save some cash. What are your best tips to money on groceries? Let me know in the comments. Thanks for reading and happy shopping!

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