5 Ways to Save on Groceries Despite High Inflation, According to a Shopping Expert

According to Gall, meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products have been most affected. “This is a result of labor and transportation shortages, a series of recalls, the bird flu, increase of fertilizer costs and shortages of livestock feed,” she explains. “Since these products require the most human attention, these items have been more affected than say, pasta and bread, because they take more time and people to produce.”

Unfortunately for many of us, those food groups are essential to our grocery hauls. Gall urges shoppers to look for daily specials at the supermarket to take advantage of limited-time discounts, or to hunt for cheaper alternatives than your usual products and brand names.

Despite rising prices, there are a few simple hacks that could help you shave a few bucks off your grocery tab:

• Make a list before you shop (and stick to it). Gall believes the most common mistake consumers make is going into the supermarket unprepared. “When you go grocery shopping for the week without knowing what you are planning to buy, you tend to go overboard and get things that end up going to waste,” she says. Make a list and take inventory of what you already have before shopping to avoid spending unnecessarily.
• Swap out brand names for generic. Just because a product is name-brand doesn’t mean it’s higher in quality. Generic brands have “less advertising behind them, making them the cheaper option,” notes Gall. They’re often made with similar (if not identical) ingredients to their pricier competitors.
• Buy essentials in bulk. Usually, the more you buy at once, the cheaper it is per serving. “Shopping at a wholesale club, like BJ’s, is great for purchasing grocery cart items in bulk, and these stores typically offer special deals for their members,” explains Gall.
• Sign up for your supermarket’s loyalty program. Many grocery stores have sales and discounts that are only available to loyalty members, and they’re typically free to join. Gall also recommends signing up for emails and newsletters from your favorite supermarkets. “They typically send out coupons and promotion news via this channel,” she says.
• Use cash back platforms to save even more. For the uninitiated, cash-back apps like Rakuten, Ibotta, Receipt Hog and Shopkick offer coupons and rebates on a variety of purchases, including groceries. Some apps will ask for receipts from any grocery store, while others offer savings if you buy from specific online retailers, like Thrive Market, Instacart and Blue Apron. It’s an extra step to add to your shopping routine, but it’ll be worth it in the long run if you save a few bucks. (That’s impromptu ice cream run money right there, people.)