• Make apples-to-apples comparisons by using the unit price as your comparison number. Calculate the price per pound, ounce, or use: Price divided by pounds, ounces, uses (i.e., loads of laundry, sheets of toilet paper), etc.
• Traditional supermarkets and superstores are familiar and convenient choices where you can compare pricing between different brands and accomplish a lot in one store.
• Buying directly from farmers through farm markets, CSA shares (community supported agriculture) or purchasing a share of an animal might get you a lower price per pound for high-quality, fresh produce.
#3. Stick to Your Plan at Home, Too: Use All of What You Buy
Stretch those dollars even further by reducing or eliminating waste, so you can buy less often. Maximize your grocery purchases for the foods and supplies that meet your needs and make your life easier, happier, and healthier.
• Process and store food to maximize shelf life. Store things in their ideal conditions to make them last. If it’s something you won’t prepare for a week, freeze it.
• Organize your storage so you can easily find things. Label and date food or store them in containers that you can easily identify so you don’t forget about them. When you take inventory before your next shopping trip, check the corners, drawers and hidden places.
• Stick with your menu plan! Make the recipes you planned and use the fresh ingredients you bought with your hard-earned money when they are at their peak flavor and quality.
What to Do If Your Grocery Bill Is Putting You Underwater
If you find yourself paying for groceries on your credit card without the resources to pay that balance off because your bank account is empty, or if you are skipping meals or going hungry so your kids can eat, that is a different matter altogether.
Looking at your whole financial picture, learning about your different options, and making a plan for your finances can relieve a huge amount of stress and anxiety – and help you figure out how to get where you want to be.
Our partner GreenPath’s caring Financial Wellness Experts work with you to assess your specific situation to create a personalized plan to achieve your goals. MEMBERS1st has partnered with GreenPath Financial Wellness to provide our members with access to trained financial counselors and resources to help you make informed financial decisions and find your path to a bright financial future.