Just because the economic experts say that inflation has cooled back to normal levels doesn’t mean prices have followed suit. Anyone who’s been to the grocery store lately knows that inflation did a lot of damage that hasn’t been undone.
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If you’re struggling to afford groceries or find the lowest prices and are worried about how you’re going to keep up with any further inflation in 2025, finance expert Rachel Cruze made it clear that you’re not imagining those high prices, stating that groceries are up on average 21%. That translates to an additional $40 per $200 worth of groceries you buy, which really adds up week after week.
And if inflation is down, why are these costs still so high? She said, “Even if inflation technically goes down as a percentage, it’s actually compounding on itself over the last couple of years.” Things like the costs of labor, energy, fuel, shipping and store operations have all gone up and those costs get passed on to you, the consumer.
If you’re feeling like you’re in “survival mode when it comes to buying groceries,” Cruze offered the following seven ways to combat this feeling.
You Don’t Have To Starve Yourself
Even though prices are staying high, Cruze said you don’t have to eat only beans and rice to afford your groceries. “It just means that you have to be smarter about shopping and meal planning, which may be outside of your norm,” she explained.
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Plan Your Meals (Thus Your Groceries)
Cruze has a simple strategy for not buying more than she needs, and that is to sit down each Sunday and look at the next few days of meals she wants to make. She assesses her schedule, what’s already on hand and what she still needs to get. Then, based on any coupons you might have in a grocery app or from the latest grocery mailer, you can plan your meals around deals, as well. So if pasta sauce is half off, she said, you can make spaghetti that week, for example.
“So you’re actually planning out and thinking through, OK, what can I spend at the grocery store that’s going to make the most sense between what we want to eat, what we already have and where you can find some great deals.”
Utilize Your Coupons
Coupons are a smart strategy for any family, she said. Now, many coupon apps make getting these even easier, such as Receipt Hog, Checkout 51 and even Target Circle. She also uses a free meal planner and grocery savings guide.
Avoid Impulse Buys by Doing This
Anyone who has ever shopped while hungry at the store knows how easy it is to buy things you don’t need and might not even eat because the impulse is there. For this reason, Cruze said sometimes shopping for groceries online is more effective at helping you stick to your list.
“So, you’re actually able to see, OK, here’s the total and does that total meet the budget, so I can remove items, and you’re not aimlessly walking through aisles and throwing stuff in your cart.”
Of course, she said this is only better if there’s not an extra fee for shopping online. She recommended shopping online and picking up in store.
Be Intentional
Her next tip is to “be intentional” when you go grocery shopping, especially as different stores have different price points. For example, you might pick up one or two products at a high-end store with organic foods and the like, and the rest of your items at the budget-friendly grocery stores.
She recommended places like Aldi, WinCo Foods, Food4Less, Costco and so on.
Buy Generic or Store Brand
As often as possible, buy the generic brands or the store brand, she said. “A lot of store brands will measure up when it comes to taste, according to the quality of the nicer brands. They basically taste the same, but they’re going to be 20% to 25% less.”
She said it’s rare that anyone in her family notices a taste difference in a sour cream she bought generic versus brand name, for example.
Make a Monthly Budget
Though all of these tips so far are helpful, she said none of them will really make “long-term impacts” unless you make a budget every month and stick to it.
If you’re buying willy nilly without any kind of guidelines, be that a specific dollar amount or a percentage of your income, you’re likely overspending. Budgeting will also help you catch price increases and allow you to shift to more affordable products.
“It’s actually giving you guardrails and boundaries when it comes to your groceries and your food,” she said.
She said that in her experience people often feel like they got a raise when they first start budgeting, because you don’t realize how much money you free up by being thoughtful and strategic.
A few of these tips alone can make a big difference in your grocery budget.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Rachel Cruze: 7 Ways To Deal With Grocery Inflation in 2025
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