Grocery shopping is a habit where the little decisions add up fast to be costly when you have so many expensive products on the shelf. Many products have high markups and are not necessarily the best value. Learn to identify and omit these everyday, costly products — you’ll save money, avoid waste and have better tasting options. Here are 10 of the costliest groceries you should not put in your cart.
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Pre-Cut Fruits and Vegetables
Pre-cut fruit and vegetables may be a time saver but the markup is usually huge. This is kind of like paying top dollar for someone to comb your hair – something you could do yourself. Fresh fruits and vegetables are generally fresher, they keep for longer and they are cheaper — you are getting more for your buck.
Packaged Salads
Prepackaged salads are easy, but they are usually more expensive than a head of lettuce or a package of spinach. Not only that – many store-bought salads include a few additional dressings and toppings that add more cost but don’t actually add to their nutritional value. The whole salad is usually cheaper to prepare from scratch, and you can add fresher ingredients to it.
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Bottled Water
It might only be a few dollars per bottle but over the years it adds up. By installing a water filter at home and getting a reusable water bottle, you can save money and reduce plastic waste. You can safely drink most tap water – particularly if it is filtered – it’s a fraction of the price of bottled water.
Organic Packaged Snacks
Often, packaged organic snacks such as chips and crackers are sold as healthier alternatives — but the organic seal is not always worth the premium price. They are also as refined as other processed snacks and they do not offer much extra nutrition. Whole organic foods purchased to make homemade snacks are a cheaper alternative to eating organic.
Gourmet Frozen Meals
Gourmet frozen meals can be twice – or even triple – the price of regular produce and fall short in either taste or serving size. They’re all pretty tempting on busy days, but it’s easier and less expensive to pack up your meals ahead of time and freeze them. Also, you will have more control over the ingredients and portion sizes. Not to mention most frozen meals are highly processed & unhealthy.
Spice Blends
Pre-made spice mixes such as taco seasoning or Italian seasoning are convenient but usually much more expensive than individual spices. For the most part, all these mixes use a few basic spices you may already have on hand. This not only saves money but also allows you to tailor your own spice blends.
Name-Brand Cereals
Top-brand cereals are a big expense, but the generics almost always taste exactly the same. The pricing difference is mainly in branding and advertising. There are the same ingredients found in store brands — so if you go generic, you’re probably paying about half as much for the same goods.
Single-Serving Yogurts
Single-serving yogurt is convenient, but you will have to pay more per ounce than you would if you purchased a large tub of yogurt. If you buy a bigger one and portion it out yourself, you’ll save on costs and waste plastic. It can also be healthier and more personalized if you add some of your own fruit or honey.
Premade Smoothies and Juices
Readymade smoothies and juices are advertised as healthy but cost a pretty penny — plus have added sugars and preservatives. You can customize your own smoothies or juices using fresh ingredients at home, which is easier on your wallet and also affordable. Get your blender, throw in some bananas, strawberries & milk — in a couple of minutes, you will be enjoying a homemade milkshake that is more nutritious and delicious.
Ready-to-eat rice and Grains
Easy-to-prepare or ready-to-eat rice, quinoa and other grains come in portioned packets, but they tend to be marked up way more than raw varieties. Grain-cooking takes just a bit more time and is a tiny bit cheaper. Have you ever tried making larger amounts of grains in batches and freezing them in bags? It’s a nice way to save money and to be stocked up for emergencies.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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