There was a time when grocery shopping meant picking up your usual items, grabbing a few extras, and heading to checkout without giving the total much thought. These days, even a relatively short shopping list can leave you wondering how everything got so expensive.
As grocery bills continue to put pressure on household budgets, shoppers are becoming more selective about what makes it into their carts. Some are switching to store brands, while others are cutting back on convenience foods and products they once purchased regularly.
And it’s not necessarily about giving up favorite foods altogether. Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of deciding that certain items are no longer worth what stores are charging for them. Here are 15 grocery items that budget-conscious shoppers are reconsidering.
1. Name-Brand Breakfast Cereals
A box of name-brand cereal can cost considerably more than its store-brand equivalent, especially when you’re buying enough to feed an entire family. Some shoppers are switching to generic cereals or choosing oatmeal and other inexpensive breakfast options instead. Unless there’s a particular brand you love, paying extra for cereal may not make much sense.
2. Individually Packaged Snacks
Those little bags of chips, crackers, and cookies are convenient for packing lunches, but they often cost much more per serving than larger packages. Buying snacks in bulk and dividing them into reusable containers at home is an easy way to cut costs without giving them up entirely.
3. Bottled Water
Buying cases of bottled water every week can become an unnecessary expense for households with safe, good-tasting tap water. Many shoppers are switching to refillable bottles or home water filters, which can cost considerably less over time.
4. Pre-Cut Fruits and Vegetables
Pre-cut watermelon, chopped onions, and packaged vegetables save time, but that convenience often comes with a noticeable markup. Buying whole produce and preparing it yourself can save several dollars, especially when shopping for a family.
Related: 15 Fruits and Vegetables Ideal for Balcony and Patio Gardens
5. Specialty Sauces and Condiments
Imported mustards, flavored mayonnaise, specialty dressings, and gourmet sauces can be expensive, especially when they’re only used for one or two recipes. Some shoppers are sticking with basic condiments and seasonings that can be combined to make different sauces and dressings at home.
6. Meal Kits and Subscription Meals
Meal kits take some of the work out of dinner planning, but the cost per serving can be difficult to justify when grocery budgets are tight. Buying the ingredients yourself and preparing larger portions often costs less and provides leftovers for another meal.
7. Frozen Dinners
Frozen dinners are convenient for busy evenings, but buying several individual meals can quickly become expensive. Some shoppers are cooking larger batches of soups, casseroles, and pasta dishes and freezing the leftovers for nights when they don’t feel like cooking.
8. Premium Cuts of Meat
Steaks, roasts, and other expensive cuts of meat can take up a significant portion of the grocery budget. Many shoppers are choosing chicken thighs, ground meat, beans, or lentils for everyday meals and saving premium cuts for special occasions.
9. Energy Drinks
Buying energy drinks several times a week can add a surprising amount to the grocery bill. Some shoppers are replacing them with coffee or tea brewed at home or cutting back on how often they purchase them.
10. Ready-to-Drink Specialty Coffees
Bottled lattes, flavored coffees, and other refrigerated coffee drinks can cost several dollars for a single serving. Making coffee at home and adding your own milk, creamer, or flavoring is usually much cheaper than purchasing these drinks regularly.
Related: 15 Coffee Recipes for a Perfect Morning Pick-Me-Up
11. Imported and Specialty Foods
Imported cheeses, premium olive oils, specialty chocolates, and unusual pantry ingredients can come with hefty price tags. Shoppers looking to save are choosing more affordable alternatives or limiting these purchases to special occasions rather than everyday meals.
12. Prepared Deli Meals and Grab-and-Go Dinners
Ready-made meals from the grocery store deli are convenient after a long day, but purchasing them regularly can become costly. Some households are keeping easy dinner ingredients on hand so they can prepare something affordable without spending much time in the kitchen.
13. Trendy Snacks and Seasonal Treats
Limited-edition snacks, seasonal desserts, and new grocery products can be tempting, especially when stores display them near the checkout. But these unplanned purchases can add up quickly, so some shoppers are choosing to skip them or save them for an occasional treat.
14. Pre-Shredded Cheese
Pre-shredded cheese saves a few minutes in the kitchen, but it can cost more per ounce than buying a block of cheese. Some shoppers are purchasing blocks when they’re on sale and shredding them at home, then freezing smaller portions for later use.
15. Bagged Salad Kits
Bagged salad kits make it easy to put together a quick lunch or side dish, but the price can be surprisingly high for a relatively small amount of lettuce and toppings. Buying whole heads of lettuce, chopping vegetables, and making a simple dressing at home can provide several servings for less money.
