How to Combat Rising Food Prices

Going to the grocery store has gotten a lot more expensive lately. The cost of basic foods like rice and wheat have surged around the world. Stores like Costco have even started rationing bags of rice. And the falling value of the dollar has made imports more expensive.  If you're not careful, your weekly grocery bill could be increasing.

Here are some tips for keeping your food costs under control:

• Read your receipts. After you shop, audit your grocery receipt to see what might be more expensive than you thought. I once had a co-worker who was unknowingly paying $9 for small bags of marcona almonds for three months before noticing it on his receipt.
• Use by-the-ounce prices to get the best deal. Most grocery stores post per ounce prices that make it easy to compare. That 2-for-1 deal on olives might not compare to the value of a bigger sized can.
• Shop for in-season produce. Don't buy peaches in December. Seasonal produce is usually cheaper. You can also find really good deals at a local farmer's market.
• Get creative. Beans and potatoes can be used as a very inexpensive base for tasty meals. And frozen juice concentrate is cheaper than bottled options.
• Don't waste. Only buy fresh foods that you know you'll eat before they go bad. Or start freezing extra supplies.
• Remember that a "2 for $5" deal doesn't mean that you have to buy two of the items. The $2.50 price is usually available if you just buy one.
• Cook from scratch. Processed foods are often more expensive than their homemade alternatives.
• Find coupons online. These direct coupons offer really good deals - not just a few pennies off.
• Use a credit card to earn rewards or cash back on your grocery purchases. Some credit cards offer special rewards for grocery store charges.

How are you combating rising food prices?

Emily Davidson – A former TransUnion insider and a member of Credit.com's expert team. Emily writes about credit reports, credit cards, loans and personal finance as the CreditBloggers.com editor.

Comments

[Experts on Credit]

I never realized how much I spend on food every month, until I started saving my receipts. Since then, I've realized that clipping coupons, making a list of essentials and heading for sales are a great way to save money.

[Jim ~ mydebtblog.com]

I don't use coupons to the extent my mom does, but I can save anywhere from 20-40% by watching prices and using the coupons. My mom on the other hand has figured out ways to only pay about 20% of the total cost after coupons and sales. Always use the by the ounce price to really see which size is a better buy, and it's not always the larger one.