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Americans across the
country are struggling with sky-high food prices right now. Inflation, tariffs and extreme weather have all pushed grocery bills through the roof.
While many things cost more these days, 77% of Americans say they
have felt the most significant increase in grocery costs!
Food prices have
risen 24% from 2020 to 2024, according to a report from the USDA’s Economic
Research Service. Coffee prices surged 45%
in August year over year.
Here are
some tips to help you stretch your food budget.
First: shop with a plan.
Consumer Reports nutritionist Amy Keating says don’t just
bring a list, but also be realistic about the week ahead. It might be a good
idea to shop for some meals that are good leftovers or can be frozen, to avoid
overbuying and food waste.
Once you’re at the
supermarket, go for generic or store-brand products. Consumer Reports has found
that for staples like orange juice, coffee, cheese and yogurt, it’s possible to
save 30 to 70%, if you switch from a name brand.
Every Thursday, WRAL updates an interactive grocery tracker that monitors the prices of major grocery staples across different grocery store chains. Before you go to your regular store, make sure to check out the list in case there are other options that fit your budget better.
Also, consider going meatless!
That alone can save you almost a thousand bucks a year.
And when you come home with
your groceries, make sure you store your items correctly so that your produce
lasts. Eat delicate produce, like salad greens or berries, first, and save
foods like carrots and frozen vegetables for later.
Don’t forget to join your
local store’s loyalty program, which can help you get additional discounts on
top of any weekly sales.
If you need more help making ends meet, consider looking up
your nearest food bank or pantry on websites like feedingamerica.org or 211.org. Also, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or
SNAP benefits, is available for qualifying low-income families.
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