4 Grocery Items To Buy Now Before Prices Rise For Summer
Written by
Jake Safane
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Summer’s right around the corner, which might mean your trips to the grocery store involve buying more fresh fruits and vegetables or grilling essentials. However, grocery prices continue to rise on a broad basis, so it’s important to consider ways to save to protect your budget.
The good news is that there are still plenty of deals to be found and you can stock up on some items now before prices potentially spike over the summer. Specifically, some of the top grocery items to buy now include.
In contrast, here are the overpriced grocery items you should quit buying.
Pantry Staples
Buying pantry items that have long shelf lives and that you know you’ll use eventually could be good to stock up on, especially if you can find items on sale, said Melissa Cid, consumer savings expert at MySavings.com and mom of four.
“Think pasta, canned foods, rice, cereals and snacks,” she said.
Coffee
Items that almost always come from overseas, like coffee, could also be good to stock up on now, before tariffs potentially raise prices more, suggested Cid.
Granted, if you’re a coffee aficionado, you might be pickier about how far in advance you buy beans. However, whole beans can often last up to a year and some people are happy drinking ground coffee several months after purchase, so a lot depends on your preferences.
Olive Oil
Another commonly imported ingredient, olive oil, might also make sense to stock up on, Cid said, due to the risk of tariffs increasing prices.
Like with coffee, some consumers might have stricter feelings about how fresh they want their oil to be, but in many cases, olive oil lasts several months when opened and might even last two years if unopened. Either way, buying olive oil now will likely last you through the summer, so consider stocking up, especially if you can find a brand you like on sale.
Seasonal Produce
While seasonal produce can vary by region, items like blueberries, corn, lemons, tomatoes and cucumbers are typically at their lowest prices right now, Cid said.
“Buying in bulk and freezing them can help you save even more in the long run, especially as prices will start to increase again towards the end of summer,” she explained.
Staying on Top of Deals
While it can be hard to predict the impact of tariffs on grocery prices, along with general inflation, being a savvy shopper can help you save money.
“Grocery stores typically repeat their sale cycles every six to eight weeks, so if you know the regular prices and check weekly flyers often, you’ll spot when it’s time to stock up,” Cid added. “Download your favorite store’s app and watch for digital coupons to save even more on the essentials you buy regularly.”
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