6 Things Middle-Class Retirees Waste Money on at Grocery Stores

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If you’re retired and living on a fixed income, you’re probably cooking at home more often and paying closer attention to where your money goes.

Even so, it’s surprisingly easy to overspend at the grocery store if you’re not careful. Here are six common grocery purchases that often end up wasting money for middle-class retirees.

1. Fresh Produce That Goes Bad Too Fast

Fresh fruits and vegetables are healthy choices, but they can also be one of the biggest sources of food waste. If you live alone, buying large containers of salad greens, berries, herbs and avocados might not be the best idea since they’ll likely go bad before you even finish eating them. 

If you’re shopping for a smaller household, it makes more sense to buy produce in smaller amounts or mix in frozen options. Frozen fruits and vegetables last longer, cost less per serving and are just as nutritious.

2. Bulk Packages Meant for Families

Value size doesn’t always mean value. Big packages of bread, bagels, yogurt, deli meat and cheese look like a deal, especially when they’re on sale at Costco. But for many retirees, those oversize packages don’t always make sense.

Unless you freeze half right away, they could expire before you get the chance to finish them. So before buying bulk packages, pause and think about whether you’ll actually use everything before it goes bad.

3. Pre-Cut and Pre-Packaged Convenience Foods

Pre-cut fruit, chopped vegetables, shredded cheese and ready-to-eat meals are typically more expensive than buying them whole, since you’re paying extra for someone else to do the prep work.

If you have more time in retirement and don’t mind spending a few minutes extra in the kitchen, lower your grocery bill by prepping these foods yourself. 

4. Trendy or Viral Grocery Items

Recently, trendy grocery items like Dubai chocolate and the Hailey Bieber Erewhon smoothie have taken over the internet. The products are usually overpriced and don’t offer much beyond novelty.

You can definitely try them every once in a while for fun, but no need to make them a regular grocery purchase.

5. Name-Brand Staples

We often default to certain brands when grocery shopping simply because of the name on the package and the reputation that comes along with it. But sometimes, store brands are just as good as name brands, especially for staples like flour, sugar, canned vegetables, milk and eggs.

Of course, there are a few items where quality really matters. But for basics, paying extra for a name brand usually doesn’t make much of a difference.

6. Prepared Deli and Hot Bar Foods

Don’t underestimate how much deli and hot bar foods cost. Deli salads, hot bar meals and premade sides can be almost as much as eating out at a restaurant. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with buying these foods every once in a while, especially on days when you just can’t be bothered with cooking. The problem is when they become a regular part of your grocery routine. 

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