4 Groceries Frugal People Buy During The Holidays
Written by
J. Arky
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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You might be dreading the upcoming holiday season for a multitude of reasons, the least of which is having to spend a lot of money on decorations, gifts, and travel. That could have an extra sting to it if you are a frugal person, and you like to save when you go out shopping.
One place where it’s harder and harder to do that is at the grocery store, where prices are already high but tend to go up even more during the holidays.
Frugal shoppers hone in on the best value, not just the lowest price. What they seek out is quality, practicality and best quantity for their buck. It’s a good lesson to learn, whether you are frugal or not.
Luckily, GOBankingRates got in touch with some shopping experts and found the four groceries frugal people buy during the holidays.
Some are items that are available all year long, and some are more associated with the festive season. Regardless, these are groceries you’ll want to have on hand in the coming months.
So, even if you don’t consider yourself frugal, add these to your grocery list in the next few months.
Frugal buyers may also add these six expensive grocery items to their shopping cart.
4. Canned Foods
“The holiday season means winter weather — which means the possibility of snow storms or icy roads, preventing you from being able to get to the grocery store,” noted Matt Rogers, a registered dietitian at Tropical Oasis. “So, before and during the holiday season, I like to stock up on canned goods.
“These are the best foods to have on hand in case of an emergency, because they can last in your pantry for a super long time without going bad. Plus, canned foods can be inexpensive and also allow you to get all the nutrients you need.”
Some foods Rogers recommended buying are canned beans, canned fruits (like peaches and oranges), canned tomatoes, and other canned vegetables.
3. Coffee Beans
Going out to grab a cup of coffee during the holidays can be treacherous, as well as expensive. That’s why frugal shoppers tend to get a big bag of their favorite beans and brew up a cup of joe at home.
“Starbucks Winter Blend 2.5-pound bag at Costco,” said Melanie Musson, a shopping expert with Insurance Providers. “Every holiday season Costco carries this blend, and they usually have a $5 discount at least once a season. With the discount, a 2.5-pound bag of high quality coffee costs only about $15.
“Frugal shoppers who love coffee stock up.”
2. Pantry Staples
If left unused and properly stored, these items tend to not expire for a while. Think sugar, flour, salt, and other items like those. When they are on sale, the frugal shopper will stock up lots of them.
According to Eric Sornoso, the co-founder of Meal Fan, pantry staples can be purchased for much cheaper during the holiday season, saving shoppers about 25 to 30%.
“Not only are they helpful during festive occasions, but they also be used for quite some time into the new year, thereby cutting out more costs,” said Sornoso.
1. Ham
“Frugal shoppers buy a holiday ham,” Musson said. “Buying a whole ham can be expensive, but frugal shoppers can make it last for a long time.”
She highlighted how frugal people can serve a holiday meal to friends and family, cook down the bone for soup and use the leftover meat in soup and other meals.
“When you use the ham to its potential, you get a great deal on it. Depending on the size of the ham, you could spend $25 to $50 or more,” said Musson.
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