8 Grocery Items People Are Buying Less to Save Money

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With prices rising over the past year on many everyday items, many shoppers have been cutting back. Not only do groceries cost more, but many consumers are also paying higher prices for things like car insurance and rent.

According to a study from Savings.com, nearly 80% of adults in the United States have cut back on groceries due to cost. Per the study, women and young adults were more likely than men and older people to cut back. For perspective, the typical household spends roughly $580 on groceries monthly.

To help ease the impact of those higher prices and inflation, many shoppers have been buying fewer groceries. Here’s a look at eight grocery items people are buying less to save money.

Candy

It seems that sometimes the sweetest things have to go first. Candy ranked at the top of the foods Americans are cutting from their grocery lists due to costs, according to Savings.com. In fact, 84% of people said they’d been buying less candy lately. If you want to cut back but still enjoy some candy, perhaps checking out dollar stores, clearance sections at Walmart or other retailers or places like Costco could help you save money.

Beef

You may be the type of shopper who looks to cheaper meat choices to save money. If so, you’re not alone. According to the Savings.com study, “For example, 77 percent of people who eat beef told us they’re buying less beef, while nearly one in four are buying more chicken or other types of poultry, meaning people may be looking to get their protein from cheaper sources.” You can see how those savings might add up at a place like Sam’s Club. Member’s Mark boneless skinless chicken breasts go for about $2.68 per pound. Member’s Mark 90% lean and 10% fat ground beef chub is $4.48 per pound. 

Soda

You may have noticed some deals recently on soda at Walmart. This is another grocery item people are buying less to save money. About 75% of those in the study reported cutting back on soda. In addition to searching for deals on soda, you could try generic brands.

In fact, according to the study from Savings.com, “56% of adults say they’ve chosen to buy generic or store-brand products more often in recent months because they are more affordable than name-brand goods.”

Chips

Speaking of generic brands, perhaps you’ve saved some money with store brand versions of your favorite chips. About 75% of shoppers in the study said they’d been buying less chips recently. If you still want to enjoy chips but also want to save money, you could try generic versions or options such as variety boxes at places like Costco. You could get about 50 small bags of chips for around $20.

Alcohol

Research from Savings.com showed that food-buying habits have changed due to inflation and rising prices. “But that doesn’t always mean cutting back; for many people, it means shifting where they spend money,” per Savings.com. “For an individual household, that could mean spending less on luxuries like sweets and alcohol and more on nutrient-dense, low-cost foods like beans and lentils.” About 74% of shoppers reported buying less alcohol recently.

Ice Cream

Around the same percentage of shoppers said they’ve cut back recently on ice cream. While it’s generally cheaper to eat ice cream at home than from a restaurant, the prices can quickly add up on your grocery bill. One way to perhaps cut back is to have a list of items you want when you go to the grocery store and stick to it. If that means you put generic ice cream on the list, then you could make yourself stick to that at the store.

Fresh Baked Goods

About 68% of shoppers reported cutting back on fresh baked goods to save money amid higher prices. Again, this is where a grocery list could help you stay disciplined. You could write down that you’ll get only one or two fresh baked goods and then stick to that when at the store. Trying to stay with store brands could also help you save money.

Deli Meats

If you regularly buy deli meats, you know they can be pretty pricey. So it makes sense that about 62% of shoppers said they’d cut back on deli meats. There may be some ways to save money if you still want to keep deli meats in the fridge. You could look for discounted options from your store deli. Perhaps you could try prepackaged meats to save money.

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