A man looks at frozen food for sale at a dollar store in Alhambra, California on August 23, 2022.
Frederick J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images
Of all the rising costs, the overpriced grocery bill is especially painful.
The Consumer Price Index, an inflation indicator that measures the cost of a wide range of goods and services, has started to ease in its latest numbers, but food prices have risen again. US Department of Labor reported.
Over the past year, overall food prices have increased by more than 10%. Prices for eggs alone rose by 60%, butter by more than 31% and lettuce by 25%, according to Labor Department data through December.
As a result, consumers are looking for every possible way to save money. For some, that means shopping at his local 100-yen shop.
One Dollar Stores Are Attracting More Grocery Shoppers
Slowly but surely, the share of discount 100-yen shops in total grocery spending is steadily increasing. Recent reports From Coresight Research. According to Coresight’s weekly US Consumer Tracker, he already has more than one in five of his consumers buying groceries at her 100-yen shop.
Another study published in American Journal of Public Health We also found that the $1 Store was the fastest growing food retailer. This is because it is expanding at an unmatched pace, especially in rural areas.
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To attract shoppers, the country’s category giant — General Dollar and dollar treeFamily Dollar owners are adding and remodeling stores with more refrigeration units and expanding their grocery offerings, including healthier and fresh produce, according to a Coresight report. rice field.
“If the two retailers continue to improve the quality of their fresh produce while maintaining the low prices associated with their brands, they have the potential to strengthen their value proposition with their existing consumer base and attract new customers from higher prices. High .retailers,” the report said.
“It’s about getting your dollar a little further.”
According to DealNews consumer analyst Julie Rumhold, shoppers these days are looking at alternatives, especially when it means lower prices. “It’s about getting your dollar a little further.”
But the value isn’t always there, she added. Despite her name, she “will have a hard time finding $1 items.” It is also important to check the unit price and compare it with the products of other stores. walmart And Trader Joe’s, said Ramhold.
Additionally, the grocery assortment is smaller than what you’d find in a supermarket or warehouse club. There is, says Rumhold.
Plus, with low turnover, you’re more likely to find products that are close to their expiration date. “It’s important to check the ‘best before’ date,” she warned.
To that end, Ramhold encourages shoppers to focus on staples like rice, pasta, and dried beans. These can be adjusted to suit different dishes and don’t cost much.
(“dollar store cookbookthe recipes available on Amazon include recipes that are mostly limited to pantry-stable ingredients, such as tuna served with cream on toast made from canned tuna and celery cream soup.
Tips for saving on groceries
As food inflation continues, savings experts share their tips for reducing your grocery spending, regardless of where you shop.
- Scrutinize the sale. generic brand 10% to 30% cheaper Better than their ‘premium’ counterparts, but not always. It is important to confirm the price.
- Plan your meals. According to Lisa Thompson, savings expert at Coupons.com, planning your meals ahead of time increases your chances of buying only what you need. If you don’t want to plan, at least go shopping with a rough idea of what you’ll be cooking for the next week to help you stay on track and avoid impulse purchases, she added.
- Buy in bulk. For the rest of the items on the list, you can save even more by buying in bulk. Joining wholesale clubs such as Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s often offers the lowest prices per unit on condiments and nonperishables. Then, organize your pantry and keep foods nearing their expiration date close at hand so you know to cook or consume them before they go bad.
- Use cashback app According to Ramhold, Ibotta and Checkout 51 are two of the most popular apps for earning cash back in stores. The average Ibotta user earns $10 to $20 a month, while more active users can earn as much as $100 to $300 a month, a spokesperson told CNBC. increase.
- Pay with the correct card. It is a general cashback card such as city double cash card Earn 2%, but there are certain grocery reward cards that can earn you up to 6% at supermarkets nationwide. American Express Blue Cash Preferred CardCNBC’s Select rounds up the best cards for grocery shopping, along with APRs and annual fees.
