Beat the Rising Cost of Groceries
Time your purchases and make the most of cyber coupons.
Maya guy, a stay-at-home mom from Stafford, Va., says the price of food these days is ridiculous. So Guy goes to great -- some might say extreme -- lengths in order to shave her grocery bill. But her efforts pay off: She recently left a grocery store with $250 worth of food for which she had paid just $100, thanks to strategic shopping. Guy chooses the cheapest store for items on her list (she favors Costco or Walmart's Supercenter for milk, for instance), buys items on sale, uses coupons -- and even shops early in the morning to snag meat on the sell-by date at 50% off.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting a 2% to 3% uptick in food prices this year, with some goods, such as pork and dairy products, expected to log gains on the order of 4% to 5%. Recent commodity spikes have already prompted grocers, food manufacturers and restaurants to hike prices.
Plenty of bloggers and Web sites can clue you in on how to shop strategically. At CouponMom.com, you'll find printable coupons, a list of grocery deals by state, an interactive database of newspaper-circular coupons, plus a tutorial on how to use coupons effectively. Check out Restaurant.com for savings on meals out. Don't see coupons for your favorite products? Follow Guy's example: E-mail the manufacturer and ask for some.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Anne Kates Smith brings Wall Street to Main Street, with decades of experience covering investments and personal finance for real people trying to navigate fast-changing markets, preserve financial security or plan for the future. She oversees the magazine's investing coverage, authors Kiplinger’s biannual stock-market outlooks and writes the "Your Mind and Your Money" column, a take on behavioral finance and how investors can get out of their own way. Smith began her journalism career as a writer and columnist for USA Today. Prior to joining Kiplinger, she was a senior editor at U.S. News & World Report and a contributing columnist for TheStreet. Smith is a graduate of St. John's College in Annapolis, Md., the third-oldest college in America.
-
How To Find the Best Japanese Stocks
Japan's stock market is soaring which has many investors wondering how to find the best Japanese stocks. We take a closer look here.
By Kyle Woodley Published
-
Can Money Buy You Happiness? Yes, It Can. However…
Having a higher income doesn't mean you also have enough of the other things that make you feel truly happy and wealthy (relationships, hobbies, time).
By Richard P. Himmer, PhD Published
-
403(b) Contribution Limits for 2024
retirement plans Teachers and nonprofit workers can contribute more to a 403(b) retirement plan in 2024 than they could in 2023.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2024
Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up for 2024. Here's what you need to know.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb
real estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
By Miriam Cross Published
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute Vacation
Travel Procrastinator? No matter. You can pull off a fun and memorable getaway on a moment's notice — without breaking the bank.
By Vaishali Varu Last updated
-
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
insurance Instead of relying on rules of thumb, you’re better off taking a systematic approach to figuring your life-insurance needs.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
-
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Shop on Amazon Prime Day
Smart Buying Think twice before getting lured into buying a bunch of stuff you don't need just because it's on sale.
By Andrea Browne Taylor Published
-
When Is Amazon Prime Day?
Amazon Prime In 2023 Amazon had two Prime Day events — one in July and another, called Big Deal Days, in October. We expect 2024 to follow the same schedule.
By Bob Niedt Last updated
-
How to Shop for Life Insurance in 3 Easy Steps
insurance Shopping for life insurance? You may be able to estimate how much you need online, but that's just the start of your search.
By Kaitlin Pitsker Published