How to save money on groceries
Save money on groceries with these clever hacks.
problem solved
Walmart’s 2006 grocery receipts have gone viral, fueling renewed frustration over today’s food prices.
A recent receipt shared by user “Kylei” lists 79 items totaling $161.87, including staples like eggs at $1.28 a pound and tomatoes at $1.24 a pound. The post has racked up more than 12 million views, with users marveling at how much the cost of groceries has risen in the nearly 20 years since.
Kailei said she was “knee-jerk” when she found her mother’s old receipts. Although Walmart locations are not listed, the product list, which includes seafood, meat, snacks and produce, caused shockwaves online.
“It’s $161 for 79 items and also includes salmon, shrimp, chicken wings, cereal, soda, produce, snacks, and meat,” one user wrote. “This receipt feels like evidence of a lost civilization.”
Another added: “Cereal and chips cost less than $2. We used to be a decent country!”
Home meal costs rose 0.7% in April, the largest monthly increase since 2022, according to the latest data from the Labor Department. Prices of certain items have increased significantly.
- Non-alcoholic beverages increased by 5.1% in the past year
- The average price for ground beef is about $6.90 per pound, up about 15% from a year ago.
- Tomatoes rose 15.1% in April and are up about 40% annually
Factors such as higher shipping costs, weather disruptions and global conflicts are all contributing to higher prices, and shoppers are increasingly frustrated comparing today’s receipts with past receipts.
How to save money on food
Food economist and Michigan State University professor David Ortega recommends the following tips for how shoppers can save money on their grocery bills.
- Let’s go shopping. Grocery stores compete for your business and run promotions on certain products. Shop around, compare weekly ads, take advantage of promotions, and save big over the course of a month.
- Shift your protein sources whenever possible. While beef prices have risen sharply over the past year, chicken and pork are more affordable and have remained relatively flat or down over the past month. Eggs are also significantly cheaper than a year ago as chicken flocks have been rebuilt. Replacing just one or two meals a week can significantly reduce your food costs.
- Whenever possible, buy seasonal produce locally. Seasonal and local produce tends to be less expensive to transport over long distances, so it can be a good way to save money on items hit hard by rising diesel prices.
- Consider store brands and private labels. These products are usually sold at much more affordable prices, and the quality of most staples is on par with national brands.
Contributors: Betty Lin-Fisher and Rachel Barber, USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
