For many people, groceries are one of their largest budget items. In a time, however, when accommodation is taking a larger and larger percentage of household income, being able to afford food has become a challenge for an increasing number of people. Students heading off to college or university, having their first real experience on their own. Single parents and people on fixed incomes, like seniors, are particularly hard hit by both inflation and shrinkflation. Shrinkflation is the practice of food manufacturers increasing prices and reducing the amount of food in their packaging.
The long-term solutions for anyone affected by food insecurity will require our collective input and efforts; however, in the meantime, there are some “tools everyone can use” to mitigate this situation at least partially. Even for people who are not as precarious, these tools will help stretch your food budget further.
Begin with a list. People laugh at me when they see our grocery list. We created a list of our most used food and grocery store items. We grouped everything based on where it was in the store, we most commonly shop at and print it off each week.
Select food from your list based on meals. Thinking in terms of what meals you need food for, can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it; however, it helps to save money by focusing on “deals” to fulfill your needs. Grocers and marketers do an exceptional job on product placement, and everyone likes “treats;” however, if your budget is limited, only looking for what you need is a useful way to stay on budget.
Brown bag your lunches. Just like in convenience stores, buying your lunch is an expensive convenience. Do the math, you can buy bread, meat, or other items to put on the bread, cookies, fruit, and a drink for several days on what type you will pay for one lunch at a restaurant. Invest in a reusable lunch bag to save on waste, use refillable containers to hold your food, and use a good thermos for water or coffee. Not only will these actions save you money, but they will also be better for the environment, and they will give you more control over the types of food and nutritional value you receive.
Not all stores are created equal. In general, corner stores and convenience stores can be more expensive than some full-line grocers. As a consumer, we pay for the convenience rather than for value. For people without access to vehicles and or/public transportation, access to large grocery stores can be a severe limitation. The savings, though of accessing taxis, Uber, and public transportation will usually offset the cost.
Not all stores are created equal (continued). Typically, the more services a grocery store offers, the more expensive its prices are. Using weekly flyers, and checking weekly flyers is a great way to stretch your budget; however, shopping at more than two stores to take advantage of deals may cost you more time than money saved.
Comparison shop. Finding a grocery that provides the service you want at the prices you are willing to pay is a moving target. It is worthwhile “experimenting” to find a store(s) that meets your needs. We shop at two grocery stores regularly and are constantly noticing which of the two consistently offers better value. For example, if a product isn’t what we want at our primary store, we will still purchase the majority of what we want there but defer to the second choice for those items. The two stores are close in proximity, so the time cost is minimal, but the savings are substantial.
Look for clearance items. In general, grocery stores will have products approaching “best before dates,” over-stocked items, produce with blemishes, etc.; seek out these specials and use them to stretch your budget. Learn about local “Food Rescue” Apps, many businesses that serve food have begun posting the availability of surplus food stocks online through these apps, check out Second Harvest as an example. These apps help businesses prevent food wastage, few people are aware that 58% of all the food produced in Canada is wasted, not only does that hurt people who could use the food, but food waste is also many contributors to greenhouse gas releases.
Shop at stores with a loyalty program. Many grocers are offering points programs as a marketing tool and to retain customers. As with food prices, compare the different offers and chose the one that is right for you. Food is one of the largest household expenditures and if you can accumulate points for things you can use then everyone wins.
Be aware of what you can carry. We have the luxury of a vehicle, not everyone does. If you are reliant on walking, riding a bicycle, taking a bus/taxi, or Uber, in plan accordingly. Instead of shopping for a week or two, you may have to shop for 1-3 days at a time.
Freezing food can help extend “best before dates.” There are many myths about best-before dates and this can result in excessive food wastage because of misinformation. Second Harvest Canada has an excellent tool on this subject, SECOND HARVEST BEST BEFORE FOOD TIME TABLE that everyone should read. Freezing certain foods on or before their best-before date allows people to buy food in larger quantities, divide them into small portion sizes, freeze, them, and take advantage of the savings. Doing this for meat with “serve tonight” labels can be divided, frozen, and used as needed can be a way to save money. Examples of food that some people don’t consider freezing include bread, milk, and certain fruits (with some preparation). As a side note, some people also freeze their compost and meat waste to prevent odors in their homes.
Remember balance. As a former university student, eating macaroni and cheese seven days a week is not the best advice on food choices. Even on a limited budget, try to eat balanced meals. Skipping meals is also not recommended, if possible. We function, think, and act better when we eat properly.
When to shop. Usually, stores have the best selection when they first open in the morning. Stores that offer “day-old” products are most plentiful, and often the stores are quieter.
Store-specific “generic foods” are not always cheaper and do not always taste the same as brand-name foods. You know your tastes and those of anyone you are purchasing food for. Personally, I find generic peanut butter to not be as tasty as the brand name products, pop is another for me; however, many generic products do taste the same or better; experiment and learn what you like before purchasing in quantity.
Try to avoid shopping hungry. As much as possible, try to shop on a full stomach, it will help you stay focused on what you need for the coming number of days, instead of what will taste yummy right now.
Try never to run out of food. It can happen, we all have time and financial pressures; there is help in most communities. If you don’t have enough food to eat, there is no stigma or embarrassment that you should be feeling. Call 211 or use 211 online to find out about the resources in your community. Community Meal Programs and Food Banks do an incredible job helping people who are experiencing food insecurity. One in seven people in Canada will experience food insecurity this year. Students, single parents, people working for low wages, seniors on fixed incomes, families, people on social assistance, people on employment assistance; your friends and neighbors.
Participate or volunteer in a Community Garden. An increasing number of communities are building networks of volunteers who cooperate with local property owners to grow fresh fruits and vegetables. Many of these gardens help support local community food organizations and help support community members who are experiencing food insecurity. Even if you are not experiencing food insecurity, volunteering to help grow food is fun, a great way to build your community, meet new people, and learn more about food from all parts of the world.
Food is expensive and we are all under pressure every day to do more with fewer resources. These tools can be used by everyone, and they work. If you are already using these measures, then please share them with people you know. If you haven’t, then try them yourself, even small savings can help. If there are things you do that aren’t listed above, please add your comments so your tools can be shared.
Thank you,
Paul