Budgeting for Food Inflation

 

By now we all have heard about the looming grocery shortage and the inflation that is to follow. Being thrifty with our money is more important than ever. It is important with the shortages to make your meals stretch and to make them budget-friendly. When possible, it is Important to stock up on groceries for our pantries, and buy one or two extra cans of vegetables, soups, beans, and canned meats when you go shopping. Remember it's more important to buy good sources of protein, and good sources of carbohydrates and stay away from simple carbs.

Food price predictions for 2022                        (The following percentages are for 2021/22) 

• Beef and Veal 20%
• Pork 18%
• Poultry 19%
• Fresh Fruits/Veggies 13%
• Eggs 17%
• Dairy Products 10%
• Fish and Sea Food 15%
• Fats and Oils 19%
• Sugar and Sweets 11%
• Cereals/Bakery 12%

Information gathered from USA Today

Money-saving tips

Grow a garden. With the cost of fruits and vegetables rising an additional 3 to 4 percent on top of the 7.7 percent that it rose in 2021, it only makes sense to grow your own food. Potatoes can be grown in buckets, baskets, and raised beds. Potatoes would be my number one plant to grow. Other good choices would be any root vegetable that will keep for months like acorn squash, spaghetti squash, beets, and carrots.

Raise chickens. Because of the Avian Flu, chickens are getting harder to acquire. A new law in North Carolina prohibits the sale of chickens because of the Avian Flu. So if you live in a state that hasn't passed a law against buying poultry, go buy yourself a flock to keep in your backyard. They take up little space and are easy to care for so if you live in an area where you are allowed to have them, I would definitely recommend you do so. Eggs are the perfect food and could keep your family from going hungry.

Time out your food shopping trip. The best time to go shopping for meat is around 9 or 10 in the morning to get markdowns. Take the meat home and repackage it in freezer bags and it will last for months. I have also found salad, fresh stir fry, and fruits half off during the morning hours. 

Check out your local bread store. Many bread stores offer great deals on many kinds of bread and bakery items. Most of the time it is half what you would pay at your local grocery store. If you get a great deal, you can freeze bread to keep it fresh.

Create a shopping list. Making a shopping list and sticking to it takes effort on your part. Learning to discipline yourself from impulse buying will save you a lot of money. Don't think you can't have a treat now and again, but budget for that treat on your list.

Stay away from prepared foods. These foods cost extra because they have done all the work for you. Bagged salads, shredded coleslaw, shredded cheese, and frozen meals are easy but costly. Putting in your own effort to grate, shred, and cook not only saves money but is healthier for you.

Discount Food Stores. There are several discount food stores in East Tennessee where I live. United Grocery, is one of the most popular ones. You can also find stores with close-outs that can help save on your food bill. Don't be afraid to shop around to get your best deals.

Try cheaper cuts of meat. Rising meat prices may mean that you will have to buy cheaper cuts of meat. Chicken thighs and drumsticks, instead of breast and tenderloin. Cubed steak instead of Ribeyes. Ground pork instead of ground round. Many of these lower-cost meats, actually are good for you and are as tasty as their counterparts.

Be a part-time Vegan. Try going meatless for a couple of nights a week. Eggplant, beans, and mushrooms are good meat substitutes in many dishes. Going meatless for a few days will make a noticeable difference in your wallet.

Buy frozen fruits and vegetables. During the fall and winter months when you can't grow a garden, buying frozen veggies and fruits is cheaper than buying fresh. Frozen vegetables and fruit still retain the vitamins and nutrients as when they were first picked, and they keep much longer. I remember many times when I would buy fresh, and they would go bad before I used them and that was money wasted.

Shop less. This is one I am working on. The less you go, the less you spend. Make a meal plan for two weeks, take inventory of the toiletries, and other things you need, so you have no excuses for a store run. Make your shopping list, and stick to it. This will cut down on unneedful impulse buying, plus, this will give you more time to do other things besides running to the store every week.

Check unit prices. A bigger package doesn't always mean a greater value. 

Buy in season. If you are buying your produce in the marketplace, buy items that are in season because they will be cheaper, and be better tasting as well.

Make your own. I know many people who love their iced coffees, frappes, and other coffee specialties. Try making your own at home. Make your own lunch to take to work this will save you at least $30 on coffees and $30 on lunches each week. Take that money and pay off a debt.

Buy store brand. In all actuality, most of the time you can't tell the difference in the quality or taste of a store brand vs. a name brand. Did you know some store brands and name brands are processed in the same factories? While the difference in price may be only a few cents, if you buy the item in bulk, that is a big saving.

Portion control. As high as food costs are soaring, I am afraid that many of us will be having to practice this one, especially with the expected shortages. Many of us eat too large a portion. Cutting back will help with the food bill, and make the food last longer.

Check the date. When buying food it is important to check the best by date. Check your pantry regularly for expiration dates and plan meals with those things in the pantry that are soon expiring. 

Use coupons and special offers. Take advantage of special offers like BOGO, and even better if you have a coupon for the item to use with the special offer. Learning the art of coupon clipping and learning to stack coupons will not save you money, but you can end up with free items.

Eat at home. Not only do home-cooked meals taste better, but they are healthier for you. Look for prices at your favorite eatery to go up exponentially due to rising food prices and shortages. Make eating out for very special occasions only.

Half and half. To make meat stretch out longer, use half a pound of meat instead of a pound of meat for a recipe, and then add something else to the dish to replace the lower meat content such as beans, pasta, eggplant, squash, or other favorite vegetables.

Shop local Try to buy what you can from your local farmer, or farmer's market. The quality and freshness along with amazing prices is a great deal.

Use rebates If you have a smartphone, you can use rebate apps for cashback rewards. Here are a few of the most popular. 

• Ibotta is an app that you can utilize to shop for the best deals for things you buy. It also offers 40% cashback, on qualifying purchases. Ibotta is free, and you can price compare over 5000 stores. 
  

Steps to start saving with Ibotta

1. Search for offers.  Start by preselecting your rebates before you go shopping. Rebates will be found under the “find offers” tab within Ibotta app. Search by categories.
2. Ready to Shop. Select your rebates, always check the offers you have chosen for specific terms, and make sure you are buying the right brand, quantity, and size.  Rebates, like coupons, have specific requirements, so if you choose the wrong thing, you won't be credited for your purchase.
3. Verifying your Purchase. Simply take a photo of your receipt with the Ibotta app to verify your purchases.
4. Redeem your cashback. Ibotta will deposit your cash into a rewards account within 48 hours of you submitting proof of your purchase. You, however, can't cash out until you reach $20. Ibotta offers many ways for you to Cash out which include: PayPal, Venmo, and gift cards to companies like Amazon, Starbucks, and Target.
5. Ibotta will let you link your store loyalty cards to your account so you automatically earn for eligible purchases, and you don't have to select rebates. 

Other money-saving apps.

• Rakuten is another popular cash-back app. Like Ibotta you can receive 40% cash back on eligible purchases on things you buy. Rakuten partners with 3,500 stores and only one cashback app may be used per purchase, so if you have Ibotta or another app, you will need to choose between them. It is really a good idea to choose one app, and use that one for all your purchases to avoid confusion.

• Fetch is a receipt-scanning app Similar to Ibotta. The difference between these two apps is that Ibotta offers require shopping at specific stores, while Fetch rewards require you to buy specific brands to earn points you can shop at any store of your choice. Fetch partners with popular brands in varying categories such as groceries, baby products, and cosmetics. Some of the brands they partner with are listed below.
• Betty Crocker
• Heinz
• Hershey's 
• Kraft
• Oscar Mayer
• Pepsi
• Yoplait

Checkout 51 like the aforementioned apps, Checkout 51 allows you to select your rebates before you go on your shopping trip. When you get home you simply take a picture of your receipt and submit it. With this app, you can also link loyalty cards to your account. Checkout 51 partners with such stores as 

• Dollar General
• Aldi's
• Publix's
• Kroger
• Walmart
• Winne Dixie
• Whole Foods
• Costco

Checkout 51 has a section that allows you to pick your offers with such essential items as eggs, bread, and milk.

BeFrugal this app adds both coupons and cashback rewards in one single app. This app is a must for those who are shopping on a budget. This app partners with Coupons.com to offer you printable coupons and sales ads for your favorite stores. It also offers 40% cashback on the purchase. The money will go into your rewards account when the purchases are verified by the retailer. There are several ways to obtain your cash back. You can opt for the check, direct deposit, Paypal, or receive gift cards to Amazon, Walmart, or Kohls.

Why use a money-saving app?

• Time saved by applying digital coupons automatically
• Price history is updated on an item so you know if it's a good deal.
• Rewards you for shopping for things you already need to buy, with cashback.
• You can save even more money by stacking your rebates with other discounts, like coupons.

As grocery costs get higher, it is helpful to look at all ways to cut your food cost, which starts in your kitchen. Start by planning meals, use leftovers to create a new dish, and get creative with making casseroles which are typically cheaper to make. Cashback apps are truly wonderful, but the only one who can truly save you money is you. Cutting back on items that are not essential such as cookies, chips, and soda will save you money, and save your health as well. 

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