4 Simple Tricks to Save Money on Groceries
Save more than 50 percent on wine, coffee, frozen foods and more.
Research shows we’re buying more wine, coffee, ice cream and snacks than ever before. Here, simple ways to nab pantry and freezer faves for more than half off.
Spend 77 percent less on wine.
“Getting high-quality bottles of red, white or rosé vino for up to 77 percent less than their original price is easy at ‘flash sale’ sites like Casemates.com, LastBottleWines.com and Lot18.com,” assures Jon Thorsen, author of Reverse Wine Snob: How to Buy and Drink Great Wine Without Breaking the Bank. “These wines are from producers who sell directly to consumers, cutting out the middleman so it’s much cheaper for you.” For delicious lowcost vintages you can pick up in person, he recommends Aldi’s Exquisite Collection Malbec (Buy at Aldi, $7) and Costco’s Kirkland Signature Toscana (Buy at Cosco, $14).
Cut coffee costs in half.
Surprise! You don’t need to spend a lot for a flavorful cup of coffee at home! In fact, in a Consumer Reports study comparing taste, Eight O’Clock Coffee 100 percent Colombian nabbed the top spot for flavor—and at about $6 per pound, it’s 50 percent less than other well-known brands it beat out (such as Peet’s Coffee), which sell for $12 to $14 per pound. Tea drinker? Tetley’s British Blend — at just 4 cents per tea bag — came in first in an America’s Test Kitchen taste test, beating out tea brands that cost nearly five times as much.
Score 50 percent off frozen foods.
Sales of frozen foods have soared recently — and 50 percent of us plan to purchase even more to ensure our freezer stays full. One smart way to reduce the cost of stocking up? Shop at the store that offers the lowest prices on frozen goods: Walmart. In a recent study comparing prices of major supermarkets chains, Walmart’s price tags for frozen vegetables, pizza, entrées and ice cream were up to 50 percent lower than its competitors. Plus, at Walmart you’ll find many of the same bargains you’d find in the frozen food aisles at dollar stores, such as $1 fettuccine Alfredo, french fries and ice cream bars.
Trim your snack bill.
To get the most bang for your snack buck, put more chocolate candy and cookies in your cart. Due to a recent global surplus of cocoa beans, as the price of chocolate is plummeting, so too are the prices of products made with it. Also smart: Stock up now on corn-based snacks, such as corn chips, popcorn and cheese-flavored crunchy snacks (like Cheetos). The price of corn has recently dipped due to greater than expected crop yields, which means it’s cheaper for food manufacturers to make your favorite treats, so they’ll be passing the savings on to you.
This story originally appeared in our print magazine.
