How to Shop Smarter

As you may know from if you’ve kept up with previous blog posts, many Portland residents are experiencing food insecurity. As many as 1 in 7 people who live in Portland and the surrounding areas are worried about how they will be able to afford their next meal. The fact that so many Portland residents are struggling is especially disappointing considering that local job growth has increased over the last year, the unemployment rate is lower than the national average, and household income is above the national average. So, the solution for many people may be as simple as changing the way they shop for groceries. Below are some tips that will help you shop smarter at the grocery store and will save you hundreds in the long run!

Only buy products that are in season

Buying out of season fruits and vegetables could cost you an arm and a leg as the shipping costs drastically inflate the retail price. Also, an additional benefit of buying in season is that you will enjoy fresher and better tasting products. Follow this link to find out what is in season in your area!

Make a list and stick to it

Before you even make the trip to the grocery store, make sure you know exactly what you are going to buy. Go online and check your local store’s weekly ad to look for any sales. You could save at least $5-$10 by using coupons for items that you were going to buy anyways. Additionally, if you stay dedicated to only buying the products on your list, it will help you to avoid impulse purchases.

Consider generic options

Generic options are almost always cheaper than your typical brand name products and you will likely never be able to tell the difference. Most of the time, name brand products are almost exactly the same as their generic counterparts even though they claim to offer something more than their competition. Follow this link for a list of 20 generic products that you should buy instead.

Do your shopping from home

My last money saving tip is to shop for groceries online and pick them up from the store. Many grocery stores now offer curbside pickup so you can simply grab all your items without ever needing to enter the store. By shopping in this way, you could further reduce impulse purchases, save the time you would typically spend walking through the aisles, and better adhere to your budget. Some stores even offer this service for free!

-Tanner Swan

Sources:
https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/our-work/hunger-in-oregon/
https://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/oregon/portland
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-6-best-foods-in-the-middle-of-the-grocery-store/