My grocery bill is steadily climbing and I am not sure what to do. I make too much for SNAP. Any tips or tricks? It’s just me in my household, so would buying in bulk be worth it?

Edit: I want to thank everyone for their responses. I have a lot to think about.

  • Hapankaali@lemmy.world
    214·
    4 days ago

    Not really financially constrained, but I also don’t spend a lot on groceries as I just don’t like wastefulness. Some tips:

    • No alcohol.
    • No tobacco.
    • No branded products.
    • No soda. I drink mostly tap water, though considering you’re American that might not be a viable option.
    • I eat quite a lot of bread, though again it might be difficult for you to get edible bread.
    • Frozen vegetables are good, decently healthy and easy to buy in bulk.
    • Rice and dried pasta are cheap and easy to combine with the above.
    • Modest amounts of animal protein, if any. Cheap alternatives include tofu and peanuts.
    • Since you’re alone, you can cook for two or three days and save some time and money. One option is to cook for two servings but alternate, so that you eat the second serving 2 days after. That way you don’t have to eat the same thing twice in a row.
    • ℕ𝕖𝕞𝕠@slrpnk.net
      18·
      4 days ago

      I drink mostly tap water, though considering you’re American that might not be a viable option. it might be difficult for you to get edible bread.

      Stereotypes about America get weird.

      • Hapankaali@lemmy.world
        92·
        4 days ago

        I base that assessment on my experiences visiting the USA, and what I heard from colleagues who lived there.

        When I visited (Aspen, CO) the tap water tasted like dirty pool water. I guess it can be better in other areas. The bread was terrible as well, easily the worst I had in any hotel breakfast in any country I’ve visited. From what I understand, Whole Foods has some decent options, but is expensive. You can make your own bread of course, but that’s a more time-consuming option.

        • ℕ𝕖𝕞𝕠@slrpnk.net
          11·
          4 days ago

          You based your impression on a hotel breakfast buffet. That’s bread designed to be shelf-stable, not delicious. Let me assure you right now, we have bakeries here, and not just in supermarkets.

          • Hapankaali@lemmy.world
            9·
            4 days ago

            If you think it’s normal that a hotel breakfast buffet (in a very expensive hotel at that) doesn’t serve good bread, I think it underscores my point.

            • ℕ𝕖𝕞𝕠@slrpnk.net
              2·
              3 days ago

              Your point was that good bread (well, “edible”) is hard to find in the US. It’s not, though. Yes, we have bad bread too, and maybe you don’t where you live, and that’s great. But the existence of bad bread does not mean good bread is unavailable.

        • Krusty@quokk.auEnglish
          2·
          3 days ago

          Food for Life sells exceptional bread. It’s found in the frozen section. It’s pretty expensive, but you get what you pay for.

    • Valmond@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      1·
      3 days ago

      I’m just chipping in here in the soda wars, a SodaStream is fantastic for sparkling water! Add a slice of lemon, or two slices of cucumber for fun.

      I met a guy who bought a used CO2 canister, and built the gasification thingy himself, one charge lasts like 5 years…

    • raynethackery@lemmy.worldOP
      1·
      3 days ago

      Luckily, I live in one of the 10 best states for tap water. I’m not a big bread eater, so isn’t really an issue.

    • zergtoshi@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      4 days ago

      Good advice, but you missed pulses.
      If bought dried and in bulk they’re quite cheap while being very nutritious.
      Canned pulses are a bit more expensive, but more convenient in handling.
      Ideally you you have lots dried ones for meals you prepare with foresight and some canned once when it’s spontaneous and you have little time for preparation.
      Put canned tomatoes in the mix and you have nice and cheap phytochemicals on top.