The high cost of groceries is a great concern for many people today. Families with low income are affected the most. Since 2020, the food price in America has risen by more than 20% (Source: Consumer Price Index). It is highly likely that the price will not get any better soon.
Why is the grocery price rising?
The unusual food price increase started due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as this event disrupted the food supply chain globally. There were shortages of food everywhere. Though the situation today is better than it was during the time of the pandemic, the cost of food is still very high compared to the pre-pandemic time. This is due to the high production, fuel, and labor costs. Tariffs enacted by the government have affected the prices of food, too. The Iran war has spiked the fuel cost, thus affecting the shipment of fertilizers needed for food production. The operating costs of getting food from the farm to the supermarket have gone up over the years.
Dealing with high grocery prices
For the low-income households, a number of government support programs are available to survive this difficult period. Many people are trying to change their shopping habits to cope with the high grocery prices.
Government food help programs
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food stamps provides food assistance to low-income families. People eligible for this program get an electronic card loaded with money to buy groceries from regular grocery stores or farmers’ markets. The card is reloaded with money every month. People can buy vegetables, fruits, fish, meat, poultry, bread, and dairy with the electronic card. No sales tax will be charged on groceries bought with a SNAP card.
Special Supplementary Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
The WIC program provides healthy food and nutrition education to support families that need help buying food. The program also provides breastfeeding support to new mothers. Those who join the program are given an eWIC card to buy groceries from WIC-approved grocery stores. This program helps in improving the health of women, their infants, and children.
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
This program helps low-income seniors by providing them access to locally grown vegetables, fruits, honey, and other foods. With different community agricultural programs and farmers’ markets, SFMNP ensures the consumption of agricultural products. Those seniors with household income less than 185% of the federal poverty income are eligible to apply for this program.
Free groceries from local charity programs
If you visit your local food bank or food pantry, you can get free groceries under local charity programs. To find these programs near your area, you can use search tools such as ‘Feeding America Food Locator’ or ‘FoodFinder’. The local charities collect surplus food from supermarkets, farms, and donations to distribute it to families who need food.
Smart grocery shopping
Not everyone will be eligible for the government and local charity programs. So, you will have to learn some strategies to shop smart and spend less money buying groceries. Here are some suggestions you can consider when shopping for groceries.
Buy store brands and seasonal food
The store brands are cheaper than the large brands; therefore, buy groceries from store brands. Seasonal food is always less expensive than imported or non-seasonal food. It will be cheaper to buy these from the farmer’s market. You can think of growing fruits and vegetables in your backyard and save money.
Make a shopping list and stick to a budget
Always make a shopping list before going to the shop. Otherwise, you may end up buying things you already have or things you don’t need. You should allocate about 10% to 15% of your monthly income toward food costs. Try to stick to this budget to avoid overspending.
Buy in bulk and shop for deals
When you buy in bulk, the cost per unit of food becomes less. So, you can buy the regular items that you need every day, like pasta, meat, canned food, and others in bulk to save money. The grocery stores often have offers and deals on certain items. You should buy those things when they are offered at a discount. The stores have rewards programs and coupons to help you save money on grocery shopping.
The Americans are feeling the financial pressure exerted by high grocery prices. This food price hike is a concern, as whether someone can pay the other bills depends a lot on the monthly food expense. People are using credit cards more frequently to buy groceries, and so they are diving into deeper debts. You must try to get help from all the support systems available around you when you are having trouble paying for your groceries.