Small Splurges That Drain You
Grocery stores are very good at making convenience look harmless, especially when the price difference is tucked behind pretty packaging. The thing is, paying for convenience is actually what drains you, and with prices being what they are today, the last thing you need is a higher bill. Before you blame your entire grocery store for inflation, it’s worth looking at the everyday products that take more of your money than they deserve.
1. Pre-Cut Fruit
Those plastic tubs of watermelon cubes and cantaloupe spears look convenient, but you’re paying heavily for what was basically someone else doing a simple, two-minute job. A whole pineapple at stores like Kroger or Walmart can cost just a few dollars, while a small container of pre-cut pineapple may cost nearly as much or even more. Unless you truly need the shortcut, it’s worth doing yourself.
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2. Bagged Salad Kits
A chopped salad kit feels like an easy lunch, but the markup is sitting right there in the little dressing packet and tiny bag of toppings. You can buy just about everything you need for the price of two kits. The bag also tends to wilt pretty fast, so you’re really paying extra for lettuce that needs to be eaten almost immediately.
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3. Bottled Water
Cases of bottled water take up half the cart and charge you for something many households can get from the tap with a basic filter. Though classic brands are convenient for road trips or emergencies, buying them every week adds up fast. A reusable bottle and a pitcher filter do more than you think.
4. Shredded Cheese
Pre-shredded cheeses usually cost more per ounce than blocks of the stuff. They also often contain anti-caking ingredients, which can make them melt less smoothly in some of your favorite dishes, so it’s a double whammy of negatives. If you cook with cheese regularly, grating a block is one of the easiest ways to stop overpaying.
5. Single-Serve Yogurt Cups
Individual cups are useful for lunchboxes, sure, but they’re also rarely the best deal for everyday eating. A large tub gives you more servings for less money, especially when you add your own toppings. The smaller cups also make it easier to burn through a pack without realizing how little yogurt you actually bought.
6. Name-Brand Spices
You wouldn’t think it to look at them, but tiny jars can be shockingly expensive when you compare the price per ounce. This is one of those items that doesn’t need a big-name brand; store brands deliver the same basic job for much less, especially for everyday seasonings.
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7. Prepared Guacamole
The problem with fresh guacamole is that you’re paying a premium for mashed avocado, lime, onion, cilantro, and salt—all of which are easy to combine at home. Even seemingly cheaper brands can cost much more per ounce than buying avocados when they’re on sale. We get it when you’re in a pinch, but if you’re not, making it yourself is way more satisfying.
8. Individual Snack Packs
Boy, those value packs really aren’t of value at all! You can buy a family-size box and portion it into reusable containers or small bags for a lot less per serving. It’s not like your kids will care, either. Using pre-portioned packs as an everyday pantry staple is where the overpaying starts.
9. Rotisserie Chicken Add-Ons
Rotisserie chickens on their own can be a good deal, and we all love a good BBQ skin now and then, but the grocery store gets you with the nearby sides. Mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and deli pasta salad cost far more than homemade or frozen alternatives. Next thing you know, it’s not an affordable dinner anymore.
10. Pre-Made Sandwiches
A turkey wrap from the deli case can cost as much as the ingredients for several lunches. We know it seems like you’re saving money, but that’s not always the case. If anything, you’re barely saving time! Buying a loaf of bread, sliced turkey, provolone, and a bag of greens gives you more control over freshness and a much better cost per meal.
11. Boxed Rice Mixes
Rice pouches sell convenience in a very small package, and at the end of the day, it’s not always worth it. Plain rice costs much less, and you can season it with bouillon, garlic powder, butter, salsa, or frozen vegetables without much effort. Once you notice the price per ounce, those little packages stop looking like a bargain.
12. Salad Bar Items
Oh, sure, the grocery store salad bar seems practical—until you remember you’re paying by weight. Don’t forget that heavy items like pasta salad and roasted vegetables can push the total up. It’s fine for a quick lunch, but a container of ingredients is one of the least efficient ways to shop.
13. Fancy Coffee Creamers
Flavored creamers not only wreak havoc on your health, but they can also make your kitchen far less affordable. Many are mostly sweeteners, flavoring, and dairy, which is the kind of potion you can mix up yourself. Milk, half-and-half, or a store-brand creamer can keep your coffee routine from turning into a splurge.
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14. Pre-Marinated Meat
Pre-marinated chicken breasts and kabobs often carry a noticeable markup, even if they do spare you from having to rub down raw meat. The thing is, making your own marinade isn’t that hard or that expensive. Buy plain meat on sale and use bottled Italian dressing, soy sauce, barbecue sauce, or a quick spice rub instead.
15. Granola
Granola sounds wholesome, but many bags are expensive for a product based largely on oats. The portions are also smaller than most shoppers think, which makes the bag disappear after a few breakfasts. Making a basic batch with oats, honey, nuts, and cinnamon can be much cheaper.
16. Fresh Herbs in Plastic Clamshells
Make no mistake—a tiny plastic container of fresh herbs can cost almost as much as a small plant. If you only need a tablespoon, the rest of it usually wilts in the fridge before you use it again. For frequent cooking, potted herbs usually give you more uses for the same money.
17. Bakery Muffins
We all love a good muffin in the morning (even if they’re not the healthiest thing for you), but they’re closer to dessert in both size and price. Though a four-pack may seem reasonable, it’s only until you compare it with the cost of a simple homemade batch.
18. Frozen Smoothie Packs
The markup on frozen smoothie kits is hard to ignore, especially considering you can do it all yourself for a fraction of the cost. Simply buy frozen fruit blends, a bag of spinach, and a container of seeds separately and make many more smoothies. The pre-portioned bags don’t do anything you can’t.
19. Deli Cheese Slices
Cheese sliced at the deli is usually a lot more than packaged slices or even fresh blocks. Keep your eyes peeled for provolone, cheddar, or pepper jack, which are often available in store-brand packs that work perfectly well for whatever you’re craving.
20. Checkout Candy and Drinks
The checkout is where grocery stores bank on your impulses. That’s exactly why they’re so expensive, too. A single candy bar, bottled soda, or energy drink often costs far more than buying multipacks from the regular aisles.
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