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March 3, 2025 11 mins
Amid rising grocery costs, a survey highlighted in The Foodie Diary reveals various strategies shoppers are using to combat inflation. Consumers are increasingly planning meals, buying in bulk, and utilizing digital coupons and cashback apps to save money. Many are also opting for generic brands and even growing their own food to reduce expenses. Smart shopping habits, like timing purchases and choosing discount stores, alongside creative cooking to minimize waste and community-based sharing, are becoming more common. These resourceful methods demonstrate how individuals are adapting to economic pressures on their grocery budgets.


https://thefoodiediary.com/survey-reveals-how-grocery-shoppers-are-fighting-inflation/
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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey everyone, and welcome to another deep dive with us.
You know, we all feel that those grocery bills keep
getting bigger and bigger. But I bet you didn't know
that some shoppers out there are not just surviving this
crazy inflation but using some really clever tactics to get ahead.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
It's amazing. Yeah, it seems like people are getting so resourceful.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
So we're taking a deep dive today into this really
cool survey from the Foody Diary called Survey reveals how
grocery shoppers are fighting inflation. And you know, we'll get
into the specifics, but it's really about figuring out how
people are stretching their budgets and getting the most out
of their grocery money.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
It's crazy. Forget about clipping coupons. This is like next
level stuff.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Okay, so imagine you're at home, you got your grocery
list ready to go, You're about to head to the store.
But before you even do that, there's this secret weapon
people are using to fight inflation.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Yeah, that's right, and it all starts with meal planning.
But we're not talking about just writing down a few
ideas for dinner. This is like strategic meal planning.

Speaker 1 (00:56):
They've found. Oh, so you're saying people are really aligning
their purchases with sale and just minimizing waste.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
Exact like, think about it. They highlighted Sarah Martinez in
the survey. She's a busy mom of three from Austin,
and she said she used to spend way too much
on impulse buys.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
Oh yeah, we've all been.

Speaker 2 (01:11):
There, and then she ends up throwing out a ton
of food. Right. So now what she does is each
week she checks the online flyers for the stores and
she like builds her meals around those sales and discounted items.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
That makes so much sense because then you're not just
wandering the aisles aimlessly. You know exactly what you need, right.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
And the best part is she told the Foody Diary
that one week, chicken thighs were on sale for like
a dollar ninety nine a pound, So she bought this
huge pack and made a whole week of meals from it, stirfries, tacos,
you name it.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
Wow, I never thought about it that way. But what
about bulk buying? Is that still a good idea?

Speaker 2 (01:45):
You know it can be. But what we found is
that book buying has changed, Like you don't have to
just go to those huge warehouse stores anymore. Oh really,
people are finding awesome deals at like local co ops,
ethnic markets, you know, especially for staples like spices and grains.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
You mean, I don't have to spend a fortune on
those little jars of turmeric anymore.

Speaker 2 (02:03):
Exactly, like Pria Patel from Atlanta, she buys a whole
pound of turmeric at her local ethnic market for three dollars.

Speaker 1 (02:10):
Oh my gosh, that's like a year's supply.

Speaker 2 (02:12):
I know, right, It's way cheaper than those tiny supermarket jars.

Speaker 1 (02:16):
That's a game changer. I ain't going to check those out.
But what about you know, those things that go bad quickly.
I was worried about buying too much and then it
just goes to waste.

Speaker 2 (02:25):
I hear you. But the survey really emphasized being smart
about those bulk purchases, you know. They said people who
are saving the most money are using things like vacuum
sealers to keep things fresh and minimize that waste.

Speaker 1 (02:37):
Oh yeah, that's smart, because you can buy a lot
of chicken when it's on sale and then just freeze.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
It exactly, no more freezer burn, and you've got meals
ready to go.

Speaker 1 (02:45):
It's like a secret stash of savings in your freezer. Okay,
but let's be real, even with the best planning, we
all need a little extra help sometimes to make those
dollars stretch. So what about coupons? Have those changed?

Speaker 2 (02:57):
Oh yeah, forget about cutting them out of the newspaper.
We're talking and couponing two point zero now digital coupons,
loyalty programs, and cash back apps.

Speaker 1 (03:05):
Oh wow, sounds complicated.

Speaker 2 (03:06):
It's actually not that bad. There was this grad student
Jessica and Gwen from Seattle in the survey, and she's
got it down to a science. Oh Like, before she
even leaves the house, she checks the store app for
digital coupons and then she stacks those with rebates from
apps like Ibata.

Speaker 1 (03:22):
So she's basically getting paid to buy groceries pretty much.

Speaker 2 (03:25):
And she's saving a ton of money every month by
doing this.

Speaker 1 (03:27):
So it's not just about being frugal, it's about using
technology to be smart. You know what else I noticed
in the survey was that people aren't as loyal to
big brands anymore.

Speaker 2 (03:37):
Yeah, The Foody Diary found that more and more people
are trying generic and store brand products now.

Speaker 1 (03:43):
I have to admit I was a brand loyalist, but
lately I've been really impressed with some of the generics.

Speaker 2 (03:47):
And you're not alone. There was a twenty twenty four
Consumer Reports analysis. They did blind taste tests and found
that a lot of the store brands were just as
good or even better.

Speaker 1 (03:56):
That's wild.

Speaker 2 (03:57):
Yeah, Like Mark Thompson from Ohio in the survey, was
shocked by how much he liked Aldise coffee compared to
his Starbucks.

Speaker 1 (04:03):
Wow, so he's saving money and still getting his caffeine fixed.

Speaker 2 (04:06):
Exactly. It just goes to show you that sometimes those
generic options are really good and you can save a
bunch of money.

Speaker 1 (04:11):
Okay, So we've talked about meal planning, bulk buying, coupons,
and generic brands. But now let's get into something really interesting.
The survey also found that people are starting to grow
their own food more.

Speaker 2 (04:23):
Yeah, urban farming is becoming a big thing. Like think
about it. A tiny pack of rosemary at the store
can cost a couple of.

Speaker 1 (04:30):
Dollars and it's gone so fast.

Speaker 2 (04:31):
I know, right. Well. They highlighted Lisa Chen in the survey.
She's a nurse in Brooklyn and she turned her fire
escape into an herb garden. So now she has fresh
rosemary all the time for way less money.

Speaker 1 (04:44):
That's genius.

Speaker 2 (04:45):
And she's not alone. People are growing all sorts of
things lettuce, tomatoes, even peppers, all in their apartments.

Speaker 1 (04:51):
Wow. And how are they doing that?

Speaker 2 (04:52):
A lot of them are using these DIY hydroponic systems
you can get online.

Speaker 1 (04:56):
Wait, hydroponic systems. That sounds complicated.

Speaker 2 (05:00):
Really, it's just a way to grow plants without soil,
using this nutrient water solution, and the kits are pretty cheap.

Speaker 1 (05:06):
So you're saying I could grow my own salad in
my apartment.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
You totally could. And what's cool is people are sharing
tips and pictures of their gardens online with this hashtag
hashtag inflation garden.

Speaker 1 (05:17):
Oh, that's so fun. It's like a community of gardeners
all helping each other out exactly.

Speaker 2 (05:21):
It's really inspiring to see people coming together like that.

Speaker 1 (05:24):
It really sounds like there's a whole new way to
think about grocery shopping and I love that. But before
we get into even more strategies, let's take a quick
break and hear a word from our sponsors.

Speaker 2 (05:34):
We'll be right back with more tips and tricks. For
outsmarting inflation at the grocery store.

Speaker 1 (05:39):
Welcome back everyone. You know, it's amazing to see how
many different ways people are shopping for groceries these days.

Speaker 2 (05:46):
Right, And I think what's really cool is it's not
just about saving money, it's about like thinking differently about
food and where it comes from.

Speaker 1 (05:53):
I totally agree. And speaking of thinking differently, did you
know that when you shop can actually make a big
difference in how you save?

Speaker 2 (06:00):
Oh? Yeah, Timing is everything. The Foody Diary found that
people are really paying attention to when stores restock and
mark things down.

Speaker 1 (06:07):
So you're telling me there's the best time to go
to the grocery store.

Speaker 2 (06:10):
There can be Like Carlos rivera chef in Miami, he
told The Foody Diary that he always gets his bread
on Wednesday mornings. Oh why is that because that's when
his store marks down all their bread to make room
for the new deliveries.

Speaker 1 (06:23):
So if you want a fresh baguette Wednesday morning, yeah
is the time to go. That's a great tip. But
what about choosing the right store? Does that really matter?

Speaker 2 (06:32):
It can make a huge difference. You know those big
warehouse stores like Costco. Yeah, Well, have you ever tried
Aldi or Little.

Speaker 1 (06:38):
I've heard of Aldi, but I've never been.

Speaker 2 (06:40):
They're really popular right now because their prices are so
much lower, like thirty to fifty percent lower than regular supermarkets.

Speaker 1 (06:47):
Wow, that's a lot. What's a ketch?

Speaker 2 (06:48):
There's not really a catch. It's just that they're like
no frills, so you might have to bag your own groceries,
and they don't have as many brands to choose from.

Speaker 1 (06:55):
But the quality is good.

Speaker 2 (06:57):
Yeah, especially their store brand stuff, and the prices are unbeatable.

Speaker 1 (07:01):
Okay, I'm definitely gonna check out Aldi. Now what about
dollar stores? Are those worth it?

Speaker 2 (07:06):
They can be for certain things like snacks, spices, canned goods,
but you have to be careful and look at the
unit pricing. Unit pricing, Yeah, so it tells you the
price per ounce or pound or whatever, so you can
compare and see if it's actually a good deal. Sometimes
those bigger packages at the dollar store end up costing
more per unit.

Speaker 1 (07:24):
That's a good reminder. I've definitely made that mistake before,
So it's about being a smart shopper and doing your research.
Did the Foody Diary have any other tips about choosing
the right store?

Speaker 2 (07:36):
They also said to check out ethnic markets. Oh interesting, Yeah,
they often have amazing prices on things like rice, beans, lentils,
and sometimes they have produce that you can't find anywhere else.

Speaker 1 (07:46):
I'm gonna have to explore some ethnic markets. That sounds fun. Okay,
So we've talked about meal planning, bulk buying, coupons and
generic brands, and choosing the right store. But what about
all that food waste we were talking about before.

Speaker 2 (07:59):
Right, Well, the Food found that people are getting really
creative in the kitchen now to avoid wasting food.

Speaker 1 (08:05):
Oh.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
How like they're using scraps and leftovers to make new meals.
It's kind of like a culinary magic show.

Speaker 1 (08:10):
I love that culinary magic show. They had this great
example in the survey Emily Harper. She's a teacher in
Denver and she used to just throw away her chicken bones. Yeah,
but now she uses them to make stock for soups
and sauces and stuff.

Speaker 2 (08:23):
It's so smart and it makes her food budget go
so much further. And there are cookbooks and apps now
that help you do this, like Love your Leftovers and
super cush so you can.

Speaker 1 (08:33):
Find new recipes based on what you already have in
your fridge.

Speaker 2 (08:36):
Mmm. I love that.

Speaker 1 (08:38):
So it's not just about individual efforts. It sounds like
people are really coming together to help each other out too.

Speaker 2 (08:42):
Oh yeah, definitely. The Foodie Diary found that people are
splitting bulk purposes with their neighbors so they don't have
to buy so much at once.

Speaker 1 (08:50):
Oh that's a great idea. I wish I had friends
who would do that with me.

Speaker 2 (08:53):
And some people are even bartering, like trading homemade goods
and stuff.

Speaker 1 (08:57):
Oh well, like a modern day swapmeat. I love it.

Speaker 2 (08:59):
And they're also community supported agriculture programs or csays.

Speaker 1 (09:05):
I've heard of those, but I don't really know what
they are.

Speaker 2 (09:07):
So basically, you pay a farm a fee and then
they give you a share of their harvests throughout the year.

Speaker 1 (09:12):
Oh so you get fresh local produce.

Speaker 2 (09:14):
Exactly, and it's usually cheaper than buying it at the store.

Speaker 1 (09:17):
That's awesome. So you're saving money and supporting local farmers
and getting the best produce. It sounds like there are
so many ways to rethink grocery shopping these days.

Speaker 2 (09:25):
There really are. It's been so interesting to learn about
all these different strategies it has and.

Speaker 1 (09:30):
What stands out to me is how resourceful people are
getting and how they're really supporting each other. Yeah, it
really warms my heart to see people turning these challenges
into like these really cool opportunities to connect and share.

Speaker 2 (09:44):
Right, It's like turning lemons into lemonade.

Speaker 1 (09:46):
And that's what I love about this whole conversation about
you know, grocery shopping with all this inflation, It's not
just about like saving a few bucks. It's about you know,
being resourceful and creative and honestly just having fun.

Speaker 2 (09:58):
With it totally. And you know, we've we shared a
lot of ideas and tips today, but we want to
hear from you too. What are you doing to like
Outsmart inflation at the grocery store?

Speaker 1 (10:08):
Have you tried any of the things we talked about today.

Speaker 2 (10:10):
Maybe you found an awesome ethnic market in your town
or something like that.

Speaker 1 (10:14):
Or maybe you're thinking about growing some herbs on your windowsill.

Speaker 2 (10:18):
Whatever it is, we'd love to hear about it. So
share your thoughts and experiences with us, you know.

Speaker 1 (10:22):
Because even small changes can make a huge difference. YEA, Like,
maybe you commit to planning your meals every week, or
you try a new store brand cereal.

Speaker 2 (10:30):
Or something Yeah, exactly. It's all about being open to
new things.

Speaker 1 (10:34):
The bottom line is knowledge is power, and when we
understand what's going on, we learn from each other. We
can all figure this out together.

Speaker 2 (10:42):
So next time you're at the grocery store, remember all
those tools and strategies we talked about.

Speaker 1 (10:46):
Don't be afraid to try new things and get creative,
and most importantly.

Speaker 2 (10:51):
Don't forget that you're not alone in this. We're all
in this together, and by sharing.

Speaker 1 (10:55):
Our knowledge and experiences, we could all make this a
little bit easier on everyone. Thank you so much for
joining us on this deep dive into grocery shopping and
the age of inflation.

Speaker 2 (11:04):
Yeah, thanks for listening, and

Speaker 1 (11:06):
We'll see you next time for another insightful and engaging
exploration of the things that matter most to you.
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