Basic Grocery Budgeting: For the Busy and Broke
By: The Economic Undergrads
At the checkout last week, my 5 apples rang up as $13.85 before tax…
At the end of 2022, grocery prices reached a 41-year high.
As a full-time student working part-time and getting paid minimum wage, it’s difficult to afford even the most basic groceries without sacrificing gas money.
The first step to a smaller grocery bill is to reevaluate where you buy your food from. While the same corporation owns many grocery stores, the price can fluctuate greatly from store to store. After comparing the prices of some kitchen staple items from three different Kamloops stores, we realized that Superstore and Walmart have relatively parallel prices, whereas Save-On-Foods charges $3-6 more for an item of similar brand and same weight. Saving small by switching your favourite store is an easy step to saving pennies. (list of essentials)
Besides the Money, Why Does it Matter?
Being mindful of what you eat is a common oversight when we have packed schedules, classes to attend, shifts to work, and a low income. It becomes a trade-off of quality and money for time saved getting prepared food. However, the benefits of eating fresh homemade food are greater than you think. It can help reduce stress, improve immunity, increase energy and focus, and reduce blood pressure.
Coin Savers Tips (Complete Reference)
- Avoid name brands (saves up to 25%)
- Make and use shopping lists
- Research cheaper store options
- Buy less pre-paged food
- Aska bout price matching and student discounts
Make sure to take a look at some of the wallet-friendly recipes, meal-prepping inspiration, and a breakdown of necessary kitchen tools to help you save money on fancy gadgets we’ve shared. If none of it tickles your fancy, don’t worry we’ll be posting more soon!
