Grocery stores make it incredibly easy to spend more for convenience without realizing it. A few extra dollars for something that’s already portioned, prepared, or packaged may not seem significant, but those little markups can quickly add up.
I’ve gotten much more selective about what deserves a spot in my cart. Some things are cheaper elsewhere, while others are so easy to make or prepare at home that paying the grocery-store premium simply isn’t worth it.
Bottled Water
Cases of bottled water may seem inexpensive, but buying them week after week can become a surprisingly large household expense. When the tap water is safe to drink, a reusable bottle and home water filter can be a much cheaper option for everyday drinking.
Hot Bar Meals and Prepared Deli Foods
The hot bar is tempting on nights when I don’t want to cook, but food priced by the pound can turn into an expensive dinner surprisingly fast. I’ll occasionally pay for the convenience, but a rotisserie chicken, frozen meal, or simple dinner made at home can usually stretch my money further.
Deeply Dented Cans
Saving a few cents isn’t enough to convince me to buy a deeply dented, leaking, bulging, or badly rusted can. Damage around the seams can be particularly concerning, so this is one grocery-store clearance deal I’m perfectly happy to leave behind.
Name-Brand Pantry Staples
I don’t automatically pay extra for a recognizable label when I’m buying basics like flour, sugar, rice, oats, pasta, beans, broth, or canned tomatoes. If the store-brand version tastes and performs just as well in my everyday recipes, I’d rather pocket the difference.
Related: Grocery Shoppers Are Filling Their Carts With Store Brands Instead of Name Brands
Tiny Spice Jars
Those little bottles of garlic powder, paprika, cinnamon, oregano, and other frequently used spices can be surprisingly expensive when you compare the price per ounce. For seasonings I use regularly, I’ll look for larger containers, refill bags, bulk bins, warehouse stores, or international markets instead.
Shredded and Cubed Cheese
I’m usually not willing to pay extra just because someone else shredded or cubed my cheese. A block takes only a few minutes to prepare and gives me the flexibility to grate it, slice it, or cube it depending on what I’m making.
Related: Want Cheaper Groceries? A New Study Says Skip Walmart and Shop Here
Pancake Mixes and Basic Baking Mixes
Pancake, waffle, biscuit, and other basic mixes often contain ingredients I already keep in my pantry. Once you have a simple recipe you like, mixing flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt yourself can make buying another box feel unnecessary.
Single-Serve Snacks
Individual bags of crackers, pretzels, chips, nuts, and cookies are convenient, but you’re also paying for all that extra portioning and packaging. I’d rather buy the larger package and divide snacks into reusable containers or bags myself, especially for everyday lunches.
Cleaning Products and Paper Goods
Paper towels, toilet paper, detergent, trash bags, foil, storage bags, and cleaning supplies aren’t things I automatically toss into my grocery cart. I usually compare unit prices elsewhere and stock up before we run out so I’m not forced to pay grocery-store prices at the last minute.
Pet Food, Litter, and Pet Supplies
The grocery store works in an emergency, but I don’t like relying on it for routine pet supplies when larger packages and better prices may be available elsewhere. Planning ahead or using automatic deliveries can also prevent that expensive last-minute bag of food or litter.
Related: These Grocery Chains Are Cheapest Across the Country
Greeting Cards, Flowers, and Last-Minute Gifts
Greeting cards, flowers, gift bags, balloons, and small gifts are incredibly convenient when you’ve forgotten an occasion, and that’s exactly why they’re so easy to overspend on. Keeping a small stash of cards, wrapping supplies, and gift bags at home lets me avoid paying the last-minute convenience markup.
Oversized Perishables Without a Plan
A giant package isn’t a bargain if half of it spoils before anyone eats it. Before buying oversized containers of produce, yogurt, dips, bakery items, or other perishables, I make sure there’s a realistic plan to eat, cook, or freeze everything before it goes bad.
