14 Ways to Outsmart Rising Grocery Prices

Take these steps to stretch your food budget

Daniel Bortz,

AARP

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Published December 11, 2025

a hand holds a smartphone in front of a shopping cart in the middle of a grocery store

Kyle Hilton

Dreading the supermarket checkout these days? You’re far from alone. About 7 in 10 Americans say they’re spending more on groceries compared to last year, an October 2025 ABC News/Washington Post/Ipsos survey found.

Food prices rose 2.7 percent from September 2024 to September 2025, according to the federal Consumer Price Index. Higher labor costs for U.S. farmers, supply-chain disruptions and tariffs on imported foods are driving up prices, says Dawn Thilmany, a professor of agricultural economics at Colorado State University.

Households across the country are feeling the squeeze, says David Ortega, a food economist and professor at Michigan State University. More than half of Americans say grocery expenses are a major source of stress, according to a July 2025 survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

“The high cost of food is among the top concerns for Americans across the country,” Ortega says. “They dominate kitchen table conversations because many households are feeling stretched thin when it comes to their budgets and the high cost of groceries.”

Consumers with lower incomes are “hit the hardest,” he adds, “since they spend a larger share of their disposable income on food.”

To stretch their grocery dollars, many Americans are changing their shopping habits. “They’re trading down to store brands or cheaper alternatives, shopping around more, seeking value and doing more price comparisons before making purchases,” Ortega says.

Rising food prices don’t have to blow up your budget. Here are 14 cost-saving strategies to help lower your grocery bills.

1. Substitute lower-cost ingredients

Making adjustments to some recipes can help reduce costs. Take eggs, for example: Although prices have fallen from their peak in March, a dozen large eggs still cost $3.49 in September, on average, up from $2.07 two years ago. Making baked goods with less expensive egg substitutes like corn starch, chia seeds, flaxseed and applesauce can save money.

Now might also be a good time to try plant-based proteins, since meat prices jumped 12.3 percent from September 2024 to September 2025. Alternative protein sources such as lentils, beans and tofu often cost less than meat while still providing essential nutrients.

2. Use leftovers to make soups and stews

Leftovers often pile up after a big meal. Don’t let them go to waste. “Using leftovers to make soups and stews is a win-win for your wallet and your time,” says Jess Rice, recipe development manager at meal-planning website Budget Bytes. “You’re getting another full meal or two out of ingredients you’ve already paid for.”

Almost any cooked ingredient can find a second home in a pot of soup or stew. “Those bits of cooked veggies, rice, beans or roasted chicken you might otherwise toss can come together to make something new and delicious,” Rice says.

3. Do a ‘pantry challenge’

This is another way to reduce waste. Commit to using all the food that you have in your pantry, refrigerator and freezer before buying more. See how long you can go without going to the grocery store.

4. Download your grocery store’s mobile app

Deals and discounts could be right at your fingertips, literally. Many supermarkets, including Albertsons, Giant, Kroger, Safeway and ShopRite, offer mobile apps that provide customers with digital coupons and exclusive savings. “Compare prices in the app to find the best deal between brands or sizes,” Rice recommends.

5. Shop near closing time

Naturally, grocers want to sell as many products as possible before they have to discard them. As a result, many supermarkets offer discounts on fresh produce, bakery goods, deli meats and prepared meals later in the day. Rice says she’s seen grocery stores mark down baked goods by up to 50 percent a couple of hours before closing. “It all depends on what sells and what doesn’t for that given day,” she says.

Another benefit of shopping near closing time is that the crowds have dispersed. That means less crowded aisles and shorter lines at checkout.

6. Buy grocery store gift cards at a discount

Don’t overlook gift card exchanges like CardCash, Gift Card Outlets and Gift Card Granny, where people sell unused gift cards at a discount. Generally, the higher a card’s value, the bigger the discount. Recently, a $100 Save A Lot gift card was being sold for $85.50 on CardCash.

a woman eyes a shelf of red and white soup cans, some of which have sale tags on them

Kyle Hilton

7. Don’t just shop at eye level

“Eye-level shelves equal premium pricing,” Rice says. “Stores often place the most profitable or well-known brands right at eye level because they’re more likely to catch your attention.” You’ll often find less expensive brands on the higher and lower shelves, she says, and “these items are usually just as good but cost less.”

8. Plan meals around what’s on sale

Supermarket sales often change weekly. Benjamin Lorr, author of The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket, suggests building your meal plan around what’s on discount. “Reverse-engineering your meals is a great way to save money,” he says. Changing up your meal plan can also add variety to your diet — something that may foster healthy aging, according to a 2025 study published in the journal BMC Nutrition.

“Don’t stress perfection,” says Rice. “Recipes are meant to be flexible. The goal is to cook something satisfying and affordable, not to stick to exact ingredients.”

9. Ask about senior discounts

Many grocery chains, such as Fred Meyer, Harris Teeter and Weis Markets, offer 5 to 10 percent discounts to older customers on designated days. Check to see if your local store participates.

10. Shop with a friend

Like a gym partner who holds you accountable for working out, a supermarket buddy can help you resist impulse buys and stick to your budget. “Having a friend reality-check you at the grocery store in real time is helpful,” Lorr says. They can also split bulk purchases with you, helping both of you save money.

a plate sits in the middle of a trap on a purple background

Kyle Hilton

11. Resist free samples

Those small slices of cheese aren’t just tasty treats. They’re designed to whet your appetite, and we all know that shopping while hungry can lead to overspending.

On that note: Never go to the grocery store on an empty stomach. As one AARP reader puts it, “A hungry man can turn a ‘quick trip for milk’ into a $100 adventure real fast.”

12. Frequent discount grocers

Shopping at low-cost grocery stores like Aldi, Lidl and Trader Joe’s can help you unlock savings. These stores sell fruit, vegetables and other items often at lower prices than what you’ll find at supermarket chains. They also sell their own low-priced store brands.

13. Check receipts

Innocent mistakes at checkout happen — items get scanned incorrectly, coupons don’t get applied — but errors can cost you money. Always review your receipt before leaving the store.

14. Use under-the-radar grocery websites and apps

Some lesser-known websites and mobile apps offer attractive deals on groceries. Martie receives overstock items from supermarkets and sells them up to 80 percent off. Misfits Market and Imperfect Foods sell discounted foods that grocery stores deemed unfit because they were misshapen, had outdated packaging or were close to their expiration date. The Flipp app lets you see local grocery store circulars and compare prices without having to drive from store to store.

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Daniel Bortz is a personal finance editor at AARP. His work has been published by the New York Times, Washington Post, Consumer Reports, Entrepreneur, Kiplinger, Newsweek, Money and other national publications.