Do you know why you have such a high grocery bill?
How many times has it happened to you to leave the grocery store and think that you spent a ton of money in there, but you didn’t get that many times? It happened to me a lot, and I kept asking myself why I had such a high grocery bill if I only had a couple of things to last me for the week.
With inflation so high, no wonder I have such a high grocery bill, but I still don’t want to waste money and not get everything I want. I’m pretty sure that I’m not the only one who feels this way, so if you noticed that you spent a lot the last time you went food shopping and have no idea why or what you can do to lower the bill, I have some tips for you.
Without further ado, here are all the reasons why you have such a high grocery bill and what you can do to lower the costs! Keep reading; you’ll love these tips!

1. Weekly rotation
If you’re in a routine of eating thematically every day of the week, such as meatless Monday, taco Tuesday, turkey Wednesday, pasta Thursday, pizza Friday, pork on Saturday, and chicken on Sunday, you might lose money.
Besides that, it might be fun at first, but you might end up in a rut in a short time. If you shop for more things, you can get the best deals, and that will add some variation to your life and more money to your wallet.
2. Pantry and freezer
Before you go grocery shopping again, you should check and see what products you already have in your freezer and pantry. You probably have a surplus of rice, an extra pasta packet, a few cans of corn, beans, tuna, and maybe other things too.
Use them now, while they’re still fresh, because although on the package it says that they can last up to 3 years, forgetting about those products isn’t good because they lose their taste and the nutrients, so you’re basically wasting money.
So, do some pantry and freezer shopping, come up with meal ideas that will incorporate plenty of the things you already have thanks to previous shopping sprees, and you’ll save money.
3. You go for convenience
It’s easy to put a box of peels and chopped fruits, or carrots, because it saves time and is convenient. But while you get some, you lose some, and in this case, you’re wasting money and end up with a high grocery bill.
Even though it’s going to take you longer, it’s best to get the raw versions of your favorite fruits and veggies and then peel and chop them in the comfort of your home while listening to a podcast or catching up on your favorite show.

4. Weekly grocery shopping
What would happen if you didn’t go to the grocery store every week? You might need to stop at the farmer’s market to get fresh and tasty produce or go to a neighborhood store to get a few things for the following days. The good thing is that nonperishable foods, plenty of dairy products, meats, and all frozen and canned goods can be bought well in advance.
If you don’t want to go home with a high grocery bill, you should make a meal plan for at least 1 week at a time, get everything that won’t get bad at once, and only go to the produce section to restock the products you need for your current delicious meals.
I personally recommend you get your fresh produce from the farmer’s market because it’s more natural, doesn’t contain any preservatives, has a better taste and color, and you’ll also be supporting the local economy.
5. Wrong store
While it might be more convenient to hit the store that is closest to your home or your route from work, that might come with a cost, and that means a high grocery bill.
If you have the time and patience, I strongly recommend you compare circulars for all the stores you can for a couple of weeks and see which one is truly worth the price.
Do you have an Aldi in your neighborhood or somewhere close to you? If you do, I’d suggest you pop in for a quick look, because it’s fantastic! The prices are lower than at other grocery stores, such as the popular Walmart, and the food is terrific.
When I can’t get fresh produce from the farmer’s market, I get them from Aldi because they’re quite tasty, and besides that, they also have a money-back guarantee for anything you don’t like. Have you ever shopped at Aldi?
6. Food waste
Another major reason you have a high grocery bill is food waste. You might not be aware of it, but if you get plenty of things at once, especially perishable foods, you might not have enough time to eat them, and you’ll end up throwing them away.
I still think about how I forgot. I ordered Thai food a couple of days ago; I had leftovers, and instead of eating them for lunch the next day, I put them behind a pot of soup and ended up throwing them away.
I know I can do better, and that’s why I make sure my fridge is always clean and organized, and I never get too much produce, especially if I don’t have a couple of meals planned.
You can stock up on things to put in your freezer and pantry, but don’t go overboard with produce because these items don’t last long. If you have a high grocery bill and your food ends up in the trash, I guarantee you won’t feel happy.

7. Shopping with family members
If you always complain about having a high grocery bill, it might be because you don’t go food shopping by yourself. Taking your spouse or your grandkids with you is going to add serious dollars to your cart because everybody has their own cravings, opinions, and needs, and you might be required to go home with more stuff than you wanted.
8. You shop when hungry
How many times did you go into the grocery store with your stomach growling? That might be a serious reason why you have a high grocery bill, and take this as a sign to stop this bad habit.
Even if you can only eat a small piece of fruit or a piece of toast, it doesn’t matter because you have something to hold you over until you’re done shopping.
If you always go in there hungry, you’re more likely to keep adding things to your cart because they look good or because you crave them. The end result? A high grocery bill and plenty of unhealthy foods to eat.
9. You pay with your card
Have you ever noticed that when you pay in cash, you’re more mindful of the amount of money you spend? That’s because you can see and feel your money, and there’s physical movement when you hand it over.
On the other hand, with a debit card, you don’t see your money going, so it’s like having an unfinished source at your disposal. If you want to avoid going home with a high grocery bill, you’d better pay in cash, because there’s nothing more stressful than not having enough money to pay for your groceries. That will surely make you skip those unnecessary items!
Are these some of the reasons that give you a high grocery bill at the end of your food-shopping spree? If there are any other reasons why you have a high grocery bill, feel free to share them with us in the comments!
If you go grocery shopping a lot, make sure you have a cart on wheels so that you won’t have any back or arm pain from carrying those heavy bags! Here’s one that is wonderful, can be used in plenty of other ways, and is affordable too! I have it at home, and I love to use it when I go food shopping by bus!
Did you find this article helpful? If you want to read something else from The Price Makers, here’s another lovely post for you to check out next: Save $1000 by Purchasing These 8 Off-Brand Items
One Response
I’m 69 years old disabled low income senior. I can’t even by food the last week of the month. I eat one steak once a month. The rest frozen dinner’s. I live with someone so I can’t cook as much as I wish I could. So you see they’re a lot of seniors that don’t get much SS. I got disabled at the age of 42 I lost the opportunity to build my SS up. People make it sound so easy to do these things. When their life style doesn’t permit you to do that. Thanks for reading. Joe