These overpriced foods may not be worth putting on your shopping list
Food prices can be a deciding factor regarding our meal choices. In fact, just try to walk into a grocery store or take a peek at a restaurant menu nowadays without experiencing sticker shock.
Still, sometimes, an unexpected upsurge in the cost of a beloved item can lead us to reevaluate our selections. Though prices are expected to increase slower than in previous years, your grocery bill will still increase. What does that mean EXACTLY?
Unfortunately, you’ll likely have to forego certain foods you once added to your carts without even giving it a second thought. But let’s be more specific: Which foods are no longer worth it? Continue reading about the 16 overpriced foods you might be saying goodbye to!
Sugary treats
Getting a dozen donuts from the nearby donut shop used to be cheap. Now that we know a box of 12 donuts costs at least $15 to $20, we have other quick and easy snack and breakfast options. And don’t even get us started on gourmet cookies, which are a whole different story.
Ravioli
At roughly $8 a bag, this overpriced food item makes the “not buying this week” list for many grocery shoppers. Lots of people have been opting to make their own alfredo and meat sauce and using spaghetti or a more affordable pasta option to get their ravioli fix.
Ketchup
We’re not talking about a specific brand but this overpriced food item as a whole has increased in price over the past couple of years. For instance, a 32oz bottle of ketchup is nearly $5.
So, if you have some ketchup lovers in your household, you might want to consider rationing the amount they get to use daily!
Breakfast food
The cereal aisle used to be the easiest part of grocery shopping. You picked out your favorite boxes and threw them in the cart without even a second thought. Nowadays, though, that’s a great way to be shocked by how much something costs when you get to the checkout.
These days, when we go to the cereal aisle, we only buy names that say they’re on sale and will save us money on our breakfast meals. Kellogg’s sale of two for five bucks?
Now, you need to decide which Kellogg’s products are the best. So your only two options are to buy off-brand or spend an arm and a leg on your favorite cereal, folks!
Eggs
Egg prices have significantly increased in the last couple of years. This overpriced food item is about $2 a dozen, which has aggravated many shoppers, especially since this is the most common breakfast item.
Some have suggested checking out a local farmer’s market and picking up some fresh farm eggs. They’ll be a little expensive but last longer and usually taste better.
Pizza Chains
If you haven’t heard already, Pizza Hut’s large pizza is almost $18, Domino’s is now charging people for delivery, and Papa John’s deal of getting a 10-slice pizza for $3 has now increased to $20! Are pizza nights even worth it anymore?
Grocery store meat
There are more things in the meat area than just chicken wings, which by the way, will shock you with how much they’ve gone up.
Cheap or expensive, prices on meat like chicken and ground beef changes so often that most people plan their meals around what’s on sale or they buy in bulk from meat markets and farms nowadays. It’s a better way to save more money in the long run.
Chinese takeout
Friday nights used to be for Chinese takeout in many households in the US when people were growing up. But not anymore! Many agree that the cost of this overpriced food item has risen far too high. And they have to find another alternative for their Friday night dinners.
Out-of-season produce
We all love buying strawberries and asparagus in the middle of winter in places where it gets cold during those months, thanks to places that stay warm enough to keep growing food.
But what we DON’T love is scanning that strawberry or asparagus bunch at the register, putting it on the scale, and almost passing out when the price is twice as much as when it’s in season, right?
We’re gonna have to say PASS to these overpriced food items. We’ll just wait until they come back in season, thank you very much!
SPAM
SPAM, otherwise known as meat in a can, has been a quick salty dinner or snack option for many years. Most people remember eating it when they couldn’t afford anything else.
But now it’s become one of the most overpriced food items on the market! One can of SPAM will cost you about $4.
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream
This brand of ice cream is made in Vermont and is known worldwide for being one of the most delicious and most creative brands. It’s also become one of the most overpriced food items, though!
Some beloved ice cream flavors include Phish Food, Chunky Monkey, and Churray for Churros! But you’ll be paying a relatively high price if you want to try any of their flavors. A pint costs roughly $5.
Bakery goods
We all know how delicious the smells coming from a bakery can be. And we also know the pull is even more powerful when looking at muffins, sparkling cakes, breads, and cookies. But there are better places to get these overpriced food items than the shop.
You can save more cash by opting for Betty Crocker. You can also find deals with Duncan Hines or try your hand with Pillsbury if you want something straight from the oven.
Red Bull
You’ll have to look elsewhere if you’re looking for a fast and inexpensive burst of energy. This overpriced food item is around $3 for 12 fl oz. Many folks aren’t willing to pay this price for energy drinks anymore!
Potato chips
Do you know how much Lays and Doritos cost these days? Of course, you can get a regular-sized bag of chips for about $6. But if you look around the chip aisle, you may be able to find a store-brand choice that’s on the lower end of the price range.
So unless there’s a great sale going on, you shouldn’t buy this overpriced food item.
Soda
It used to cost a buck for a two-liter bottle of soda. These days, though, the same size goes for at least twice as much. So, you may want to choose more inexpensive drinks instead. For 24 cans of Coca-Cola, you’ll be spending about $17.
That comes out to about $1.50 a can of pop. But drinking soda isn’t even all that healthy for you. So maybe this hike in prices will allow some people to eliminate it from their diet entirely!
Ready-made grocery store food
We’re all guilty of buying this overpriced food item! Hot, ready-made food is a huge convenience. But it’s one that has gotten more and more expensive over time.
We’ll admit that it’s tough to hold back when you see the hot bar in the grocery store because you’re getting more and more hungry as you walk through all the aisles. So just remember that the costs are way too high, and you should probably avoid the urge to buy something.
What are your thoughts on these overpriced food items? Please feel free to share your experiences with us in the comments section below. And if you’re looking for better deals on your groceries, Amazon may be able to help you out. Did you know about Amazon Fresh?
In the meantime, if you liked this article, we highly recommend you also read: Top 10 Most Budget-Friendly Supermarkets in the US
