Grocery shopping in 2025 comes with many challenges and navigating the ever-increasing food costs may feel more difficult than ever. However, there are some strategies to make sure your trips to the supermarket are easy and affordable, helping you make smart, economical choices that make shopping and eating – the way they should be.
To help you shop better and save money in 2025, Salon spoke with Dr. Michael Swanson, chief agricultural economist at the Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, about the myriad of topics that will affect your supermarket in the coming year. Will improve market budget and experience.
Now, when it comes to putting together a budget, or just getting a good handle on how much you can spend each month (for example), Swanson recommends having a general, top-line idea. “I’ll start with my health goals,” he said. “Do I want to promote exercise and control or lose weight? Do I prefer to buy organic or local produce? Do I have access to bulk purchases?”
Once you’ve got that, Swanson recommends seeing “if they’re in line with my expenses and if I need to cut it back a little or a lot.”
“If significant cost reductions are needed, I would consider giving up the facility first,” Swason said. “Much of the cost of food comes from the amount of preparation that takes place after the farm. For example, many vegetables can be bought in plain form, such as carrots, and then peeled at home for a significant savings. Over time, incorporate these changes.”
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Also, I asked if any buzzwords or descriptors of food might just be overkill, to which Swanson told me: “Regenerative is a phrase that has no established meaning from the USDA. If the USDA and FDA have not established standards for a category, it is not possible to verify a product’s value or claims.”
When it comes to brand names, though, Swanson isn’t opposed.
“In our Thanksgiving menu research, we found that some brand names were actually better priced than the store brand. That’s an item-by-item question to answer,” he said. So, if you or your family follow a certain “we only buy ___” rule, please keep it up – even though it may be somewhat nostalgic or brand loyalty, it’s in your bank account. can also help.
Of course, protein often becomes the focus of most food shopping trips. Swanson advises being smart and intentional when it comes to protein, which he describes as “a big cost category … but also essential for health.” “Protein is always a big value category, but it’s also important for health. The first thing to do is to eliminate food waste in that category. The second thing is to be aware of portion sizes,” he added. Be the average adult, for example.”
An example, in this case, would be buying a whole chicken—or even a rotisserie chicken—that can grow and even serve as a filling for additional meals (like stirring leftover meat into a soup base). ), as opposed to just buying a package. breasts or thighs. This can save you several dollars per pound.
Portion size applies to more than just protein, though, which can then be considered in other aisles. Swanson is a fan of club stores, though he notes that they can sometimes oversell if you’re only buying for a one- or two-person household. “Club stores are a great option because the prices are great, but it can be difficult to manage the quantity for one or two people,” he said.
Conversely, Swanson suggests starting to buy in groups with friends, family or neighbors, which will make bulk purchases much larger than they would otherwise be. “It may only work for certain items and times, but it’s a creative way to bond,” he said. He also cautioned that some of the larger purchases may not always be practical: “They can force shoppers to buy things that may need to be stored. That second roll of aluminum foil can sit in the cupboard for months.” is
Maybe a joint supermarket alliance with your family, friends or neighbors is the way to go?
I also asked Swanson if people should shop weekly, bi-weekly, a few times a month, or less or less, to which he said, “Reduce the number of trips to buy what you want. The temptation is reduced to what you don’t need. Making a list and sticking to it is also a basic technique that says one has to shop more in small apartments, but that shopping discipline. can bring forth.”
Food is and should always be a pleasure, no matter your income bracket. Ideally, these tips can provide some guidance, understanding, or even strategic perspective to make sure you’re getting all the food you need — and some of the treats you want.
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