The Grocery Shortcut That Backfires for Tight Budgets

When money is tight, the grocery store presents an interesting problem.

You need to keep your food bill down. But you also need to make sure everyone is fed.

And sometimes those two goals don’t play nicely together.

The solution seems obvious: cook more from scratch.

Except you’re tired. You’re busy. You don’t particularly want to chop three vegetables, cook dried beans and bake a loaf of bread just to prove you’re frugal.

So convenience foods find their way into the cart.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with that.

In fact, I think strategically buying convenience foods can save money if they keep you from ordering pizza or going through the drive-thru.

The grocery shortcut starts backfiring when you’re paying someone else to do small jobs you could easily do yourself — over and over throughout your grocery cart.

A dollar here. Two dollars there.

Suddenly, convenience is consuming money you really need for food.

Shortcut #1: Paying Someone Else To Cut It Up

Precut fruit and vegetables can save substantial preparation time.

They can also cost considerably more than their whole counterparts.

Compare:

• Whole melon vs. containers of cut melon
• Whole carrots vs. carrot sticks
• Whole onions vs. diced onions
• Blocks of cheese vs. cheese cubes
• Whole fruit vs. fruit trays

Don’t assume whole is always cheaper. Check unit prices when possible.

And consider waste. If buying an entire watermelon means half eventually goes bad, the smaller precut container might actually be the better financial choice.

But if you’re paying extra primarily to avoid two minutes of chopping, that’s convenience worth reconsidering on a very tight grocery budget.

Shortcut #2: Buying Individual Portions

Convenience gets expensive when manufacturers divide a larger package into several smaller ones.

Snack bags. Individual cups. Single-serving packages. Lunchbox portions.

Compare the unit price of individually packaged foods with larger containers.

Could you buy the larger bag of crackers and portion them yourself? Spoon yogurt from a large container into a reusable one? Divide snacks into small containers?

You don’t need to eliminate individual portions entirely.

Sometimes they’re useful. They may help with portion control, prevent waste or make it easier to get everyone out the door.

Just recognize what you’re paying for.

You’re often buying packaging and portioning along with the food.

Shortcut #3: Buying Convenience Ingredients You Could Easily Make

Take a look at the ingredient list on some of the packets and mixes you buy.

Taco seasoning is largely spices.

Some baking mixes are combinations of basic baking ingredients.

Many marinades and simple salad dressings can be made from ingredients you already have.

That doesn’t mean you need to make your own mayonnaise, ketchup and bread while you’re at it.

Look for the easy wins.

If making something takes two minutes and uses ingredients already in your pantry, the convenience markup may not be worthwhile.

If making it requires six ingredients you don’t own and creates a sink full of dishes, buy the convenient version.

Shortcut #4: Buying Prepared Produce and Then Letting It Spoil

Here’s where convenience can become especially expensive.

You pay extra for washed lettuce, cut fruit or prepared vegetables because you’re going to save time.

Then you don’t use them.

Prepared fresh foods can have a shorter usable life than their whole counterparts. Once produce has been cut, you may have less time to get it onto the table.

Before paying extra for preparation, make sure the convenience actually increases the likelihood you’ll eat the food promptly.

A whole head of lettuce that spoils costs you money.

But a bag of pre-cut salad that spoils costs you even more.

Shortcut #5: Paying for Convenience on Foods You Could Prep Once

Some grocery convenience can be replicated with a single short prep session.

Instead of buying individually packaged snacks all week, divide a larger package once.

Instead of repeatedly buying chopped vegetables, chop enough for several meals.

Cook extra rice and refrigerate or freeze portions safely for another meal.

Shred enough cheese for several uses at once if a block is cheaper than shredded cheese.

You’re not cooking from scratch every night.

You’re essentially creating your own convenience foods while paying grocery-store prices for the ingredients rather than convenience-food prices for the labor.