By Liz McMahan
Phoenix Staff Writer
May 04, 2008 09:19 pm
—
Jeri Todd recently thought she wanted to buy a tomato at the grocery store.
Then she saw the price: $1.89. She put the tomato back and instead bought a lower-priced can of diced tomatoes. They served her purpose just as well and saved her money.
Todd, 64, is among growing numbers of shoppers paying closer attention to grocery prices these days.
U.S. Department of Agriculture officials have predicted the price of food will increase between 4 and 6 percent this year. That is in addition to a 4 percent increase last year, the largest in more than a decade.
Margo Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of Consumer Credit Counseling of Oklahoma said she’s seeing people recently who are concerned about making ends meet while paying higher grocery and gasoline prices.
The two go hand-in-hand as the nation’s quest for alternative fuels has driven grain prices up and as the price of oil has hit record highs.
Mitchell said that like the clients she sees, she’s also become personally aware of the higher grocery prices.
“It hurts me to pay anywhere close to $2 for a loaf of bread,” she said. “That’s the going price these days.”
Her first advice for coping with the rising prices is for people to figure out where they are financially.
“They are going to have to put together that budget that everybody avoids,” she said. “They really need to know how much money they have and how much they have to pay out every month.”
Secondly, she suggests prioritizing debt — making sure the house payment and car payment are made.
Then, she has several tips for grocery shopping:
• Plan the menu for the week or month.
• Make a list of the items you will need to purchase and buy only what is on the list.
• Don’t go to the grocery store hungry.
• Use coupons but only for products you usually buy anyway.
• Look higher and lower on the store shelves.
“Usually, the most expensive items are right at arm’s level,” she said.
• Look for house brands. They are usually cheaper than name brands.
• Avoid prepared foods. “If you can fix it yourself, it’s much cheaper.”
• Freeze leftovers and have them later.
Todd said she has cut her food budget wherever possible. For example, she’s quit buying potatoes, finding them just too expensive at more than $6 per bag.
But, she has a couple of areas where she’s not willing to change.
One of those is her requirement that bread be Rainbo or Wonder because she likes the freshness. But she also doesn’t want to pay the regular grocery store price. Instead, she goes to the day-old store and pays 79-cents per loaf.
Todd also isn’t giving up her favorite brands of soft drink or coffee.
Besides cutting out certain grocery products, Todd and her husband aren’t “going for drives” anymore either. He walks to work. She only makes necessary trips.
Lori Dwer, the 29-year-old mother of two and operator of a day care center in her home, also is watching the budget as she copes with higher prices.
She and her family used to eat out several times a week. Now, it’s once a week at most, she said. They eat more leftovers and have very simple meals — hot dogs or sandwiches.
“With all the prices going up, it just makes you have to manage your money a whole lot better,” Dwer said. “There’s not really much left to do the fun stuff like you used to. You kind of have to pick and choose what you can and can’t do.”
Reach Liz McMahan at 918-684-2926 orClick Here to Send Email
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