Latest news with #groceryshopping
New York Times
6 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
‘Respect the Rotisserie Chicken'
'Respect the rotisserie chicken.' A reader wrote to me last week with that gem of a sentence, and I want to put it on hats and tote bags. I'd asked you all for your cost-saving strategies in these dizzyingly expensive times. You replied en masse, with fascinating emails that detailed your grocery-shopping and cooking habits and shared a glimpse into your lives, whether you're in Alaska or Australia (both represented) or, most likely, somewhere in between. My colleagues Allison Jiang and Sharon Attia pulled your tips into this article, which is full of excellent advice. Take a look, leave comments, tell us more. Some of you are buying in bulk and going to the store less often. But — counterintuitively! I like it! — some of you are doing the exact opposite, shopping more often and buying less in each go. That way, you buy only what you need in that moment and avoid food waste from ignored groceries — the most expensive choice of all. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Mom-of-11 reveals how she spends over $1,000 on groceries in a single trip and is forced to use FOUR shopping carts
A mom-of-11 has revealed that she spends over $1,000 in one trip to the grocery store, and has to use a whopping four shopping carts when she stocks up for her enormous brood. Alicia Dougherty, 44, from Pittsford, New York, has four biological children and eight others she adopted with her husband, Josh, 44. The mom-of-11 often gives people a glimpse inside her life on TikTok and Instagram, where she has about 9.1 million followers collectively. In a recent video, she documented a shopping trip to Walmart, and left viewers stunned over the immense amount of stuff that she had bought for her family. Alicia started the video by showing a clipboard with her immense list of items. It then cut to her four full carts, the first of which held toiletries and medicines, a kiddy pool, a case of printer paper, cleaning supplies, and matching family shirts in two colors. The second cart held most of the dry food items including dressings, jams, and crotons. It also held other food items including tomato products, pasta, bread, cereal, coffee, mints, and muffin mix. Alicia then spotted red and blue Gatorade and Jello cups so she joked that she 'had to get them for the kids for Memorial Day.' She also stocked up on sodas, teas, and juices. Cart three held the family's produce items including fruit, avocado, tomatoes, potatoes, Lunchables, and salad. Alicia also got 'the meats for the week,' including, '20 lbs of chicken for grill night, ground beef for taco Tuesday, and pork chops for slow cooker night.' The fourth cart included 10 dozen eggs, yogurt, orange juice, cheese, and nine different kinds of milk. Her last stop was in the freezer section, where she placed frozen pizza, fries, Pizza Rolls, White Castle burgers, four gallons of ice cream, and a slew of different treats. At the end of the video, she showed two long receipts for her purchases, which came out to more than $1,000. In 2023, Alicia came under fire after she fed her kids out of a baby pool. In a viral video, Alicia showed viewers how she prepared a 'nacho party' that saw her dozen kids munching out of a baby pool. She began by pouring tortilla chips on the bottom of the pool before adding ground meat, cheese sauce, lettuce, olives, tomatoes, and sour cream. At the end of her video, the busy mom showed the children digging into the pool and indulging in the Tex-Mex-inspired meal without any forks or napkins in sight. While the pool platter proved to be a hassle-free feeding strategy because it had no dishes involved, many viewers couldn't believe how 'unsanitary' the mom's 'party' was.
New York Times
a day ago
- Business
- New York Times
How Our Readers Are Saving Money on Groceries
Food costs continue to fluctuate, so we asked readers if they've changed how they shop and cook. Shoppers are finding smart ways to keep their grocery costs low, like buying in bulk and making typically store-bought items at home. Jessica Attie for The New York Times By Sharon Attia and Allison Jiang Published June 2, 2025 Updated June 2, 2025 With grocery costs in flux as a result of inflation, tariffs and other factors, it can feel like eating well means you have to spend a fortune. But our clever readers prove that that's not the case. We asked them if they have changed how they shop and cook. Below are some of their smart, money-saving tips. Pajeon is especially forgiving and can accommodate just about any vegetables you have on hand. Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne. Before you make yet-another trip to the grocery store, take stock of what's in your pantry, fridge and freezer to ensure that nothing goes to waste. Soups, pastas and fried rice are a great way to use up those leftover bits and bobs of meat and vegetables you have on hand. And Melissa Clark recommends leaning on bright, bold pantry staples, such as anchovies, chile paste, salsa or Dijon mustard, to turn everyday staples into something wonderful. Vegetable Pajeon | Chickpea Harissa Soup | Midnight Pasta With Garlic, Anchovy, Capers and Red Pepper Just five ingredients are needed for this one-pan dinner: salmon, butter, sesame oil, sugar and kimchi. Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell. Shop with a list — and keep to the list. To resist impulse purchases, one reader keeps to the edges of the grocery store, avoiding the packaged food in the center of the store as much as possible. Tomato Rice With Crispy Cheddar | Five-Ingredient Creamy Miso Pasta | Salmon and Kimchi Skillet Beans are a home cook's secret weapon: They're easy, hearty, economical and can be tucked into just about any dish. Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. Repeating ingredients doesn't mean you're cursed to eat the same protein, grain and vegetable every day. That would be so sad, so boring! A big pot of black beans can be tucked into burritos for breakfast, served over rice for lunch and loaded onto cheesy baked sweet potatoes for dinner. Sausages can be baked into a buttery breakfast casserole, pan-seared with peppers and onions or cooked in a quick skillet pasta with your chosen green veg. Chili | Sausage With Peppers and Onions | Baked Potatoes To stretch ground meat further, you can add rice to make porcupine meatballs, a dish that became popular during the Depression. Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Taking advantage of lower prices on certain ingredients when you see them may lead to meaningful savings. Ground beef, chicken, pork and turkey all freeze well. Creamy, Spicy Weeknight Bolognese | Porcupine Meatballs | Easy Turkey Meatloaf Shopping regularly means you can take advantage of whatever beautiful produce the season has to offer. Julia Gartland for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Samantha Seneviratne. It may seem counterintuitive, but making more frequent, intentional trips to the supermarket instead of one big trip can reduce the likelihood that you'll waste food. Going more often also ensures that you can peruse the freshest items that the market has to offer, and plan your menu accordingly. Miso-Parmesan Asparagus | Creamy Corn Pasta With Basil | Quick Fresh Tomato Sauce Rotisserie chicken is a hearty addition to suppers, like this delicious pasta from Christian Reynoso. Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell. Brilliant! Meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken — or a simple, homemade roast chicken — is a hearty addition to salads, pastas, soups and stews. Save the leftover bones and make chicken stock to freeze. Rotisserie Chicken and Greens Pasta | White Chicken Chili | Crispy Wonton Chicken Salad Quick from-scratch condiments, like this 10-minute chile crisp, are often cheaper than store-bought and surprisingly easy to make at home. Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Victoria Granof. Lots of basic grocery staples are cheaper and surprisingly easy to make at home: yogurt, for instance, bread, granola and more. You may even find that you prefer the taste and the quality of the homemade stuff, which you can customize to your taste. Readers also wrote in about multi-cookers like the Instant Pot, which quickly and efficiently cook beans from dried without the need for a lengthy soaking process. Focaccia | Chile Crisp | Pancake Mix Braised dishes like carnitas transform cheaper cuts of meat into fall-off-the-bone magic. Christopher Testani for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. Consider cheaper cuts of meat like chicken thighs or drumsticks, chuck roast, pork shoulder or shank. You may find you like them even better, especially in braised dishes like pot roast, carnitas and ropa vieja. Pressure Cooker Pot Roast | Slow Cooker Honey-Chipotle Chicken Tacos | Ropa Vieja This hearty, pesto-inspired meal proves that eating vegetarian doesn't mean skimping on flavor or satisfaction. David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Meatless Mondays are an opportunity to experiment with plant-based proteins like tofu and beans, which are endlessly versatile. Some of our most popular recipes, like these creamy, spicy tomato beans and greens, are fast, easy to prepare and delicious — all in part because they're vegetarian. Beans and Greens alla Vodka | Pesto Beans | Kung Pao Tofu Cooked grains can add heft and pops of texture to many meals. David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. It may be obvious, but buying in bulk not only ensures that you save on grocery costs. It also assures that you'll always have ingredients for a meal. Rice, for example, freezes well and can be a main, a side or a dessert. Big Pot of Beans | Farro | Can't-Miss Rice A quick and easy herb oil allows you to enjoy your homegrown herbs whenever the mood strikes. Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Sarah Jampel. Many wrote in about the cost-saving (and therapeutic) virtues of having a garden. Homegrown herbs, whether fresh or frozen, can elevate a meal exponentially, and many, like mint, dill, thyme and scallions, are easy to grow on your kitchen counter, even in urban kitchens. (Here's how to store and extend the life of your herbs.) Creamy White Beans With Herb Oil | Uchucuta Sauce (Andean Green Herb and Chile Sauce) | Greek Goddess Dip Food banks, community fridges and church pantries can be a big help to those in need. Cassandra Klos for The New York Times Some readers — especially those living on a fixed income — rely on food banks, community fridges and pantries to help them get by. Feeding America is a website that helps you find a food bank in your area by plugging in your ZIP code. You can also call a local church or community center.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Stock Market: Companies Are Struggling With Inflation-Driven Consumers
Inflation has altered consumers' buying habits Year-to-year inflation may look low, but prices continue to compound upwards. For example, "Food at home" pricing, accounting for 8% of the total CPI basket, was up 1.8% in 2024. That seemingly low inflation rate nevertheless pushed up the Covid period price inflation to 27.6%, and that is what consumers are contending with. So, why is that a problem for companies? Because consumers' actions to reduce the inflationary effects can adversely affect business revenues and profits. Grocery shopping is a good example. Here are examples of what consumers can do: These actions not only affect the grocery stores, but also affect the companies that produce packaged food. The effect is measured by 'volume/mix' changes caused by consumers' altered decisions. In last year's 2023 annual reporting, Kraft's management anticipated 2024 growth from rises in both sales and prices. However, consumers tripped up the company's strategies and expectations. From the 2024 Annual Report: Note the higher pricing was well below the 2024 CPI inflation rate of almost 3%. So, how did Wall Street view Kraft's 2024 results and plans? Not well. Below is the stock's performance for the Covid-period. Note that the company (and others like it) was able to produce inflation-beating results early, but then the consumer actions began to hit, causing a reversal of the previous gains. With the consumer shifts continuing to hit results in 2025, the stock has now fallen below the cumulative inflation, making the Covid-period "real" (inflation-adjusted) stock performance negative. Kraft Heinz Covid-period stock performance (including dividends) now below cumulative CPI While the Federal Reserve focuses on the latest 12-month change in prices, it is the cumulative inflation damage that consumers focus on. After all, a "good" 12-month inflation change of 'only' 3% nevertheless compounds high prices even higher. The Covid-period rise is now about 23%. That level of inflation continues to cause damage, particularly in this period of high uncertainty (see "Uncertainties Are Churning U.S. Stock Market Outlooks" for explanation of why uncertainty can be more troublesome than risk). Here are the S&P 500's nine companies in the sector/industry combination of the normally safe consumer defensive/ packaged foods. They all got an inflation boost early but are now struggling with both higher costs and changing consumer buying actions. The weak and negative "real" (inflation-adjusted) total returns for the Covid period show Wall Street's bearish views of the situation and the outlook. Double-digit negative real performance shows inflation's continuing problems In the early 1970s when inflation was a similar concern, I read an interview with a wealthy individual. He made a surprising statement, saying he would happily give up half his wealth if the other half was guaranteed to retain its value. Why was he willing to make such a large payout? Because inflation has a potentially destructive power that can become self-sustaining, even as economic, business, and financial conditions deteriorate. It is what happened in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Experts offer eight easy ways to save on your food shop
With grocery costs continuing to climb, finding ways to make your money go further at the supermarket is now more important than ever. New data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-NIQ Shop Price Index reveals that food inflation has risen for the fourth consecutive month in May, with a 2.8 per cent increase in food prices compared to last year, a slight increase from April's 2.6 per cent. The surge is particularly noticeable in fresh food prices, which have climbed by 2.4 per cent since last May, up from 1.8 per cent in April. Luckily, implementing a few simple strategies can lead to significant savings, whether shopping for a family or oneself. Here are eight practical tips to help reduce food shopping expenses without sacrificing quality or nutrition. 1) Make a budget for your food shopping 'If you're able to, plan and budget your food spending,' recommends Matthew Parden, CEO of money management app Marygold & Co.'Have an awareness about what your needs are and what your spend is capped at. 'Create a separate budgeting pot for food shopping. This helps ensure that this money is parked away from your day-to-day spending. On many money managements apps you can request nudges that remind you to put money away into this separate pot on pay day.' 2) Stick to a shopping list 'Mapping out your weekly meals and sticking to a targeted shopping list helps avoid impulse buys and cuts down on waste,' says Jamie Crummie, food waste expert and co-founder of Too Good To Go. Parden agrees and adds: ' Supermarkets have a very good habit of making you buy lots of things you didn't need or didn't know that you wanted. 'You might buy those five kilogram packets of whatever, and half of it gets chucked away after a week, either because you didn't understand the best before dates, or because you're not storing it properly. So, stick to a shopping list and be careful about what you're buying.' 3) Join your local supermarket's loyalty scheme for extra savings 'Every supermarket has its own loyalty scheme where you can collect points and get a small amount of cash back on those – and that's very worthwhile,' says Parden. 'You can also often get discounts by using supermarket gift cards, and generally you can get a 3 per cent discount on those. 'For example, if you buy a £100 gift card for your supermarket shop, you might only have to pay £97 for your shop if it offers a 3 per cent discount. 'I'm always surprised that these gift cards aren't used as much, and I think part of the reason behind this is a lack of awareness about them.' 4) Look for the yellow stickers 'Often you can get the yellow label discounts on things like beef and steak which can cost a fortune,' says Parden. 'If you learn when your supermarket has yellow sticker days, or which aisle you may find them in, then certainly there's significant savings to be made there.' 5) Buy non-branded or supermarket own branded products 'In many blind taste tests, the non-branded items often come out on top, and buying non-branded or supermarket own branded products is usually much cheaper and can lead to significant savings,' says Parden. 'There's some pretty good tinned fish out there in supermarkets, and they're often overlooked, but they're actually very well priced,' says Parden. 'Tinned food can be very versatile, has a longer shelf life and can actually taste very good.' 7) Make friends with your freezer Purchasing frozen fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to eat healthier while sticking to a budget and reducing food waste. Similarly, cooking meals in bulk and freezing them for later can also help achieve these goals. 'Your freezer is an underrated hero – think of it as a pause button on freshness,' says Crummie. 'Batch cook meals like stews, curries or soups, then freeze portions for ready-to-go dinners later. 'Use stackable containers and label them with dates to keep track. Don't overlook freezing perishables either – bananas (great for smoothies), bread, even grated cheese freeze beautifully.' 8) Go to the shops just before closing time 'Local markets, supermarkets, bakeries and greengrocers often slash prices near closing time – especially on fresh items,' says Crummie. 'These bargains are great for your wallet and help support your community too. 'The Too Good To Go app can also connect you with nearby stores offering surplus food, helping you discover hidden gems at a fraction of the cost.'
