ShareThisIf you've been to a grocery store lately, you know that meat, dairy products, cereal, coffee and soda have all had double-digit price increases in the past 12 to 18 months. Even worse, there are more hikes predicted.
This year's wild weather and roller-coaster oil prices are partly to blame, and unless things stabilize, shoppers are looking at food prices being 3 percent to 4 percent higher next year, said Michael Swanson, an agricultural economist at Wells Fargo.
When prices climb too high, thrifty consumers can always find alternatives, said Bea Krinke, a registered dietitian in St. Paul, Minn. But quitting a favorite food is rarely easy, even if you treat yourself once a month as Krinke suggests.
If deprivation isn't on your menu, supermarket gurus -- Carrie Rocha of Pocketyourdollars.com, Karen Gunter of Creativecouponing.com and super shopper Kim Crumb of Bloomington, Minn. -- suggest how to save on five budget-busting foods.
Their best tip? Track the prices of 10 to 15 staples so you can recognize a good deal when you see one. Here are other tips:
BACON
Why so high? With the price of feed rising, the hog industry has cut back on production to prevent losses. Fewer pigs, less bacon.
How to save:
-- Choose other pork products that are on sale, such as pork loin, or skip it all together.
-- Buy on sale at stores with double coupons.
-- Stock up when it's on sale, typically before Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, and then freeze excess.
Substitutes:
-- Buy cheaper sausage or breakfast links.
-- Try turkey bacon, Bacon Bits or soy-based bacon pieces.
BEEF
Why so high? "The export market is on fire in China, Korea and Mexico," said Swanson. Less inventory here means higher prices.
How to save:
-- Look for items with a "reduced for quick sale" sticker. Ask the meat department when it puts out reduced items. Freeze or cook immediately.
-- Embrace smaller portions. You'll reduce beef consumption and eat more healthfully, said Krinke.
-- Buy better cuts of meat for less at warehouse food stores or other sites.
Substitutes:
-- Chicken, pork and turkey are often cheaper. Stock up on turkey at Thanksgiving and freeze.
-- Tenderize cheaper cuts of meat with acidic marinades, such as Italian dressing, or chop meat into small pieces and put in a slow cooker.
-- Get protein from whole grains such as quinoa or soy and dairy products.
CEREAL
--Why so high? A large portion of corn supplies is now being diverted to ethanol. Oats and wheat prices are higher.
How to save:
-- Clip cereal coupons that are featured in the circulars, or print coupons from Smartsource.com, Coupons.com, Bettycrocker.com, Pillsbury.com or other company websites.
-- Buy in bulk at warehouse clubs or co-ops.
Substitutes:
-- Experiment with store brands, especially corn flakes or other standard fare.
-- Mix cheaper store brands with brand-name cereal.
MILK
Why so high? Exports are at an all-time high, said Swanson, because of an expanding middle class in countries such as Mexico, the Philippines and Egypt.
How to save:
-- Try neighborhood gas stations, convenience stores and pharmacies that use milk as a loss leader.
-- Freeze milk for use in cooking. (Most people don't like drinking milk after it's been frozen.)
Substitutes:
-- Check the price on powdered milk. It's often cheaper, and it's fine for use in recipes.
-- Gradually train yourself and your kids to drink a mixture of powdered and regular milk.
CHEESE
Prices have doubled in the past year and coupons are scarce.
How to save:
-- Buy in larger quantities at warehouse clubs.
-- Shred and freeze cheese when on sale. Shredded cheese tends to freeze better than blocks.
-- Shop for cheese in the dairy case, not the deli or the specialty-cheese case, where prices are higher.
Substitutes:
-- Experiment with reducing the amount of cheese on a pizza, for example, to what's palatable for you, said Krinke.
SODA POP
Why so high? It's the higher cost of corn syrup, aluminum, plastic and transportation.
How to save:
-- Watch for Pepsi coupons. Now that Coke is winning the soda wars, Pepsi is fighting back with discounts.
-- Stock up around the holidays, when discounters and supermarkets sell 12-packs for less than $3 and 24-packs are about $6.
-- Mix cheaper generic colas in 2-liter bottles with brand-name stuff.
Substitutes:
-- Make your own at home with the do-it-yourself kits from SodaStream at Amazon or Bed, Bath & Beyond.
-- Mix sparkling water with flavorings or apple, lime, orange or grape juice.
(Contact John Ewoldt at jewoldt(at)startribune.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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