HOUSTON – Let’s face it — grocery shopping feels more expensive than ever.
You walk in for a few essentials and walk out wondering where your money went. Whether you’re shopping for one or feeding a whole family, groceries are a necessity — and prices are climbing.
Economists warn that costs could rise even more due to the ongoing tariff war. So, how can you stretch your dollar further?
READ: $60 budget for groceries? No problem for ChatGPT
We turned to someone who knows how to save: Nora Kapche, better known as the Coupon Contessa.
Step One: Plan and budget
Kapche says the key to saving money starts before you ever leave the house.
“First, you have to determine what everyone is going to eat,” she explains. “You don’t want to make things ahead of time if no one is going to eat them — that just leads to waste. Always buy and prep what your family is actually going to eat.”
READ: Tariff impact: Prices may rise — how are you budgeting?
She recommends setting a firm grocery budget and using it to guide both your shopping list and your meal planning. One major tip? Base your meals around what’s on sale.
“Take the weekly ad — whether it’s digital on your store’s app or an old-school paper flyer — and make your menu from there,” Kapche says. “It’s one of the easiest ways to save money fast.”
What’s on sale?
During our visit to H-E-B, we found staple items like these on sale:
- Rice
- Beans
- Bread
- Peanut Butter & Jelly
- Fajita Meat
- Chicken
- Tortillas
- Ground Beef
- Spaghetti Noodles
- Tomato Sauce
- Cereal
- Cookies
- Mangos
- Oranges
- Shrimp
- Soda
Kapche says these ingredients are not only budget-friendly, but also incredibly versatile.
“Tacos are great because each person can customize them. Casseroles feed a large group without breaking the bank, and pasta — well, it fills you up!”
Store brands vs. name brands
Is the name brand really worth the extra cost?
“Usually, the same manufacturers that pack name-brand products are also packing store-brand products,” says Kapche. “So the actual product is probably really close — if not exactly the same.”
Generic brands, she adds, are usually 20 to 25% cheaper than their name-brand counterparts.
Buy in bulk — smartly
We also stopped by Sam’s Club to pick up bulk items like toilet paper and paper towels — two household essentials that won’t go bad.
“Paper items are a great bulk buy,” Kapche says. “They don’t expire, so you can stock up when the price is right.”
Frozen over fresh?
With grocery prices expected to rise due to tariffs, Kapche suggests stocking up on frozen alternatives when your favorite fresh produce is running low.
“I think basically every product we use that’s not 100% made in the U.S. is going to be affected,” she says. “From beauty products to olive oil — so many things in our homes come from other parts of the world.”
Final advice? Make a plan and stick to it
The Coupon Contessa’s biggest takeaway: make a list, stick to your budget, and don’t let impulse buys throw you off track.
Every dollar counts — and with a little planning, you can keep your grocery bills from ballooning.