Yahoo Finance Is There Any Way To Save on Food With Both Grocery and Fast Food Prices Rising?
Food prices just keep climbing higher and higher. The cost of groceries and fast food has even surpassed the national inflation rate, but there are still ways to save at the register.
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According to FinanceBuzz, the cost of living in the U.S. has increased by 22% since 2019. Between 2014 and 2024, average fast food menu prices have increased by as much as 100%. McDonald’s prices have doubled — the highest result of any chain analyzed by FinanceBuzz — followed by Popeyes (86%) and Taco Bell (81%). The lowest increases came from Subway and Starbucks, each of which increased prices by 39% during the same period. The publication noted that these are the only two restaurants analyzed where prices have risen by less than 50%.
“As consumers… we haven’t said no, yet. When you go out and look at restaurants, they’re still quite full… so the restaurant industry is saying, ‘Okay, if the demand is there, I’m going to price accordingly,'” Wells Fargo agricultural economist Michael Swanson told Yahoo! Finance.
Grocery prices aren’t much better. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the cost of groceries has risen by 25%, according to government data. Instacart shoppers have even gone viral on social media for using the app’s “reorder items” feature to see how much prices have increased over the years.
Crisman White, a 33-year-old from Virginia, posted a video on TikTok sharing his experience with Instacart’s “reorder items” button, Business Insider reported. Within five years, his $35 order jumped to $62. “I went back to my first Instacart because that was the only thing that I could really track exactly what I purchased,” White told Business Insider.
So, what does this mean for consumers? Many have turned to side hustles to make ends meet, but there are also steps you can take to cut back on food costs. Here are some ways to save at the grocery store and at fast-food restaurants.
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1. Download the Mobile Apps
Plenty of grocery stores and fast food chains have loyalty programs that you can sign up for to earn points and other discounts. You can usually take advantage of these in the store’s or restaurant’s mobile app.
2. Look Out for Upcoming Deals
Before going to the supermarket or picking up a meal, check for any upcoming deals. Fast food restaurants will usually offer exclusive deals and discounts on their websites. Many grocery stores will also advertise buy one, get one deals and other discounts in weekly ads.
3. Pay With a Rewards Card
There are many different credit cards that you can use at restaurants or supermarkets to earn cash back or discounts. Just be sure to read the fine print to see where you can earn rewards — and if there are annual fees.
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