Here’s a piece of positive news: Food shopping costs have been on the decline in the Philly metro area for at least part of this year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Between April and June, the cost of “food at home” dropped 0.7% across the board, and the prices of produce, cereal, and dairy products were all lower in June 2024 than they were in June 2023.
All that said, groceries can still cost a decent chunk of money — and everybody has to eat! — so why not try to knock a few bucks off the sticker price of your weekly trip? I’ve got some handy tips and tricks for spending less — keep scrolling for a starter guide ⬇️
🛒 Familiarize Yourself With Your Options
The Philly area has a range of grocery stores, from specialty to bulk to discount. The City Cast Philly team runs through them on this podcast episode.
For lower prices across the board, you can shop at a discount grocery store. Philly Mag has a great rundown of the discount markets in the region — Aldi, Grocery Outlet, Trader Joe’s, and Lidl — and each of their strengths and weaknesses.
If those aren’t accessible to you, or if you’re looking for a broader selection, then it can pay to comparison shop among other stores near you. Take note of which stores have higher base prices than others, and learn what kinds of sales and coupons are available to lower costs. Consider whether you might want to buy different items at different stores in your neighborhood.
🔎 Prowl the Flyers
If you can, plan your grocery trip around what’s on sale for the week. Many stores post their weekly circulars online. When you’re reading the ad, pay attention to what you need to do to get the discount (e.g. use a rewards card or clip a coupon), and specific quantities you have to buy to get a good deal.
⭐ Join Rewards Programs
For stores that have them, free rewards programs — like Target Circle, Acme for U, Giant Choice Rewards, or Fresh Grocer Price Plus — may save you money instantly by tapping into sale prices that are only available to members. Some programs also give you the chance to earn “points” on everything you buy.
📲 Take Advantage of Apps and Websites
If you are part of a store’s rewards program, find out if they have an app or a way to make an account through their official website. These apps and sites often let you redeem any points you’ve earned for free items or a few dollars off a future grocery order.
Grocery store apps can also let you “clip” digital coupons or members-only offers. Depending on the store, these coupons may even be personalized to match items you typically buy with your rewards card.
⚾ Know the Seasonal Specials
A few local grocery stores have partnerships with sports teams that translate to discounts for their fans.
For the 2024 baseball season, Giant is offering 5% off your grocery order if you wear Phillies gear and shop in-store on a Sunday when there’s a home game. If you’re at self checkout, you can ask an employee to apply the discount for you.
During football season, Acme has historically offered a 5% discount on orders of $20+ if you wear Eagles gear to the store on game days.
💰 Stack Your Deals!
Manufacturer’s coupons you find online or in a physical ad can often be used on top of a store’s own sales, coupons, or rewards points, which can translate into getting some items for super cheap. (Once, I scored two tubs of vegan cream cheese — regular price $6.49 each — for $1.49 total.) Read the fine print, and when in doubt … clip it!
🤑 Do you have any other money-saving tricks to share — at the grocery store or elsewhere? Send me an email!
This article was originally published in April 2024. It was updated in August 2024.
