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As we head into the end of 2024, it’s still nearly impossible to avoid sticker shock when shopping for groceries or dining out. While food prices may not be soaring as they did last year, they remain high enough to make many of us rethink our shopping lists. Some items that were once staples are now splurges, and it might be time to leave certain foods on the shelf.
Have you guys seen the price of Doritos and Lays lately? It's not unlikely to find a standard-sized bag of chips for about $6 these days. It's asinine. Peruse the chip aisle long enough and you might find a store-brand option on the cheaper side of the spectrum, but generally speaking, chips are a no-go unless there's a stellar sale going on.
It's lovely that you can purchase produce like asparagus and corn on the cob in the dead of winter in states where it actually feels like the dead of winter, thanks to states that stay warm enough to continue growing produce.
What's not lovely is scanning that bunch of asparagus at check out, placing it on the scale, and about passing out when you see an amount double what you'd pay for the stuff when it's in season. We'll be basing our menus around what produce is most affordable, thank you very much.
A two-liter bottle of soda used to cost a buck. Nowadays, the same size is at least double that price, and because of that, we'll be reaching for other drink options with lower price points.
Hitting the cereal aisle used to be such a simple thing. You went right for your favorite varieties and tossed them in the cart without a care in the world. Today, that's a great way to give yourself a case of sticker shock. Nowadays we hit the cereal aisle and scan the tags for sales, only buying brands that promise a good deal for breakfast. Two for $5 sale on Kellogg's? Time to figure out which Kellogg's offerings top your list and leave Post alone until next time. It's the new name of the cereal game.
This one's a real bummer because who doesn't love ice cream? What was once an affordable and refreshing treat to enjoy with family and friends has now become a luxury item. According to a consumer index conducted by Axios, the cost of ice cream increased by 12.5% in 2022 compared to the previous year.
If you're feeling inspired, though, why not give homemade ice cream a whirl? This way you'll save money while having full control of the ingredients that go in it.
Admit it: You've probably ordered pizza over the phone and said, "On second thought, never mind, please cancel that order" when you've been told the total amount due at the end. You'd be hard-pressed to order two large pizzas and an order of bread for under $50 anymore. No wonder frozen pizzas are steadily growing in popularity.
It used to be affordable to hit up the local doughnut shop for a fresh dozen. Now we're more likely to reach for other quick and easy breakfasts, because a box of 12 donuts costs at least $15–$20, which crosses over into the "I'll pass" territory. Don't even get us started on gourmet doughnuts.
The good old days of heading into the gas station to satisfy a chocolate craving with two for $1 candy bars are long, long gone. It's hard to find a Snickers bar for less than $2 now.
Oreos might be milk's favorite cookie, but our bank accounts beg to differ. There are far too many other cookies out there to pay $5 for one package of Oreos, and we're pretty sure all of them taste A-OK when dunked in milk.
Related: Walmart's Chocolate Chip Cookies Beat Top Brands in Taste Test
Look, no one loves getting knuckle-deep in clarified butter and slurping big ol' chunks of crab meat right out of the shell like we do. But here's the reality: Those dang legs are way too much money nowadays. We're talking hundreds of dollars for ten pounds of king crab legs. We're either going to ball on a budget with snow crab or hold onto our memories of surf and turf dinners that didn't threaten our financial well-being.
And for that matter, other "fancy" seafood like scallops can also shove off. Considering how many scallops it would take to fill our bellies, we'd go broke on those little guys.
From puddings and yogurts to single-serve soup containers, buying these items as single servings is not the way to go anymore. We'd much rather buy a box of yogurt from Costco than pay $1 or more apiece for a morning Yoplait.
Ten bucks for a pound of Boar's Head is not doing it for us. We'll be sticking to whatever is on sale at the deli counter or looking to the likes of peanut butter and jelly, egg salad, and grilled cheese sandwiches if we must.
We know how tantalizing the aromas pouring out of a bakery can be. And we know the pull is even stronger when you're staring at cakes, breads, muffins, and cookies behind glistening glass cases. But the bakery isn't the most affordable place to grab a cake, guys. Budget with Betty Crocker, dupe with Duncan Hines, or play around with Pillsbury instead.
Related: Easy and Delicious Recipes That Start with Cake Mix
Hot bars are a trap. As you stroll through the grocery store, growing hungrier while meandering from aisle to aisle, self control is pretty hard to muster when you come upon the hot bar. Just remember that the prices are outrageous and you're better off resisting the temptation.
Whether we're talking about almonds, pistachios, cashews, walnuts, or even peanuts, the price of nuts has gotten, well, nuts! Sure, they're delicious and nutritious, but our bank accounts matter, and we're not willing to sacrifice our savings over some nuts.
Chicken wings aren't the only case of sticker shock you're liable to face in the meat department. From ground beef to chicken breasts, the cost of meat fluctuates to such a degree that we will adapt our entire meal plan to revolve around what's on sale — or opt for buying in bulk through local farmers or meat markets to save money in the long run.
This one cuts so deep. Whether we're talking about grocery store prices or restaurant menus, chicken wings have become expensive. We remain committed, so you will find us searching for sales or hitting up any local wing night deals we come across. But if we're faced with full price options only, we're leaving chicken wings alone.
Kids today don't know the disdain of dial-up or what it was like to rewind a VHS tape before taking it back to Blockbuster. Soon they'll also be saying, "What's a dollar menu?," because such a thing is becoming rarer by the minute. There are still fast-food deals to be had, but you'll likely be paying more than a buck.
Chains like Outback Steakhouse and Lonestar — we're looking at you. Charging $40 for a subpar cut of steak with a baked potato and a scoop of broccoli is not the move. If you feel disgusted with yourself once you pay your tab at a steakhouse, thinking "I could have made multiple steaks and taters for that price," it's not worth it.
