A Look at Rising Grocery Prices in Boston

From milk to meat, Boston's grocery prices are climbing higher each day. The recent rise of food costs has added yet another strain to Boston's citizens who are already dealing with soaring gas prices. Supermarket checkout prices are up by thirty percent and Boston seems to be feeling the hit harder than many other cities around the country. Inflation has transformed peanut butter sandwiches into the new steak for families that are struggling to put food on the table. It's even looking like SPAM might make a comeback since Tyson has raised their poultry prices.

Though it might be tempting to give the checkout girl a piece of your mind, remember that corn is the ultimate culprit in this situation. After President Bush called for greater oil independence, feed corn is being distilled into ethanol in astounding amounts. This is driving the price of corn higher and higher which trickles down to affect the price of everything else from eggs to ground beef.

You may notice the biggest mark-ups on soft drinks and processed foods like ketchup or or dressings made with high-fructose corn syrup. Other corn-based foods like corn chips and breakfast cereals will also surprise you with their rising prices. The hardest hits to your grocery budget will come from the meat and dairy aisles because farmers are paying a high price for corn-based feed for animals.

So what's a hungry person to do when they hit Boston's supermarkets? First, shop the sales papers. Take advantage of coupons and buy one, get one free deals. When you combine manufacturer's coupons with store coupons, you can shave a significant savings off your tab. Another great trend among savvy-shoppers is coupon doubling. Some grocery stores will offer double-coupon days, where they will match the savings of every coupon you present at check-out. This little trick can cut your bill in half if you've really done your coupon clipping.

Investing in a large freezer is also a good idea. You can stock up on meat when you find a good bargain, and freeze it for the weeks when milk prices make buying meat impossible. But be cautious about buying other items in bulk. Consumers often fall into the "bulk buys" trap, where they buy a huge amount of food at a discounted price, but only waste more money than they saved when the food spoils. Only buy large quantities of freezable foods or pantry stables like canned vegetables or rice. Otherwise, you are just throwing away your valuable grocery allowance.

Next, create a shopping strategy. Decide on a grocery budget and stick to it. Leave your debit card and credit cards at home and pay for groceries for cold, hard cash. If you only bring your food allowance to the supermarket, you won't be tempted to splurge on unnecessary items. Make sure you bring a grocery list with you each time, so that you only buy what you really need. This will help you remember everything you need so you aren't wasting gas money to make a mid-week grocery trip.

Every experienced grocery shopper will tell you to eat before you shop. If you hit the grocery store on an empty stomach, you will buy more than you need. Other smart shoppers suggest that you do your shopping alone to avoid children begging for expensive cereals or spouses swaying your meal plans. Avoid shopping during peak times and choose early morning trips when the aisles aren't crowded and the checkout clerk won't be so annoyed with your pile of coupons. Early mornings are also great for finding marked down produce or meat. Many butchers spend the first hour of the morning marking down the meat that is close to expiration. You can have first pick of the great savings if you arrive early. Then you can freeze your bargains until you are ready to throw them on the grill.

Even though Boston's supermarkets are marking up prices each day, you can still provide healthy meals for your family. It may take a little more time and planning, but delicious meals are still possible. Check out www.groceryguide.com for more money-saving tips and links to Boston's best grocery bargains.