20 Things to Stop Buying at the Grocery Store (and What to Buy Instead)

Grocery prices are higher than they were just a year or two ago — and there are probably a few items in your cart every week that are costing you way more than they should. Here are 20 things worth skipping, and exactly what to grab instead.

If you’ve noticed your grocery bill creeping up even though you’re buying the same things you always have, you’re not imagining it. Grocery prices have risen about 2.9% over the past year, and that’s on top of the sharp increases families already absorbed since 2021. The good news? You don’t have to overhaul your entire shopping routine. Sometimes it’s as simple as swapping a few overpriced habits for smarter ones.

These aren’t about eating less or going without. They’re about getting the same result — or honestly, a better one — for less money.

1. Pre-Cut Produce

Stop buying: Bags of pre-cut stir-fry veggies, diced onions, sliced peppers, or melon chunks in plastic containers.

Buy instead: Whole produce and a sharp knife.

Pre-cut convenience is real, but you’re paying a steep premium for it. A whole watermelon might cost $5, while the same amount of pre-cut chunks in plastic containers can run $15 or more. Red onions at Walmart run around 49¢ per pound whole — but jump to roughly $4 per pound when pre-diced.

A good kitchen knife and five minutes are all you need to make the switch. For produce you use often, chop a week’s worth on Sunday, and store it in the fridge.

2. Bottled Water (for Daily Home Use)

Stop buying: Cases of single-use water bottles for everyday drinking.

Buy instead: A water filter pitcher or faucet filter.

Tap water costs less than a penny per gallon. A 20-oz bottle of water costs around $1.50 at a convenience store — which works out to roughly $9–$12 per gallon. A family of four that switches from bottled to filtered tap can save over $1,000 a year.

A Brita pitcher runs about $30 and replaces hundreds of plastic bottles. If your tap water has a funny taste or smell, a filter fixes that without the markup.

3. Individual Snack Packs

Stop buying: 100-calorie packs, single-serve chip bags, individually wrapped cracker portions.

Buy instead: The regular-size bag and small reusable containers.

Those mini packs are essentially paying someone else to do the portioning for you. A regular-size bag of Goldfish crackers costs a fraction of what a box of single-serve pouches does per ounce.

Grab a set of small reusable snack bags or containers (Dollar Tree has them), portion out snacks yourself at the start of the week, and you’re done.

4. Pre-Shredded Cheese

Stop buying: Bags of shredded mozzarella, cheddar, or Mexican blend cheese.

Buy instead: Block cheese and a box grater (or food processor attachment).

Block cheese is generally cheaper per pound than pre-shredded bags, and you get pure cheese — no cellulose powder, potato starch, or other anti-caking agents. Those additives also interfere with melting, which is why homemade mac and cheese made with freshly shredded block cheese tastes noticeably better. Grate a whole block at once, store it in a zip-top bag, and it’s just as convenient.

5. Name-Brand Spices

Stop buying: McCormick or other name-brand spice jars from the spice aisle.

Buy instead: Store-brand spices or bulk spices from the international foods aisle.

The international aisle in most grocery stores sells large bags of cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, coriander, and other common spices for a fraction of what the name-brand jars cost. A 12-ounce bag of cumin from the international section often costs the same as a 1-ounce McCormick jar. Walmart’s Great Value spice line is another solid option. The spice is the same — you’re just not paying for the label.

6. Pre-Made Seasoning Packets

Stop buying: Taco seasoning packets, fajita seasoning mixes, and ranch dip packets.

Buy instead: A simple pantry of base spices and use DIY recipes.

A single taco seasoning packet typically costs $1–$1.50 and contains about 1 ounce of spice mix. You can make the same blend with chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and a pinch of oregano — spices you likely already have — for pennies per batch. A quick internet search will give you the ratios. Make a big jar of it, and keep it in your pantry. (Try our poultry seasoning mix too.)

7. Flavored Instant Oatmeal Packets

Stop buying: Boxes of individually-packaged flavored oatmeal packets.

Buy instead: A big container of plain old-fashioned or quick oats.

Flavored instant oatmeal packets are expensive per serving and loaded with sugar. A large canister of plain Quaker oats or store-brand oats costs a fraction of the price. Add a drizzle of honey, a pinch of cinnamon, some sliced banana, or a handful of frozen berries — and you’ve got a healthier, tastier breakfast for much less.

8. Deli-Sliced Lunch Meat

Stop buying: Pre-packaged deli turkey, ham, and roast beef by the pound from the deli counter or refrigerator case.

Buy instead: A whole rotisserie chicken or a pork loin/turkey breast roasted at home.

Deli meat is one of the priciest proteins per pound at the grocery store. A rotisserie chicken typically runs $5–$7 and provides multiple meals’ worth of sliced or shredded meat for sandwiches, salads, wraps, and more. A whole turkey breast or pork tenderloin, sliced after roasting, gives you homemade “deli meat” at a much lower cost per serving — and no added nitrates.

9. Salad Kits

Stop buying: Bagged salad kits (the ones with dressing, toppings, and pre-chopped greens).

Buy instead: A head of romaine or cabbage, a simple dressing, and toppings you already have.

Those kits are convenient, but you’re paying for assembly labor on a salad that takes about three minutes to make yourself. A head of romaine lettuce costs $1–$2 and makes several salads. Shred some cabbage, add a carrot, throw in whatever you have — sunflower seeds, croutons, shredded cheese from the block you bought — and you’ve built the same thing for much less.

10. Store-Bought Croutons

Stop buying: Bags of packaged croutons.

Buy instead: Day-old bread from the bakery clearance section, toasted at home.

Check the day-old bread rack at your store. A $1–$2 loaf of bread destined for the markdown rack makes excellent croutons — just cube it, toss with olive oil, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, and bake at 375°F for 12–15 minutes. You get a full baking sheet of croutons for less than the cost of a small bag of packaged ones. And they taste so much better too!

11. Bottled Salad Dressing

Stop buying: Multiple bottles of specialty salad dressings.

Buy instead: A simple homemade vinaigrette made with pantry staples.

Bottled dressing is mostly oil, acid, and seasoning — things you already have. A basic vinaigrette is three parts oil, one part vinegar or lemon juice, a little mustard, salt, and pepper. Shake it in a jar. It takes 60 seconds, costs almost nothing, and tastes fresher than anything in a bottle.

Ranch and Caesar are easy too — there are tons of quick recipes online using sour cream or mayo as a base. (Try one of these homemade salad dressing recipes.)

12. Pre-Made Smoothie Packs or Bottled Smoothies

Stop buying: Pre-portioned smoothie packs or refrigerated bottled smoothies.

Buy instead: Frozen fruit bought in bulk.

Smoothie subscription packs are marked up significantly for the convenience of having someone else weigh and bag your fruit. Buy large bags of frozen mango, strawberries, and mixed berries from the freezer section instead — they’re often $3–$5 for a 48-ounce bag. Portion them yourself into freezer bags at the start of the month. Add spinach, Greek yogurt, and whatever liquid you have, and you’re set. (Try one of these 25 smoothie recipes.)

13. Specialty Coffee Creamers

Stop buying: Seasonal or flavored coffee creamers with a premium price tag.

Buy instead: Regular half-and-half or whole milk, plus a splash of vanilla extract and a little sweetener.

Flavored creamers are mostly water, sugar, and oil. A bottle of pure vanilla extract lasts for months, and a tiny amount in half-and-half makes a creamer that tastes better than most store-bought versions. If you love a specific flavor, there are dozens of copycat recipes online — many require just two or three ingredients you already have.

14. Canned Beans (When You Use Them Regularly)

Stop buying: Multiple cans of black beans, chickpeas, or kidney beans.

Buy instead: Dried beans in bulk.

A 16-ounce bag of dried black beans costs about $1.50 and makes the equivalent of three or more cans of beans. Yes, they require soaking and cooking — but if you batch cook on Sundays or use a slow cooker or instant pot, dried beans are almost no extra effort. Cooked beans freeze beautifully in 1.5-cup portions, so you still have the convenience of grab-and-go. They’re more flavorful too!

15. Single-Use Coffee Pods

Stop buying: K-cups or other single-serve coffee pods.

Buy instead: A bag of ground coffee and a reusable pod, or a basic drip coffee maker.

Single-serve pods can run 50¢–80¢ per cup, which adds up fast. A bag of good ground coffee costs a fraction of that per cup.

If you love your Keurig, grab a reusable refillable pod for a few dollars — you can fill it with any ground coffee you like. The taste is usually fresher too, since you’re not drinking coffee that’s been sitting in a sealed pod.

16. Paper Plates and Plastic Cutlery (for Everyday Use)

Stop buying: Paper plates or disposable utensils as a regular kitchen staple.

Buy instead: Actual dishes and silverware, washed after use.

Paper plates feel cheap, but a pack-a-week habit adds up to real money over a year. If the issue is cleanup time, a simple rule like “dishes go straight into soapy water after use” makes the dishwashing easier. For parties and picnics, disposables make sense — but for everyday family meals, real plates are the smarter financial choice.

17. Grocery Store Greeting Cards

Stop buying: $5–$8 greeting cards from the grocery store card aisle.

Buy instead: Cards from Dollar Tree (just $1.25 each), or grab a free printable.

Grocery store greeting cards are wildly marked up. Dollar Tree has a surprisingly good selection of birthday, holiday, and occasion cards for $1.25 each — the same brands you’d find at the grocery store, but at a fraction of the price. You can also find printable cards online and print them at home. Nobody notices the price difference; they care about the message inside.

18. Pre-Marinated Meats

Stop buying: Pre-marinated chicken breasts, fajita strips, or pork tenderloin with added sauce.

Buy instead: Plain meat, marinated at home.

Pre-marinated meats cost much more per pound than their plain counterparts — and you’re often paying for mostly water, salt, and oil. A simple marinade of olive oil, garlic, lime juice, and spices takes five minutes to mix, and the meat can sit in it in the refrigerator overnight. You control the ingredients, and you’ll usually get better flavor too.

19. Boxed Rice or Pasta Sides

Stop buying: Rice-A-Roni, Knorr pasta sides, or similar boxed grain mixes.

Buy instead: Plain rice or pasta with your own seasoning.

Those little boxes of flavored rice and pasta are mostly plain carbs with a seasoning packet — the exact same thing you can make from bulk rice or pasta and your spice cabinet. A 5-pound bag of rice costs about $4 and makes dozens of meals. Cook it in chicken broth instead of water, and add a little butter and garlic powder to get the same result for a tiny fraction of the cost.

20. Name-Brand Pantry Staples

Stop buying: Name-brand versions of flour, sugar, canned tomatoes, chicken broth, baking soda, pasta, and other pantry basics.

Buy instead: Store-brand or Walmart’s Great Value versions of the same items.

For pantry staples that get blended into recipes, baked into things, or used as a background ingredient, the brand truly doesn’t matter.

Store-brand flour, canned tomatoes, chicken broth, olive oil, pasta, and baking essentials are often made in the same facilities as the name brands. The savings on these items alone can cut a significant chunk off a weekly grocery bill over time.

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Quick Swap Summary

• Pre-cut produce → Whole produce + 5 min of prep (up to 300% less per pound)
• Bottled water (daily use) → Filtered tap + reusable bottle ($500–$1,000+/year for a family)
• Individual snack packs → Bulk bag + reusable containers (30–50% savings)
• Pre-shredded cheese → Block cheese + box grater (up to $1.50 more per cup for shredded)
• Name-brand spices → Store brand or international aisle (same spice, 80–90% less)
• Seasoning packets → DIY spice blend from pantry (pennies vs. $1–$1.50/packet)
• Flavored oatmeal packets → Plain oats + your own toppings (60–70% savings per serving)
• Deli lunch meat → Rotisserie chicken or home-roasted ($2–$4+ savings per pound)
• Salad kits → Head of lettuce + DIY toppings (50–70% savings)
• Store-bought croutons → Day-old bread from clearance rack (very low cost)
• Bottled dressing → Homemade vinaigrette (pennies per serving)
• Smoothie packs → Bulk frozen fruit (40–60% savings)
• Specialty creamers → Half-and-half + vanilla (fraction of the cost)
• Canned beans (weekly) → Dried beans in bulk (50–60% savings)
• K-cups → Ground coffee + reusable pod (50–80¢/cup → pennies)
• Paper plates (daily) → Real dishes ($100+/year)
• Grocery store greeting cards → Dollar Tree cards at $1.25 ($3–$7 savings per card)
• Pre-marinated meat → Plain meat + 5-minute marinade ($2–$3+ per pound)
• Boxed rice/pasta sides → Plain grain + spices from pantry (60–80% savings per serving)
• Name-brand pantry staples → Store brand/Great Value (20–40% savings across the board)

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The goal isn’t to make grocery shopping harder — it’s to stop paying a convenience markup on things that aren’t actually that much more convenient. Most of these swaps take the same amount of time (or less) than what you’re already doing. And over a month, those savings add up to real money back in your pocket.

Which swap are you trying first? Drop a comment below — we’d love to hear what’s working for your family!

Also read:
13 Grocery Stores With Senior Discounts (And When to Shop)
21 Extremely Cheap Meals to Stretch Your Grocery Budget
38 Frugal Meals for Your Family

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