Overpriced Grocery Store Items That We’re Leaving On The Shelf Next Time

No summer buffet would be complete without a bowl of guacamole sitting on the table. But this delicious dip can be pretty pricey at the grocery store, which is frustrating when you think about how simple it is to prepare. So, as a cheaper alternative, you could whip up your own batch in the kitchen. Just grab some avocados, lime juice, and a bit of chill, and give it a try.

Desperately in need of some batteries? Well, don’t turn to the supermarket. Not only are they expensive there, but the items also aren’t sold in large batches, either. Talk about lose-lose. Instead, BestProducts.com suggests visiting a depot to pick up a bigger quantity at a lower cost. Shopping online for the best deals is another good option, too.

While an ice-cold glass of soda can be just the ticket on a warm day, it isn’t the healthiest of drinks. Plus, these products will drain your wallet on shopping trips as well, despite being available on a discount offer in certain places. So to save some cash and help your body, get yourself a water filter instead.

Yes, supermarkets sell lots of bathroom toiletries. But the prices? Oh boy. According to BestProducts.com, you’ll be paying more for a tiny quantity there. So avoid them, folks. You can buy all that stuff in larger batches for less when visiting “big-box department stores.” Your wallets will breathe a huge sigh of relief!

The next time you’re eyeing up a bag of shredded cheese at the grocery store, pump the brakes. Compared to grabbing a wedge of the dairy product and chopping it up in your kitchen, those packs are a lot costlier. Oh, and they aren’t as nutritious, either. Apparently, you’ll find a ton of additives in them. Yikes.

Hummus is delicious — we won’t hear a bad word said about it! At the same time, though, it isn’t the cheapest item on grocery-store shelves. So, what can you do? Simple. As per Eat This, Not That!, invest in a food processor and produce the side dish from scratch. It’ll save you money in the long run. Plus, you can get creative with the ingredients.

Why are frozen fruit bars so expensive at the supermarket? Well, it’s mostly down the packaging. No joke, folks. That ups the cost substantially! So as an alternative, you might want to think about creating your own popsicles in the kitchen. They’ll taste just as good as the products on the shelves.

While infused olive oils can no doubt be enticing, here’s something to remember, folks. Compared to standard olive oil products, these items don’t have the same lasting power. They go off more quickly. That’s a huge black mark against them, especially for the prices you pay. Instead, why not whip up a tasty blend yourself?

To say that supermarket prices for greeting cards can be steep’s a major understatement. BestProducts.com notes that the numbers may reach up to $4 — and that’s just for the so-called “cheaper brands.” Holy smokes! To ease the financial strain, then, visit a retailer. There’s usually more choice available in them, too.

Do you buy all of your magazines at the grocery store? Now might be the time to stop, especially if you’re trying to save some cash. The “cover prices” aren’t the kindest. Instead, subscriptions are probably a better way to go. Or, you may just want to skim the contents digitally.

If you spot helpings of cooking wine on the supermarket shelves, don’t touch them. They’re pricey for starters. Plus, the flavors they offer aren’t exactly mind-blowing. As per BestProducts.com, any normal wine that you’ve got sitting at home will produce far superior results in the kitchen. Give it a try for your next meal.

Surely the supermarket is an ideal place to grab party provisions, right? Well, not really. Stuff like streamers, balloons, and candles are often overly expensive at big chain stores. So, swerve by your local dollar store to buy the stock. The prices will be much kinder.

We love a good rice mix. The cost of them, though? Not so much! Eat This, Not That! reveals that some grocery stores can sell packs for over $7. Woah. To avoid paying out so much, you could just make a batch in the kitchen with ingredients you’ve got in your cabinets. It’ll taste even better knowing the money you’ve saved.

Chicken is a staple in the kitchen. It's super versatile, which makes it a great ingredient to keep in the freezer for when you're not sure what to make. Yet the cost of boneless breasts isn’t ideal at the grocery store. As an alternative, Eat This, Not That! suggests that “bone-in” options could be better. Those products are much less expensive while retaining the same quality.

Are you a fan of croutons? Well, listen up. As you’ll no doubt know already, these tasty bites can leave your wallet a little light following trips to the grocery store. So, why not cook a batch yourself? Cut some bread into pieces and add a bit of flavoring to the blocks, before crisping them in your oven. It's a way cheaper option.

Certain supermarkets have dedicated book sections. But while that might sound like welcome news to bookworms, here’s something to remember: the prices are usually boosted. Ouch. Specialized bookstores are probably your best bets to save some cash. You’ll get a much wider choice, too.

There’s a double-whammy that comes from purchasing coffee at the supermarket. Not only is it very pricey, but your choices on the shelves will also be limited. So what should you do? Depots offer larger quantities for excellent prices, while brand websites can give you discounts for shopping direct. Nice!

Who doesn’t love mashed potatoes? It’s a classic side that goes well with almost anything. Then again, buying an already-prepared batch from the grocery store can set you back. And it’s an unneeded expense to add to your total. Instead, you can save by making your own with one or two spuds.

It can be quite the conundrum: do you go with the standard bags of potato chips or the healthier, more expensive, packs? It’s a tough one. Yet there’s a third option here. Yep, as per Eat This, Not That!, you could cook a batch using a single potato. That way, you’ll save money and know what’s in the snack.

Looking to stock up on toilet paper for the month ahead? Well, you can do a lot better than buying it at your local supermarket. For instance, warehouse chains such as BJ’s and Costco sell those items at far more favorable prices. Oh, and you can get them in much larger quantities, too.

Name-brand cereals are one of the biggest offenders when it comes to overpriced supermarket items. They really can hit your wallet hard. Instead of picking them up, though, take a look at the “generic” alternatives on the shelves. They’re equally enjoyable to eat but at a much lower price. “Sometimes it can be the exact same cereal in a different box!” states BestProducts.com.

Fancy making a homemade pizza? Awesome! You just need some dough and you’ll be good to go. But don’t pick it up from the grocery store. You can actually save quite a bit of cash by creating a serving from scratch. And trust us, that pie will taste so much better knowing that you did all the work.

Iced tea’s the perfect drink to enjoy on a hot summer’s day. Mind you, the cost of the mixes at grocery stores are far from ideal. There’s a simple fix, though. Yes, you can prepare your own batch by dropping a bit of ice into a warm container of tea. Eat This, Not That! also notes that this’ll likely be more beneficial for your health as well.

Smoothies are perfectly healthy items to pick up at the supermarket but you can wipe out that expense pretty easily. Yep, with a blender on hand, you can create the thirst-quenching drinks yourself. And on top of that, you’ll have command over what goes into them — something that gets lost with store-bought bottles.

Before you grab a bunch of laundry products off the supermarket shelves, know this. As with certain other goods, these shops usually jack up the costs, meaning you can definitely get them cheaper elsewhere. For instance, Target’s a good place to look, as is Costco. Don’t rule Amazon out, either. Your wallet will thank you!

Whether they’re made from glass or plastic, supermarkets do offer up food containers to customers. There are a few issues, though. For one thing, they’ll set you back by a greater sum than necessary. Plus, you’ll only have a small amount to look at and the boxes are unlikely to be sold in sets. Oh dear. To swerve all that, jump on Amazon.

For as much as you might love tomato sauce, it’s a pricey expense that can be swerved at the grocery store. After all, why splash out when you can create a homemade batch in your kitchen? In addition to that, BestProducts.com also highlights the positive ecological impact of opting for this choice. It’ll be one less plastic bottle that gets thrown away when you’re done!

When it comes to moreish snacks, you can’t beat trail mixes. They provide the perfect blend of sugary and savory flavors. Yet the grocery store prices for these packs aren’t the kindest. Honestly, providing that you have the correct ingredients, you could create a homemade mix that tastes just as nice.

Alongside all the other toiletries on offer, you can buy beauty products and cosmetics at the supermarket, too. In truth, though, the costs are far greater when compared to other places. To give you an example, drugstores sell that stuff for much lower sums, so you should probably drop by your local one if the need arises.

From whisks to spatulas, you’ll find a ton of kitchen utensils sitting on grocery store shelves. There’s just one problem: like many other items, the price is usually jacked up. And that can get pretty frustrating! But try not to fret, folks. As per BestProducts.com, retailers will offer alternatives for cheaper sums.

This is an interesting one. As Eat This, Not That! points out, bread isn’t too badly priced at the grocery store. Yet thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, more people started to bake their own loaves. It doesn’t cost as much in comparison, so why not give it a crack? You could well have a lot of fun with it!

Searching for offers on baby food? Well, supermarkets are unlikely to be your best bet on that front. Instead, keep your eyes on the web. The manufacturers’ own sites and Amazon are known to sell for low prices, in addition to larger quantities. Oh, and if you feel up to the task, you could cook a homemade mix for even less money.

If you pick up your bottles of vitamins at the grocery store, know this. According to BestProducts.com, they’re a great deal pricier there than in other places. And to add to that, you can’t buy the stuff in bulk off the shelves. Quite simply, you can do better in other shops.

How about this for a surprise? As per Eat This, Not That!, all “fresh” seafood arrives at the supermarket iced. Then, before it’s put on display, the fish gets defrosted. There’s no other difference between them and the rest of the frozen items, despite the steeper price. So why spend more, then?

Aiming to make some cut-backs to your supermarket expenses? This is an easy place to start, then. Pre-cut fruit and vegetables are great for speed and convenience but you can save money by dicing up the items yourself at home. And that’s not all. As you’re doing it, you’ll be cleaning them, too. Yet there’s no telling what germs could be lurking inside the aforementioned packs.

Unlike a lot of other products on the shelves, minced garlic tends not to be a high-priced item. But at the same time, its cost is greater than an unprocessed garlic clove. On top of that, it’s teeming with additives to prevent the crushed veggie from spoiling. Doesn’t sound so appealing now, right?!

Something tells us that your wallet won’t be a fan of supermarket protein bars. After all, according to Eat This, Not That!, they’re usually priced between $2 and $4 — each. Holy cow! In comparison, Amazon’s been known to sell packs that amount to 88 cents per block. Talk about a huge difference.

There are a lot of black marks against buying pre-made salads from the supermarket. The big one’s cost, as BestProducts.com suggests that you could be splashing out nearly $10 on the snack. The website also highlights that “the quality is questionable [and] you don’t actually know how old the fruits and veggies are.” Yikes. Making a bowl in the kitchen beforehand may be a better option, then.

You won’t struggle to find tins of pet food at the supermarket. Yet for the prices you pay, the standards of the contents are surprisingly low. And that isn’t great news for your animal pals. So, to ensure they get better-tasting meals going forward, take a trip to your nearby pet shop. That’ll put a smile on their faces.

Bottles of water aren’t only pricey at the grocery store — the plastic used to produce them can have a hugely negative ecological impact, too. So what should you do? Simple: instead of grabbing another large pack off the shelves, invest in a “reusable water bottle” and top it up by using your taps at home. Job done!