Beat Inflation on Food With This Grocery Store Hack

Here is everything that I picked up from my local salvage store. 

I refer to the retail price from Walmart, Kroger, or Amazon. This will show you how much I saved versus how much I paid for it. 

Flour tortillas 

I picked up two packs of soft taco-size flour tortillas. I paid $1.39 for both of them. They did expire in December, but they look wonderful. So we will put these in the freezer to stay fresh and not mold.

I also got some burrito-size ones. Both of these are ten packs or ten in a pack. For the burrito size, I paid $1.99. The date on those was December as well. I'm comfortable feeding my family out-of-date food if it looks good and smells good. They'll go right in the freezer, and we'll pull them out as needed. 

Canned tomatoes

I picked up three cans of Hunt's stewed tomatoes. This is basil, oregano, and garlic. I paid $0.69 for each of them, which doesn't expire until 2024. I got another one of the diced for the same price, and they also don't expire until 2024. 

Pecan chips

I bought some pecan chips. I paid $3.69, and they expired in December. I will also put these in the freezer. That way, they don't go rancid. They stay good, and we'll pull them out as needed whenever I do baking. 

Blueberry muffin mix

I got one pack of blueberry cheesecake muffin mix. I only found one, but I paid $0.59, which doesn't expire until September 2023.  

Dried beans

I got some dried beans. We got two bags of small red beans and Lima beans. I paid $1.29 for both red beans and $1.39 for both white beans. They don't expire until 2025. That was such a good deal. I'll keep those in the pantry, and that's something that I will be canning. 

Pasta

I got some of my favorite pasta; I paid $0.69 a box. They don't expire until November of 2024. The boxes are dented, but the pasta is fine. 

Nutrigrain bars

These are the strawberry ones. There are eight in this pack. I paid $1.29, and they just expired in January. So we'll get those put in the pantry, so we use those first. 

Funfetti chips

I got some Funfetti baking chips for $1.49, which expired in November. I keep all of my chips in the freezer until I need them. I pull them out when I bake. 

Pop-Tarts

I also got some Pop-Tarts. I have wanted some, and I could not pay the retail price for them. I found some S'mores flavor. I paid $2.49 for them, and they don't expire until October. That was a good deal to have a treat. 

Beef bouillon 

I got some of the beef-flavored bouillon. I paid $1.79 for it and couldn't find an expiration date in the store, so I still got it. 

Egg Replacers

I got two boxes of egg replacers. I picked one up the last time I went. We haven't used it yet, but this is an excellent alternative, especially now, with eggs being as expensive and scarce in stores. This is an excellent option to have on hand in case you don't have any eggs. I paid $1.39 a box; they don't expire until December 2023. 

Sheet pan dinner

I found some of the Betty Crocker sheet pan dinners in teriyaki flavor. This was $1.89 and doesn't expire until July. I got one of the Mediterranean style that sounded good and doesn't expire until June, and I also got one of the lemon garlic that doesn't expire until April. 

Propel water

I got some Propel water, four strawberry kiwi, and four grapes. I paid $0.59 for each of them, and when I went through them, they all had expiration dates of April 2023. 

Kids gummies

These are outrageously priced at retail, so I had to get them when I saw the price at $4.49. They don't expire until August 2023. I did get 2 in case they do work; then we can have it for a little bit. 

Adult gummies

For Mama, I found some I'm going to give a try. I looked up the reviews online while I was in the store before buying it, which was also super expensive at retail. I also paid $4.49 for this, and it doesn't expire until 2025. 

Packing tape and markers

I needed some packing tape and found it there for $2.99, along with markers I picked up for the teacher, so I'll send these with my son to school. I paid $1.99 for each of these. There are ten in each package. I also found some dry-erase markers. I paid $2.09 for five of them.

If you have a salvage store in your area, check it out. You can get excellent deals and save hundreds on your grocery budget when you can buy discount, salvage, and clearance.

Salvage vs. retail

I spent $65.93 on everything pictured above. 

If I had bought all of this at a regular retail store, this is an estimate of how much I would spend, and it is crazy. 

Grocery store hack

The savings, I love it. All you have to do is search salvage Amish stores in your area and see if you have any local to you. They are 100% worth it. What's your favorite grocery store hack to save money? Share in the comments below.