Retirees on Shoestring Budgets Explain What They No Longer Can Afford at the Grocery Store

Upon retiring, budgeting becomes more crucial than ever. For some, the fixed income they are now on is only a couple thousand dollars every month, which needs to stretch to cover all costs of living expenses, including groceries. However, anyone — retired or not — who has been to the grocery store lately can relay that prices have gone through the roof.

Check Out: I’m Planning My Retirement — 5 Expenses I Wish I Had Cut Sooner

Learn More: The Surprising Way You Can Get Guaranteed Retirement Income for Life

A recent study by Savings.com showed that nearly 80% of U.S. adults have cut back on groceries due to rising prices, with 37% reporting they are extremely or very concerned about their ability to afford enough food, and even more people are worried about the affordability of healthy foods. Retirees are no exception.

“As an estate planning attorney, my clients are often on fixed incomes,” said Marty Burbank, owner of OC Elder Law . “Many retirees find their budgets stretched by increasing health costs and market fluctuations reducing investment income. Grocery bills are an area they look to cut.”

Burbank said many of his retired clients opt to buy generic or store-brand items over name brands.

“A national brand of cereal can cost $4 to $6, while a store brand is $2 to $3. Over a year, that saves hundreds,” Burbank calculated. “Clients also cut back on pre-prepared or packaged items, preferring to cook from scratch using whole foods. A frozen dinner may be $3 to $5, while a simple home-cooked meal of rice, beans and vegetables is under $2 per serving.”

Burbank said his clients avoid impulse purchases and luxury items as well.

“A $5 latte, $10 bouquet of flowers or $20 steak may seem affordable occasionally but quickly add up and bust a tight budget,” he said. “My clients focus on needs over wants and plan menus around what’s on sale each week. By being flexible and willing to try new foods, you can find nutritional and affordable options.”

GOBankingRates asked retirees on limited monthly budgets to share what they are no longer buying at the grocery store.

Also see which groceries you can stop buying to save thousands this year.

Fish and Meat

“The only items that come to mind that we don’t buy as often are salmon and tuna steak,” said George Haberberger, a retiree from Imperial, Missouri. “There really isn’t a comparable replacement for those. In fact, we only want fresh caught salmon, not farm raised — and fresh caught salmon has become very expensive.”

Haberberger said he bought a quarter side of beef and half of a hog from a local butcher last year.

“The initial price is steep but in the long run it is more economical,” he said. “Also, you have to have a big freezer.”

To help cut costs and budget a little easier on a fixed income, Haberberger bought a membership at Costco.

“Some things there are cheaper because of the economies of scale,” Haberberger said, adding that the cost of gas at Costco is normally about 20 cents less than regular gas stations in the neighboring areas.

Check Out: 6 Expenses Retirees Never Regret Keeping in Their Budgets, According to Experts

Snacks

“We have stopped purchasing candies, for the most part, because of the cost of chocolate,” said an anonymous retiree from the Savings.com survey, which included 1,000 U.S. adults — 227 of them (23%) age 60 or older.

“Also some snacks seem to be way overpriced for the amount of sodium and/or sugar content within the product itself,” the retiree said.

Another retiree in the study reported: “I no longer purchase soft drinks or snacks. I have cut out just about everything I can. I try to eat more in-season fruits and vegetables and purchase less canned or processed foods.”

Produce

As many retirees are watching their budgets for groceries every month, a good portion are watching what they eat as well, living a more health-conscious lifestyle. It can be hard to merge these two ideals together, with many retirees opting to save some paper green by cutting out on plant-based ones.

One retiree from the Savings.com survey reported cutting down on fruits, lettuce and vegetables.

Others reported that fresh or organic produce goes bad too quickly, so it’s not worth the extra money spent.

Still, retirees want to find a way to eat healthy and maintain a balanced diet. As one anonymous retiree explained, “We are an ingredients household, so it is challenging to find savings with fresh produce and proteins. I shop at big-box stores in addition to Aldi, Walmart and Fresh Thyme. I use these stores to compare prices.”

Non-Grocery Items

Conversely, some retirees are going the opposite direction: spending more money for food at the grocery store and less on going out to eat.

“I haven’t changed what I purchase at the grocery store. I don’t bother to have a grocery budget,” said Janice Evans, a retiree living in Salt Lake City. “I don’t eat out at restaurants and I’ve cut down on buying fast-food meals, which is probably better for my health and my food budget.”

Evans said this has saved her an estimated $60 to $70 a month in food costs.

“With careful planning and budgeting, retirees on fixed incomes can still eat well,” said Burbank, noting that this kind of fiscal balancing in retirement requires discipline, flexibility and a willingness to make changes.

“By following my clients’ leads of buying generic, cooking from scratch, avoiding impulse buys and luxury items, and menu planning around sales, retirees can gain control of their budgets.”

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Retirees on Shoestring Budgets Explain What They No Longer Can Afford at the Grocery Store