20 Grocery Items With the Highest Markups in 2024 — And How to Save

Inflation is coming down according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation , but supermarket prices might still be hurting your pockets on certain items.

Check Out: 4 Best Frozen Foods To Buy in Bulk at Sam’s Club on a $50 Budget

Read Next: 6 Money Moves You Must Make If You Want To Be Like the Wealthy

Find out which grocery store goods you should steer clear of and how to save money on the items your family needs.

Money mistakes the super wealthy never make - that you might be doing now.

Brand Name Cereal

Shopping for the name brands you’re familiar with could cost you at check-out when it comes to cereals. In 2023, the Consumer Price Index recorded year-over-year cereal prices exceeding 14 percent. July’s report was much more favorable, with prices lowering by 1.6 percent yearly.

A major way to keep more money in your pocket when it comes to buying cereal is to go for the store brand instead. Many times the store brand even comes from the same factory as the name brand and tastes the same.

Learn More: 4 Best Frozen Foods To Buy in Bulk at Costco on a $50 Budget

Prepared Meats

If you’d rather skip a few steps in making dinner by buying cubed steak, marinated chicken, or strips of salmon, then you’ll pay the extra price. Prepared meats are often marked up by at least 60 percent. Plus, pre-marinating could hide some discoloration that cuts into the store’s bottom line.

In an interview with Doctor Oz, Butcher James Peisker shared that grocery stores might choose to pre-marinate meats to disguise imperfections, “Nobody’s going to sell you rotten meat knowingly,” Peisker states. “It’s bad for business and it’s not going to work out very well in the long run. Mostly, what is being hidden is ‘oxidization’ and ‘little bit of colorization’…nothing that will harm the flavor or you as a consumer.”

If you’re looking to save money when buying meat, consider buying larger cuts that store well in the freezer. Bulk stores like Costco and Sam’s Club typically have deals on large portions of beef, lamb, and fish that could save you money compared to a standard grocery store.

Pre-cut Produce

In the same way, prepared meat gets up-charged, so does pre-cut produce. If you don’t want to do the work of cutting up fruit yourself you’ll pay for the convenience. So cutting your fruit at home could stand to save you from a markup of about 40 percent.

According to the July 2024 Consumer Price Index , fresh fruits have actually dropped in price year over year by about 1.2 percent, so you may be able to find your favorite fruits for a lower price if you’re buying them whole. To take your savings to the next level, you could also grab some frozen fruit, which typically retails for about 30 percent cheaper than fresh fruit.

Baked Goods

In July’s Consumer Price Index, baked goods like biscuits, rolls, cakes, and cookies are up by nearly 0.8 percent compared to last year. If you don’t have the baking skills to whip up something from scratch, you could opt for take-and-bake products or box mixes that could save you time and money compared to the readily available options.

You can also ask your local bakery department for any day-old cookies or cakes that haven’t sold yet for an easy discount.

Beauty and Hygiene Products

Restocking on soap or shampoo at the grocery store means you’ll make one less stop during your errands, but it could mean you’re paying a premium for your beauty and hygiene products. For example, if you were to buy a 33.8-ounce bottle of Nexxus Therappe Shampoo Ultimate Moisture from Safeway , you’d pay $33.99. Getting the same product from Walmart would only cost $24.07 — a savings of almost $10.

Cooking Tools

We’ve all been there — running through the grocery store trying to gather ingredients for a new recipe when you realize you don’t have a whisk, baking pan, or other cooking tool that you need. Grocery stores are counting on you to grab that extra tool from them in a rush because those items have a high markup.

Instead of getting a garlic press for an absurd price at the grocery store, stop by your local Dollar Store instead to find the same tools for a deep discount. And if you have time to plan ahead, order your tools from Amazon or Walmart for a better deal.

Organic Items

When you want the best quality food for your family, buying organic is likely your first choice, but it’s an expensive eating habit to stick with. You’ll be paying far more at regular grocery stores to eat organic. To save money, switch where you’re shopping. Go to stores like Lidl, Aldi or Trader Joe’s to find organic produce for less.

Name-Brand Over-the-Counter Medications

Although most grocery stores have the over-the-counter medications you need, it might be better to get them somewhere else or choose the store brand instead. These medicines can cost 15 to 30 percent more in the grocery store. Keep some money in your wallet by going for the store-brand version or checking the prices at your local independent pharmacy.

Paper Goods

Overall, household paper products have gone down in price since last year, according to July’s CPI, but these items could still be a larger line item on your receipt so here are some ways to save:

• Clip coupons. Usually, there are regular coupons for big brands like Charmin and Bounty, which can give you a break on the price.
• Buy in bulk . Going to Sam’s Club or Costco might keep you from buying paper towels or toilet paper for the next few months while saving you money per roll.
• Shop by the unit price. Instead of buying the cheapest sticker price, do a little math to find out which option is cheaper by volume.

Pet Food

The convenience of picking up pet food during your weekly grocery store run might seem like a good move until you realize that grocery stores often mark up their pet food since they don’t carry a large selection of it. To save money on your furry friend’s favorite kibble, you’ll find better deals by subscribing to a pet food delivery service like Amazon or Chewy. You may even qualify for a deeper discount depending on how often you have the food delivered.

Laundry Detergent

Nothing beats the smell of freshly washed laundry, but you don’t have to shell out big bucks for clean clothes. Getting laundry detergent from the grocery store is much more costly than other options. Whether you get it from Amazon or buy it in bulk at Costco, you’ll save money. And to add to the savings, it never hurts to clip a coupon or two.

Lightbulbs

If you’re walking through the grocery store with your list in hand and remember that the bedroom lamp needs a new lightbulb, you’re likely just to grab it while you’re in the store. But did you know that light bulbs could have a 60% markup compared to other stores? To keep from spending too much on lightbulbs, add it to your Amazon cart instead or buy a few in bulk from Home Depot.

Batteries

The same goes for batteries. Grabbing a pack from the grocery store seems like a good idea until you realize you could get them from the hardware store or even the Dollar Store for far cheaper.

Name-brand Spices

Spices help you add flavor to every dish, but buying the name-brand could mean dishing out extra money. At a markup of 100 percent, spices are often one of the highest markups in the store. Finding the store brand or going for a lesser-known brand of spices could help you cut costs. Consider buying spices in bulk from natural markets.

Eggs

Since avian flu affected poultry populations worldwide in 2022, egg prices just haven’t been the same. According to the latest CPI, the cost of eggs is up 19.1 percent since July 2023. In response to rising egg prices, some people have resorted to contacting their neighbors or local farms with chickens to get a good egg price straight from the source.

Baking Supplies

One alternative to overpriced store-baked goods is to make your own. But if you’ve gone through the process of baking your sweet treats, you’ll know that off-brand flour, butter, or sugar can sometimes change the flavor or consistency of your bake. Rather than dealing with a potential 30 percent markup at the grocery store, try grabbing your baking supplies, like flour and sugar, from a baking supply store. You’ll typically get access to better prices and a wider range of essentials.

Fancy Cheeses

We all like to treat ourselves to a nice cheese every now and then, but going for the fancy cheeses regularly could cost you a pretty penny. Try the regular dairy department instead of shopping in the deli section for cheese. It could save you a significant amount just by choosing a brand that doesn’t have fancy packaging and labels. If you have to have a certain cheese, you could also ask the deli to cut you a smaller portion.

Bottled Water

Buying bottled water from the grocery store might not seem like a big investment since one case of 24 bottles might cost about $5-7. However, there’s a huge markup compared to the tap water you already can access at home. What’s the alternative? You could opt to get a water filter instead or go for a water cooler and have 3 or 5-gallon jugs delivered directly to your home. Not only does this save you money, but it’s more environmentally friendly too.

Frozen Juice

Unlink frozen fruit which could save you money, frozen juice is more costly this year. According to the July CPI, frozen non-carbonated juices and drinks have increased in price by 19.2 percent since July of last year. That means things like frozen orange juice or concentrates will likely drain your grocery bill. Instead, go for the non-frozen juices, which have only raised the price by about 1 percent.

Chocolate

A report from CNN recently shared that retail chocolate prices rose by 11.6% in 2023, so you can be sure to see those effects on your next grocery bill when you add chocolate to your cart. Many have tried to shift their chocolate cravings to other candy or salty snacks in response to the higher prices. But you could also try going to the Dollar Store, CVS or Walgreens to get your chocolate fix since they often have sweet deals on chocolate candies and bars.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 20 Grocery Items With the Highest Markups in 2024 — And How to Save