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A very common experience for me lately is the dreaded look I give my grocery receipt. It\u2019s a big<\/em> side eye, admittedly. You might relate, instinctively holding your breath as you scan it, likely noticing that it seems to still be quite expensive these days. While, overall, the annual inflation rate has been declining, food prices have still risen 3.7%<\/a> between September 2022 and September 2023. Ugh!<\/p>\n Regardless of whether you feel inflation\u2019s effects on your grocery run, we\u2019d all love to save a few extra dollars each week, right? Right. So it was high time to really nail down where the end-all, be-all, cheap grocery stores are. I used to work at a grocery store (and have many takes on how we value our groceries!), so I have my own rubric for what makes for a good and<\/em> affordable experience \u2014 especially because \u201ccheapness\u201d can be pretty relative, depending on the shopper. After all, why praise a less-expensive retailer if its apples are consistently mealy or the cashiers are surly?<\/p>\n Shopping experience<\/strong>: Is it easy to search for items? Is the selection wide-ranging (meaning you have to make fewer stops at other stores)? Perhaps the retailer offers helpful recipe inspiration or weekly deals? Is the customer service attentive and helpful? Bonus points if grocery shopping in person or on-site becomes an ultra-delightful task, rather than merely a chore.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Service locations<\/strong>: <\/strong>I opted for grocers who either have locations or offer delivery, in the case for online grocers, for a wide swath of the country. In some instances, I\u2019ve also highlighted beloved regional grocers that have exceptional deals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Cost and quality<\/strong>: <\/strong>Some shoppers value cheapness as the most important quality in their shop, while others value ingredient quality or a wide selection of items. Ideally, we\u2019re looking to be located in the center of the venn diagram for all three.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Your perceived value of said grocers may vary, but across the board these retailers have a pretty equivalent ratio of pleasant shopping experience (and quality items) for the price.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n