When Spirit Cultural Exchange BridgeUSA participants come to the United States, it may be their first time living independently and being responsible for grocery shopping. Often, participants want to learn how to do their grocery shopping on a budget. It can take time for participants to get accustomed to grocery shopping in a new country with new foods. However, there are many ways that you can buy affordable food to make delicious and healthy meals while you are in the United States.
Plan Ahead
The most important part of grocery shopping on a budget is to make sure you are prepared for your shopping trips. It can be tempting to buy new and exciting foods at the grocery store, but you may end up buying more food than you can eat. Before you go to the store, think about how much time you will have in the next week to make food. Then, pick a few recipes that you will have time to cook. Make a list of all the ingredients you need, but don’t forget to check what food you already have before you make your list! You can save money by using all the food you already bought before you buy more. When you get to the grocery store, only buy the items that are on your list.
Look for Sales
While you are grocery shopping, you may notice that an item has a lower price than usual. Sometimes grocery stores will have a deal where if you buy one item, you can buy another item and get it for a reduced price (or even for free!). If one of these sales is for food that you eat regularly, you can use this chance to stock up. This will save you money in the future when you would have to buy that item again.
Buy the Store Brand
In grocery stories in the United States, you will often find many versions of the same type of food, like pasta, frozen vegetables, or canned food. Some food is more expensive because it is made by a brand name company. This is a big company that spends a lot of money on advertising and has a popular reputation. However, you can usually buy a store brand of the same food for up to 25% cheaper. The label or package might look different, but the food is still good quality and safe to eat. When you are grocery shopping on a budget, saving money by buying a store brand can add up over time.
Share with Friends
Many Spirit Cultural Exchange participants on a BridgeUSA J-1 visa have roommates or housemates who are also participating in the program. If you share food with other people in your home, you can help save money and try new foods that you haven’t tried before. Some foods, like oils, dried beans, and canned foods, may be cheaper to buy in large quantities. If you split the cost of these foods with your friends, everyone can save money! Just make sure to divide the food evenly so that everyone is happy with the situation.
Sharing food with other people isn’t just a great way to save money; it’s also a wonderful way for BridgeUSA participants to take part in cultural exchange. You can cook food from your home country for your friends, and they can introduce you to new food from their culture.
