Backwards shopping trend is saving consumers hundreds of dollars in grocery costs

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Backwards Shopping is a new trend that can save you hundreds of dollars per year, and it starts at home before you even get to the store.

The concept is also helping prevent food waste by using what you already have at home.

It starts with taking inventory of your pantry, fridge and freezer, then centering your meal prep menu on those items.

Additional items to be purchased can then be kept within a controlled limit, leaving consumers more time to shop around for deals.

Catherine Dowling is a Lincoln mom who says backwards shopping is a must in her home.

“I’m saving about $50 to $100 a month,” said Dowling.

She adds that she has been using the method for years, even though she only learned the term “backwards shopping” recently.

“I really got into it when I got divorced and was the sole income in my household, and I had to watch that grocery budget a lot more than I used to,” said Dowling.

She started by taking account of what she and her daughter, Eden, regularly ate and enjoyed.

“I get a lot of the same things every week, like chicken breasts and vegetables. So, I have a number that I aim to kind of hit every month,” said Dowling.

Shopping online is also a popular habit to prevent picking up unexpected items.

“Something like pickup, it’s a lot easier to stick to your budget when you can see the total, how much you’re actually spending ahead of time instead of having that surprise after you’ve done all the shopping,” said Dowling.

“I’ll just cross-reference that with like Target, Hy-Vee, a few other places to see where I can get the best bargain.”

Financial expert Jamia Erickson has helped families budget for nearly a decade.

She says backward shopping is simply good budgeting.

“When you are forming a budget, first thing you do is evaluate, what are my expenses?,” said Erickson.

She says this evaluation will reveal your priorities.

“There are so many things that are important to us that we want to save for. So, as we start to truly evaluate where our money is going, we have to really consider what is important to me,” she said.

Whether it’s a family vacation or a retirement fund, Erickson says it will become easier to reach over time with a budget.

As for AI tools to help with backtracking, she recommends doing what works best for you, whether it’s writing things down or using apps.

Erikson recommends calculating your average spending over three months rather than just one, as it will fluctuate.