The High Cost of Cereal Is Breaking My Budget

123rf

I expect to get sticker shock at the grocery store these days, what with the price of food up about 6% at the end of this year, compared to last.

But the cost of breakfast cereal has leapt a staggering 12.5%, and our family of three goes through three or four boxes—at around $6 each—a week. I can’t afford this, and I bet you can’t either.

Now in these tough times I expect the price of New Zealand lamb to be soaring (and it is), but I can easily swap red meat for beans and rice several nights a week. But a box of commodity grains that our government is supposed to subsidize? What gives?

Phil Lempert, aka the Supermarket Guru, feels my pain; he’s been getting complaints from his readers. He explained that the cost of cereal is a perfect storm of rising ethanol prices (which affect transportation) plus last year’s severe weather (which curtailed crop yields). But the industry isn’t above playing tricks on the consumer, either.

“If you think cereal boxes are shrinking, it’s not your imagination,” Lempert says. “From a packaging standpoint, if you can reduce your ingredients by 2 ounces rather than raising your prices, the thinking is that the consumer won’t notice it.”

Well, I’ve noticed, and I need alternatives to $6 boxes of cereal that are half full of air.

My suggestion is to try making your own. This granola recipe is great and fun to make.

For his part, my husband tosses rolled oats and wheat germ into his cereal to boost the fiber and whole-grain content. He says the mix really fills him up.

Here are Lempert’s ideas for smarter cereal shopping.

• Switch from the more expensive “kid” varieties, which are loaded with sugars and other ingredients like marshmallows, to the adult cereal classics. Add fresh fruit, nuts, or even a teaspoon of white sugar (just 16 calories) to make the cereal more kid-friendly.
• Try the store brands. The store-brand cereals are typically less expensive by a dollar or more. Compare the taste and ingredients; they might not be identical, but if you are watching your budget, the taste difference may not matter. Remember that almost all store brands have money-back guarantees, so if you are not satisfied with the taste, bring the unused portion back for a refund.
• Cereal storage is important. Cereal will absorb moisture and spoil quickly, so take the box (or bag inside) and put it into a ziplock bag. Never store cereals in the refrigerator, as moisture and odors from other food can be easily absorbed. It’s also important to wrap them tightly to avoid insect infestation, especially over the summer and in warm, damp environments.

Do you have any breakfast cereal alternatives you’d like to share?

Related Links: