Not everything in your grocery cart deserves a spot there. Some items may look convenient or feel like time-savers, but they're quietly draining your budget without adding much value. From overpriced shortcuts to sneaky marketing traps, these grocery store regulars aren’t worth the hype. Skip them, and you’ll still eat well—just with more money left in your pocket. Here are 18 items that are better left on the shelf.
Note: The content of this article does not reflect the Writer’s personal beliefs.
Pre-cut fruits and veggies
Who decided slicing a melon was too much work?
Pre-cut fruits and veggies are wildly overpriced and usually packed in wasteful plastic. Sure, they’re convenient—but let’s be honest, you're paying triple for something you could prep in minutes at home. It’s not about being fancy, it’s just unnecessary. With prices climbing everywhere, this is one “shortcut” worth skipping.
Energy bars
Energy bars are better when homemade.
Sure, they began as a great solution to when you’re running low on sugar. But they’re ridiculously overpriced and aren’t even that tasty.
If you really need energy bars, you can make better versions (taste and quality-wise) at home, using a mix of simple ingredients like nuts and grains.
Bottled iced tea
Like energy bars, they’re just better when homemade.
Bottled iced tea looked like a good idea in the beginning, but it’s not as good as we’d hoped. It’s bland, the sugar balance is all wrong, and most of it is severely diluted to the point that we can’t even taste the flavor.
Making a classic iced tea at home is much tastier and cheaper. We can even whip it up in minutes and enjoy it fresh whenever possible.
Boxed mashed potatoes
Do we even have to address this one?
Boxed mashed potatoes are easily the stupidest grocery store item. Who in their right mind likes buying dehydrated food that you can just make at home without stressing your wallet?
And it’s not only expensive but bland, too. Even babies don’t like the stuff; that’s how bad it is. Why waste money on it?
Gourmet spices
Change my mind: basic spices are better.
Gourmet spices are marketed as impossibly amazing, but they’re really a mix of basic spices slapped with a premium label and sold at double the price.
You can make that brisket without draining your wallet; all you need to do is trust your family recipe and basic spices.
Pre-marinated meats
This item is just a money grabber.
Sometimes, pre-marinated meats can be a lifesaver. But most of the time, they’re just slathered in a spice that you can replicate at home. But because “they’re special”, they also have a special price.
Pre-marinated meats are also not always up to par. They’re either too spicy or too bland, which really puts a damper on one’s mood.
Flavored water
You heard it here: this should have never gone on the shelves.
If everything we’ve seen so far wasn’t stupid, this sure is. Flavored water is literally just the basic color and scent added to tepid water that’s just marked at a higher price to convince us it’s good.
If you’re really into the idea, pick up a bunch of fruit, soak it in water, and voila! The same thing that’s half the price and double the flavor.
Pre-packaged deli meats
Pre-packaged deli meats can be dangerous.
We don’t really know what goes on during the whole packaging process, which is really concerning. These meats could contain traces of contaminants and come from unhygienic techniques. Who knows?!
But that’s beside the point. Pre-packaged deli meats are ridiculously expensive, and you’d be much better off if you bought whole meat and prepared it at home.
Specialty oils
Buying specialty oils just for fun is why you’re broke.
While specialty oils were originally introduced to accommodate allergies and food intolerances, they’ve also become a crucial part of dieting regimens. But using them otherwise is throwing money down the drain.
The main reason is the price. Specialty oils are marketed to a specific group, so they’re always going to be pricier than we’d like.
Gourmet chips
This one should go out to the bougies, too.
Seriously, who buys this stuff? Gourmet chips/crisps are extremely expensive, mostly because they’re ‘hand-cut’. But if you’d do the work at home and pop them in an air fryer, you’d get similar, less costly results.
The price of a small pack of gourmet chips is usually triple that of a large pack of regular chips. Choosing between the two has never been this easy.
Instant rice
Rice is supposed to be the one thing we can easily cook without burning down the kitchen. We really shouldn't need instant rice. And if it had to exist, it’s better for those who genuinely can’t cook or have no interest.
But to no one’s surprise, some companies picked up on the idea and decided to slap a hefty price on it, making it inaccessible for most.
Pre-made guac
Guacamole is one of the worst pre-made foods.
Firstly, we all know how difficult it is to preserve the quality of fresh guacamole, let alone one that was made heaven knows when and packaged into a tight container with a random expiration date on it.
Secondly, most of these pre-packaged guacs don’t even taste that good, which is a bummer because they’re priced for rich people only.
Cake Mixes
Why would you ever buy cake mix when it honestly never tastes that good? A boxed cake mix is a total waste of money. Not only do you have to buy the box of mix, but you also have to buy several other ingredients to mix into the batter and spend time baking.
You are much better off making a cake from scratch. It is actually less expensive and will taste so much better.
Bottled Water
Buying bottled water at the grocery store is outlandishly expensive. Bottles of water are marked up so much that you are likely paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars more than you should.
Rather than buying bottled water, invest in a filtered water pitcher that will give you way more water at a fraction of the price.
Bagged Salads
Lots of people like the convenience of bagged salads. Pre-made salads have everything you need in one neat bag. But those bagged salads cost a lot of money, and you are likely paying for limp lettuce.
You will save a lot if you just buy real lettuce and a bottle of your favorite salad dressing. Bagged salad is not worth the extra cost.
Jarred Sauce
Tomato sauce prices have gone way up in recent years. A good jar of sauce can cost quite a bit! This is one grocery item you should completely skip and make at home instead.
Grab a few cans of tomatoes, some garlic, and a little basil and you are ready to make a sauce that tastes better and costs less.
Ice Cream Bars
Ice cream bars are seriously overpriced. Each box of ice cream bars costs several dollars, but it seems like there are fewer and fewer in the box every year.
Instead of buying insanely expensive ice cream bars, why not just buy a cheaper pint of ice cream and some chocolate sauce? Same flavor, much less money.
Muffins
Buying pre-made muffins in the grocery store is a very bad idea. Not only are they way overpriced, but they are also full of additives, preservatives, and a whole long list of chemicals that should never be in a muffin.
You can easily make muffins at home for a fraction of the cost, and they will be far healthier than anything you get in the store. Do not buy grocery store muffins. They are awful and a total waste of money.
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