Grocery Inflation: 5 Tricks to Still Save Money in 2026

The year 2026 continues to challenge our wallets. Food inflation isn't as extreme as in previous years, but prices at the supermarket checkout remain noticeably high. If you're wondering how to still manage your weekly grocery shopping sensibly, you're in the right place.

With these 5 clever tricks for 2026, you'll manage to save money on groceries without having to eat nothing but pasta with ketchup every day.

1. Compare Unit Prices, Not Package Prices

So-called "shrinkflation" is a popular manufacturer trick: the price stays the same, but the package contents shrink. Don't be fooled! Always look at the unit price (price per 100g or per kilo), which is printed small on the shelf price tag. That's the only way to honestly compare different brands and package sizes.

2. The "Bend Down" and "Reach Up" Trick

Supermarkets always place the most expensive brand-name products and the items with the highest profit margins at eye level. If you really want to save, you need to stay in motion. The affordable store brands and no-name products (which are often of absolutely equal quality) are almost always found at the very bottom or very top of the shelf.

3. Use Rescue Bags and "Nearly Expired" Shelves

Fighting food waste saves you real money. Almost every supermarket now has a corner for products that are close to their best-before date.

For baked goods, many stores offer up to 50% off shortly before closing time.
There are also often ready-made "rescue bags" for fruits and vegetables that don't look perfect anymore but still taste wonderful.

4. Let the App Do the Work for You

The days of laboriously flipping through five different advertising flyers on Sundays are over. In 2026, you use technology!

With the Flyva App, you have all the current deals from supermarkets and discounters in your area bundled at a glance. The app helps you plan your shopping around the best deals. When coffee or butter is on sale, you can stock up strategically (so-called "stockpiling" for non-perishable deals).

5. Write a List and Stick to It

The biggest enemy of your budget is impulse buying. If you walk through the aisles hungry or without a clear plan, things quickly end up in your cart that you don't actually need.

Tip: Make a weekly plan before shopping (ideally based on the deals in the Flyva App).
Write a strict shopping list.
Only buy what's on the list.

Conclusion

You might not be able to stop grocery inflation, but you can definitely control how much it affects you. If you compare prices in 2026, choose store brands, and use digital helpers like Flyva, you can save hundreds of euros by the end of the month.