Watch for ‘shrinkflation’
To counterbalance rising costs, many food manufacturers reduce package sizes but charge the same amount, a practice known as “shrinkflation,” says Edgar Dworsky, founder of ConsumerWorld.org. Compare the unit prices of like products to get an honest read on which provides the most value.

Stock your freezer with fruits and veggies
Prices for frozen produce often are more stable than for their fresh versions. Check the circulars or your store’s loyalty app for sales in the freezer aisle. Then buy in bulk. It’s just as healthy: Producers freeze vegetables and fruits at peak freshness, locking in nutrients.

Scoop your own rice and beans
Bulk bins are popular in food stores. Use them: You could pay less for every ounce of beans, grains and rice that you scoop into a bag on your own.

Put your smartphone to use
Join the loyalty programs and download the apps of grocery stores you frequent. Shoppers who activate discounts on the app could save two to three times as much on sale items, says the website Mouse Print. Other helpful apps include Basket, which lets you compare prices on many items; Flipp, which curates digital circulars for local stores; and SuperCook, which helps you create recipes based on ingredients you have on hand.

Use a cash back credit card
Some credit cards offer extra rewards savings on groceries. Three to consider: the American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card, which pays 6 percent cash back on supermarket purchases up to $6,000 per year; the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card, which earns back 5 percent on groceries up to $12,000 spent in the first year; and the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, with which Amazon Prime members can get 5 percent cash back with no limit at Whole Foods and on Amazon Fresh orders.

Find AARP member discounts for food delivery services and local stores at aarp.org/shopping-benefits.