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Use discount stores and coupons, eat in, buy bulk, track spending — a few savvy Lane County shoppers share their tips.
On a sunny January afternoon, University of Oregon students lined up for a late lunch at Sling-in Wiener, the pushcart Rhain Hagan’s family opened in 2018. All-beef wieners start at $4.50, a modest price point for many students.
“I see a lot of students who go to work, go to class, then go home to sleep, with no free time,” said Hagan, a manager for the business.
Sling-in Wiener is no stranger to rising food costs: Beef and veal prices spiked by 16.4% year-over-year since December 2024, per federal data. The Hagan family already had to raise the price for their all-beef dogs a few years back.
“We’re trying so hard not to raise our prices [again] that we’re overworking ourselves” to cut costs in other areas, Hagan said as she loaded up a dog Chicago-style with yellow mustard, diced onions, sweet relish, diced tomatoes, a dill pickle spear and sport peppers. “We put everything we got into this business.”
Hagan, 20, lives at home with her parents in McKenzie Bridge, as rent prices are steep across Lane County.
She commutes two hours each day to help run Sling-in Wiener in Eugene, where her family also shops for household groceries at Walmart and Albertsons. For Sling-in Wiener ingredients, they head to CHEF’STORE, a wholesale grocer open to the public.
“I was 13 when my parents started this business,” Hagan said. “It shapes how you see the economy. We could be doing badly, but someone is always doing worse.”
Grocery prices are still climbing
The consumer food price index rose by 0.7% in December, amounting to the largest one-month increase in food prices since 2022, per a new report.
Five of the six major food group indexes showed increases last month, including cereal and bread (0.6%), fruits and vegetables (0.5%) and dairy products (0.9%). The index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs fell slightly, by 0.2%. Egg prices dropped by 8.2%.
Overall, the food index increased 3.1% in 2025, outpacing annual inflation for all goods and services.
With grocery prices remaining stubbornly high, Lane County residents are watching their food budgets. (Hagan’s tip: Consider CHEF’STORE for feeding a crowd. No membership is required and this week’s specials include a 10-pound box of angus hamburger patties for $45.99.)
Three others shared how much they’re spending, where they’re shopping and what they’re doing to save.
Dena Tolchinsky
Age: 66
City: Florence
Occupation: Retired
Household size: One human and one growing Boerboel pup named Ready
Monthly grocery spend: $250-$380
Stores shopped at: WinCo in Eugene once a month. The Grocery Outlet in Florence to refill on staples like eggs.
Tolchinsky’s tips
Adjust your budget. Tolchinsky changed her spending habits before the pandemic, when her boyfriend died in 2018. “That meant I was living on just one income,” she said. “I was living off a bag of spinach for a few days. That’s not a healthy way to live.” She stopped shopping in Florence and began driving the 60 miles to WinCo in Eugene. Tolchinsky spends about $20 on gas but estimates she saves $150 to $250 a month on groceries.
Keep a “we have food at home” mentality. Instead of eating out once for $15, Tolchinsky can make a casserole for that price or less, enough for several meals. She also makes her dog’s food from scratch. “People say it takes too much time, but I was doing this when I was working, too,” she said.
Use the bulk bins. Tolchinsky doesn’t buy an entire bag of flour. “I just get what I need,” she said.
Plan ahead. For Tolchinsky’s monthly grocery haul, she gets fresh fruits and veggies for the first two weeks, then frozen produce for the last two. She keeps healthy staples like apples, yogurt and nuts on hand. “There is always yummy stuff in my house,” she said.
Hilary Jentzsch
Age: 41
City: Springfield
Occupation: Stay-at-home mom
Household size: Two adults, four children (twin boys, 9, and two daughters, 7 and 13), and a black goldendoodle named Otis
Monthly grocery budget: $1,200 to $1,400
Stores shopped at: Walmart, WinCo and Fred Meyer for regular groceries, occasionally Safeway and Albertsons. Costco for pantry staples. Trader Joe’s for select items.
Jentzsch’s tips
Use up what you have. Jentzsch bases her family’s meals around what’s already in the freezer and pantry. She makes packed lunches, too, from sushi bowls and bean burritos to sandwiches. “I don’t want to splurge as much,” Jentzsch said. “I want our budget to go to the food we make and eat at home.”
Opt for pickup or in-person shopping. For Jentzsch, pickup orders have the convenience of a delivery app, without the added fees.
Household size matters. As her family grew, Jentzsch found Costco’s bulk items became more cost-effective than the buy-what-you-need bulk bins.
Have a coupon person in your life. While Jentzsch does the majority of grocery shopping for her family, her husband Jeff, 43, keeps an eye on sales via apps for Safeway and Albertsons.
Shanda Miller
Age: 50
City: Eugene
Occupation: Writer
Household size: 2
Monthly grocery budget: $800 to $900
Stores shopped at: Albertsons for most groceries. Glenwood Restaurant for takeaway dinners. Market of Choice and Trader Joe’s for select items.
Miller’s Tips
Don’t stock up. Buy groceries two to three times a week instead. This way, you can plan a few meals ahead without wasting food in case plans change.
Check grocery store apps for deals and coupons. “I use the Albertsons’ coupon app,” Miller said. “It doesn’t change what I buy, but if I’m buying something, I always scan for a discount.”
Order premade dinner meals. Miller buys takeaway dinners from Glenwood (2588 Willamette St.) once or twice a week for herself and her husband, Ken, 66. Each dinner costs $21 total and amounts to two meals per person.
Use a budgeting app. Miller has been tracking her monthly spending for nearly a decade via the YNAB (You Need a Budget) app. She shared her average monthly grocery spend since 2017 below.