88% Say They’ve Changed Grocery Shopping Habits Due to Inflation — Here’s How

Nearly 9 in 10 Americans are changing the way they shop to fight inflated grocery bills, according to the latest LendingTree survey of more than 2,000 consumers. The stakes are high, with the majority of respondents concerned about whether they could afford groceries in the past month.

The restaurant industry is taking a hit, too. Nearly 60% of Americans say they’re eating out less, and when they do grab a bite to eat, more than half have changed the way they tip service workers.

Here’s what you need to know.

Key findings

• Americans are making big changes to get smaller totals at checkout. With inflation driving up food prices, 88% have changed their grocery shopping habits, up slightly from 85% in 2022. When asked how, 44% said they’re buying more generic brands, 38% are sticking to their lists and 29% are paying closer attention to prices.
• A majority of people are worried about affording groceries. About 3 in 5 (61%) cited stress over paying for groceries in the past month. This is most prevalent among low earners. Among respondents making less than $30,000 a year, about 3 in 4 (74%) report feeling anxious.
• Expect empty tables as Americans dine out less. An overwhelming 85% say inflation has impacted their dining out habits, with 59% eating out less frequently, 29% paying closer attention to menu prices and 24% seeking coupons and deals.
• Tipping protocols are shifting in the wake of inflation. Over half (55%) of U.S. consumers say inflation has impacted their approach to food tipping, including 72% of Gen Zers. When asked what’s changed, 29% said they’re tipping less than normal and 20% aren’t tipping on takeout or delivery. That said, 9% are tipping more than normal.

Women are more likely than men to change grocery habits to save money

As grocery prices tick up, 88% of Americans say they’re changing the way they shop. Here’s how.

But men and women are shopping differently. Among men, 85% have changed their grocery shopping habits postinflation. That rate jumps to 91% for women, who are also more likely to buy generic brands (47% compared with 40% of men), stick to a list (40% versus 35%), be more mindful of food waste (32% versus 23%) and pay more attention to grocery prices (33% versus 25%).

Cash or card?

When it comes to paying for groceries, Americans prefer plastic — but maybe not the kind you’re picturing. More consumers use debit cards than cash and credit cards combined.

Here’s how respondents typically pay for groceries:

• 44% use a debit card
• 25% use a credit card
• 16% use cash
• 14% use EBT (food stamps)

A majority of shoppers are worried about affording groceries

About 3 in 5 (61%) Americans have worried about how they’ll pay for groceries in the past month, with 12% concerned almost all the time.

This anxiety disproportionately impacts low-income communities, with 74% of respondents who earn less than $30,000 in household income feeling the pressure. But high earners are concerned about their grocery bills, too. Half of people who earn over $100,000 worried about paying for groceries at least once in the past month.

Expect empty tables as Americans dine out less

A whopping 85% of Americans are changing the way they go out to eat to protect their bank accounts from the effects of inflation. It’s no wonder so many are clutching their purse strings — inflation on consumer goods (think shelter, energy and food) rose to 3.0% for the 12 months ending in January, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Restaurants should expect fewer customers and smaller checks in the inflation era. Nearly 60% of respondents are stretching their budgets by eating out less, while 29% are paying more attention to prices and 24% are hunting for deals or coupons.

Women, millennials change dining habits

Women are significantly more budget-conscious than their male counterparts in response to inflation. While 88% of women report changing their dining habits to curb their spending, that figure drops to 83% for men. And more women (63%) say they’re dining out less, while only 55% of men say they’re cutting down on the number of meals they eat out.

More than 1 in 5 aren’t eating out

Many Americans are eating at home, with 22% saying that they haven’t dined out in the past month and 22% saying they haven’t ordered takeout or delivery in the past month.

An overwhelming majority (87%) report eating out at a restaurant once a week or less in the past month. Takeout and delivery orders are almost as infrequent, with 85% of respondents saying they order out once a week or less.

Check, please!

People are swiping with debit to pay for food at restaurants, with 48% generally using their debit card to settle the bill. When asked how they typically pay for meals out (including restaurants, takeout and delivery), here’s what people report using for payment outside of debit cards:

• 28% say credit card
• 22% say cash

Tipping protocols shift in the wake of inflation

Americans are cutting back on tips to afford dining out. In response to inflation, 29% say they’re tipping less on all meals and 20% say they’re not tipping for takeout or delivery at all.

Almost half (45%) of respondents say inflation hasn’t impacted the way they tip.

Gen Zers, parents of young children tipping more

Not everyone is tightfisted in response to inflation. Almost 1 in 10 Americans report tipping more than normal, perhaps out of concern that inflation is impacting service workers’ wallets.

Gen Zers are stepping up their tipping game, with 15% reporting that they’re tipping more than normal, followed closely by 12% of millennials. Only 6% of Gen Xers and baby boomers say they’re tipping more postinflation.

Similarly, 14% of parents whose kids are under 18 report tipping more, compared with just 6% of parents of adult children and 8% of people who don’t have kids.

How to pay for food postinflation

Let’s face it: There’s no surefire way to inflation-proof your bank account. Even high earners are feeling the pressure — 85% of respondents with incomes above $100,000 are changing the way they shop at the grocery store.

But there are ways to stretch your dollar in response to price hikes. Here are some of the best strategies:

• Don’t leave money on the table. Certain rewards credit cards give you cash back or points for using them on groceries and restaurant bills, shaving a small percentage off your total every time. But most Americans are missing out on savings. About 3 in 4 respondents typically use a payment method other than credit cards at grocery stores and restaurants.
• Bulk up. Shoppers save 27% on average when they buy in bulk, so consider stocking up at your local warehouse store — think Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s. You can even compound your savings by earning rewards with the store’s credit card.
• Use tech to stick to your list. If you have a wandering eye at the supermarket, try using the store’s app to shop ahead of time. Many grocery stores allow you to use an app to order groceries for pickup, and it can be easier to avoid the temptation to add extras to your cart when you’re not faced with them in person.
• SNAP up savings. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, you’re not alone. More than 1 in 10 respondents say they typically pay for groceries with food stamps. Look into your state’s requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
• Increase your income. Improving your cash flow could be as simple as asking for a pay bump — 82% of full-time employees got a raise when they asked for one. If a pay increase isn’t in the cards this year, start a side hustle to make the cash you need.
• Take a hard look at your budget. If high monthly credit card payments have you living paycheck to paycheck, apply for a debt consolidation loan. Consolidating credit card debt into a loan with lower rates can save you thousands of dollars in interest. If your monthly car payments are too high, see if you can snag a lower rate by refinancing your car loan.

Methodology

LendingTree commissioned QuestionPro to conduct an online survey of 2,039 U.S. consumers ages 18 to 79 from Jan. 2 to 6, 2025. The survey was administered using a nonprobability-based sample, and quotas were used to ensure the sample base represented the overall population. Researchers reviewed all responses for quality control.

We defined generations as the following ages in 2025:

• Generation Z: 18 to 28
• Millennial: 29 to 44
• Generation X: 45 to 60
• Baby boomer: 61 to 79