92: Are Grocery Prices a Scam?

We are living in a time where it feels like groceries don’t make sense anymore! Not the prices, not the sizes, not the sales. The same cart costs more every week, packages are shrinking, loyalty apps change the “real” price, and something as simple as buying food now feels like a mental math test.In this episode of Money Feels, Alyssa and Bridget explore the emotional, psychological, and financial realities of grocery inflation and why so many of us feel exhausted, confused, and, frankly, a little suspicious every time we walk into a store.We unpack how grocery pricing actually works, why it can feel intentionally confusing, and how behavioural pricing, shrinkflation, and constant price changes create decision fatigue around something that’s supposed to be basic. We talk about the grief of “backwards lifestyle creep” — going from not checking prices to suddenly calculating every item — and why that shift feels so emotionally heavy.We’re your hosts, Alyssa and Bridget. Welcome to the podcast, where we help you understand the emotional side of money—and why your grocery cart might be telling a deeper story about stability, safety, and what it means to feel financially secure.In today’s episode, we discuss:Why grocery prices feel like a scam — even when they technically aren’t How groceries in Canada have increased faster than overall inflation Why feeding yourself now feels like a part-time job How grocery stores actually price products (margin targets, elasticity, competition) The psychology behind sales, “2 for $8,” and urgency pricing Shrinkflation and why packages keep getting smaller Loyalty pricing and why the shelf price isn’t the real price anymore Loss leaders and why milk is cheap but everything else isn’t The mental load of constantly recalculating your grocery budget “Backwards lifestyle creep” and the grief of losing grocery stability Why grocery inflation hits harder than other expenses The emotional impact of decision fatigue around food How consumers push back — quietly and collectively Why this isn’t about being bad with money, it’s about navigating a system designed for optimizationThanks for listening to another episode! If you want bonus episodes and more, you can join our Patreon! Until then, follow us on Instagram @mixedupmoney, @bridgiecasey and @moneyfeelspodcast, and we’ll see you next time!