What factors should you consider when selecting groceries on a tight budget?

• A. Nutritional value, price-per-unit, sales and coupons, portion sizes, expiration dates.
• B. Only price.
• C. Brand popularity.
• D. Only expiration dates.

Answer: (C)

Budget grocery shopping is about getting the most value for each dollar by weighing cost against what you actually get in nutrition, quantity, and freshness. To stretch a tight budget, compare price per unit so you can tell when a larger size or a different package is truly cheaper per ounce or per serving, not just by the sticker price. Think about portion sizes and how much you’ll realistically use to avoid waste, which can wipe out any savings. Use sales and coupons to lower costs, but keep checking the unit price to ensure you’re getting a real deal. Also pay attention to expiration dates to avoid buying more than you can consume before spoilage.

Helpful context: store brands often deliver similar nutrition at lower costs, and frozen or canned options can be more affordable than fresh produce while still delivering nutrition.

Why other approaches don’t fit: chasing only price misses nutrition and waste, so you may end up with unhealthy or unsustainable choices. Judging by brand popularity can lead to paying more for names without better value. Focusing only on expiration dates ignores both cost and nutritional value, which are essential for staying healthy on a tight budget.