The Best Instagram #PartyHacks to Get Ready for the Holidays

It’s already November, and that means the holiday season is upon us! But before you start freaking out over throwing a holiday party, among other things on your to-do list like gift shopping, you’ll want to check out Instagram’s best holiday #partyhacks. Set up a show-stopping centerpiece made out of wrapping paper, deck out your tree with ornaments you can make in 10 minutes or less and wow guests with an impressive tree-shaped cheese platter. Whatever your shindig calls for, these 23 #partyhacks will definitely help you pull off the perfect holiday party.

1. Holiday Cake: Use wrapping paper and gift boxes to create this cool tiered holiday cake display you can use as a centerpiece or mantel decor. When you’re done, place the cake on a stand and surround the base with a festive wreath for the finishing touch.

2. Temporary Tattoo Ornaments: Whip up these whimsical ornaments using temporary tattoos, decoupage, a brush and a sponge. In about 10 minutes or less, you’ll be left with the prettiest tree decorations you can hand out to guests as party favors.

3. Tree Ornament Cheese Plate: This super festive cheese plate is SO easy to make. Using a baking sheet, lay down then decorate a triangular piece of parchment paper with an assortment of cheeses, deli meats and rosemary sprigs.

4. Edible Gold Stars: You won’t need to fuss with drink stirrers with this quick and easy hack. Use edible gold stars to rim your Champagne glasses for a fancy touch.

5. Pumpkin and Apple Candles: Set the mood for your holiday party regardless of the celebration with these autumnal accents. To make, you’ll need apples, mini pumpkins, a melon-baller, tea lights and small tapered candles. Pro tip: Use lemon juice to prolong the freshness of your fruit and veggie votives.

6. Fall Foliage Candles: Upgrade your home decor for the holidays with something as simple as fall leaves. Bring seasonal foliage indoors by wrapping them around pillar candles with twine or string.

7. White Pumpkin Succulent Planters: Pumpkins aren’t just reserved for Halloween! Make use of this autumn staple by painting it white and adding succulents. And there you have it: a whimsical centerpiece for your holiday dinner party!

8. Photo Frame Cookie Platters: Use photo frames when serving holiday cookies to your party guests. Paint the frame and/or coordinate the paper inside to match your party’s color scheme.

9. Cranberry Ice Cubes: Spruce up those holiday cocktails with festive cranberry ice cubes. Pro tip: To give your drinks a more flavorful punch, substitute juice for water when filling up your ice cube tray prior to freezing.

10. Holiday Tree Bouquet: Whether you’re working with a small space or can’t be bothered with a tree this year, a holiday tree bouquet makes a suitable substitute. Gather fir branches and flowers for a unique and festive arrangement.

11. Gold Balloons: A little gold goes a long way in elevating your decor. Decorate plain white balloons by painting them half gold. The metallic sheen will give your party a sophisticated finish with minimal effort.

12. Painted Wooden Cutlery: Give your party a personalized touch with DIY cutlery that matches your party’s color scheme. Go with this color-dipped look for a trendy way to upgrade basic utensils.

13. Holiday Cards Tree: Display the tons of holiday cards you receive by turning them into a holiday tree. It’ll transform a boring white wall into a creative and festive display your guests will applaud you for.

14. Tile Gift Tags: Use rather inexpensive bathroom tiles and paint pens to create stylish gift tags. If turning them into ornaments, add hooks with hot glue.

15. Glass Ornaments: Make memories with friends and family you invite over by setting up a fun craft activity. Have guests fill clear glass ornaments with tinsel, confetti or little jingle bells, which they can later take home as party favors.

16. Herbs Ice Cubes: Keep those holiday drinks chilled with herb-infused ice cubes. Pour water into an ice cube tray and add fresh mint or thyme for this super easy hack.

17. Paper Cups Lights: Stick paper or plastic cups onto string lights for unique mood lighting at your holiday party. Coordinate the cup colors to fit your party’s aesthetic.

18. Wrapping Paper: Save your little one’s scribbles and drawings and repurpose them into wrapping paper. Not only will you save money on wrapping your party favors, but guests will appreciate the personalized touch from your li’l artist.

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How to legally spike your booze. #HolidayHacks

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19. Flavored Booze: Add fresh herbs to your drinks to infuse them with subtle flavor. Think basil, lavender, mint and thyme, to name a few.

20. Honeycomb Garland: Instead of popcorn, string other snacks like honeycomb cereal for a fresh take on an old tradition. Trim your holiday tree with your edible decoration or hang it from the ceiling for a cute and simple way to make your party decor unique. This DIY is easy and yummy enough to get the kids to help!

21. Chalk-Painted Cocktail Glasses: Guests won’t have to worry about losing track of their glass thanks to this handy hack. Personalize cocktail glasses by painting their base with chalk paint and having guests sign their names.

22. Snowy Wreath: Instead of buying new decor, save money and upgrade your old items with a fresh coat of paint and glitter. Replicate this pretty upcycled wreath with mint green spray paint, white glitter and silver jingle bells.

23. Personalized Photos: Have guests write and draw on instant photos taken at your holiday party for a throwback way to capture fun memories. Your friends and family will appreciate the mementos from their favorite moments of the gathering.

Which of these holiday #partyhacks will you use? Follow us on Pinterest for more creative ideas for throwing the ultimate holiday bash.

St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect excuse to deck out your home in all things green and gold. Lucky for you, Amazon has a ton of decorations to help you do that! I sorted through endless pages of Amazon St. Patrick’s Day decorations to find only the cutest ones you can put out for the season! Whether you’re hosting a full-blown St. Paddy’s party or just chilling at home to make some festive desserts, these finds will have your home looking celebration-ready in no time.

Scroll on to shop 13 super cute St. Patrick's Day decorations from Amazon!

Amazon

Happy St. Patty's Day Banner

This banner's got it all, from rainbows to shamrocks and even some shimmery glitter – perfect for a party!

Amazon

St. Patrick's Day Pillow Covers

Cozy up your couch with some more St. Paddy's vibes using these adorable pillow covers!

Amazon

St. Patrick's Day Shamrock Napkins

These shamrock-shaped napkins are almost too cute to use!

Amazon

100-Count St. Patrick's Day Paper Straws

If some St. Patrick's Day cocktails are part of your plans, snag this pack of decorative paper straws to give your guests who sip!

Amazon

St. Patrick's Day Drinking Glasses

These cutie drinking glasses can be used all St. Paddy's season long for iced coffees, teas, or even fun green drinks!

Amazon

Lucky Foil Balloon Banner

This foil balloon banner screams 'festive'! Hang it in your dining room for a potluck party or put it up around your entryway for a DIY photo booth!

Amazon

Folkulture Table Runner

This chic table runner may boast the perfect color palette for St. Patrick's Day, but its stylish scalloped design can easily be displayed year-round!

Amazon

St. Patrick's Day Natural Coir Doormat

Make your guests feel welcome this St. Paddy's by snagging this adorable shamrock-speckled doormat!

Amazon

St. Patrick's Day Wood Sign

Yeah, what the sign says! Pucker up!

Amazon

Lucky Clovers Pillow Cover

This rustic shamrock pillow cover design is simple, but it's so pleasing to look at. Since it's pretty minimal, it'll go with any and every interior design style!

Amazon

Green Plaid Table Runner

This electric green table runner is sure to amp up the St. Patrick's Day energy in whatever room you put it in.

Amazon

Ribbed Green Glass Vase

Ideal for festive floral arrangements, you can also repurpose this green glass vase all year long!

Amazon

Burlap Shamrock Garland

This burlap garland is just rustic enough, but still has a tailored feel to make your space look put-together. Whether you hang it above your fireplace or in the kitchen, this buy is perfect for a subtle touch of green!

Subscribe to our newsletter to shop more of the best holiday decor pieces throughout the year!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Emily Henry not only new pops books year after year, but she also has a knack for frequently announcing exciting book adaptations, too! From launching Funny Story(already love it) to news of the Beach Read movie (crossing our fingers for a Ayo Edibiri and Paul Mescal announcement any day now), EmHen's had a busy year — and it just got even busier.

After Henry announced the news herself on her email newsletter, "Emily's Grocery List,"Deadline confirmed that Netflix is in the process of adapting Happy Place. We've got the scoop on everything you should know about the newest Emily Henry adaption!

Here's everything we know about Emily Henry's Happy Place show, coming to Netflix soon.

Who's in the Happy Place cast?

Seacia Pavao/Netflix

While we don't have a confirmed cast yet, we're not-so-patiently waiting patiently to see who's attached to this adaption. And there's one star Emily Henry would love to see in the movie.

"For Harriet in Happy Place, I think Eve Hewson would be wonderful," the author told People. "And usually, when I am thinking of casting, I'm not actually thinking of someone who looks like that person. I'm just thinking of someone who has that same vibe. But she actually does look more or less how Harriet is in my head."

Where can I watch Happy Place?

Devyn Glista/St. Blanc Studios

We don't have an official Happy Place release date yet, but the series will be available to stream on Netflix.

What is Happy Place about?

Amazon

The Happy Place plot follows a couple, Harriet and Wyn, as they navigate their broken relationship. The stories winds over the course of many years: as friends, lovers, fiancées, and now...whatever they are. Every summer, they go to the beach house with their closest friends, but this year they set out for one last hurrah before the beach house is sold.

Their whole friend group thinks they're still together, so they pretend to be together just for a short while just to enjoy one last summer all together. Only...it's harder than you think to pretend you're not in love with someone when you are, in fact, still in love.

Is Happy Place being adapted for the screen?

Emily Henry/Instagram

Emily Henry officially confirmed that Happy Place is being adapted for Netflix. The author wrote in her email newsletter, "Happy Place is going to be a series on Netflix! I’ve been dying to tell you about it forever, and there’s actually A LOT more to share very soon, but since this little bit of news leaked today, I wanted to be the one to FORMALLY tell you."

She goes on to say she's thrilled about the series and even more excited that they've allowed her to be closely involved in the project, so that it can live up to her, and the readers', dream and vision for the book! She said that she wants to make it a series that the fans will love and be happy with. We couldn't be more excited to hear that!

Is Happy Place by Emily Henry going to be a series?

Emily Henry/Instagram

Happy Place will be made into a TV series with Netflix! This is great news, because it works better for the plot for the project to cover multiple episodes. The book has quite a long storyline that develops over many years and many summers in the lives of the main characters, so with flashbacks, it will require more time to delve into their stories.

This makes me so excited as a fan, because I believe this allows them the time to do the story justice, and really develop the relationship and chemistry between the two main characters, Harriet and Wyn, as well as the supporting characters also in the book.

Who's producing Netflix's Happy Place show?

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The series will be produced by Netflix and Jennifer Lopez’s Nuyorican production company. This announcement follows multiple deals between Lopez and Netflix, including their latest release of Atlas, which garnered over 72 million views! Plus, JLo is a certifiable rom-com queen, so we know EmHen will be in the best of hands with her!

Who's the showrunner for the Happy Place show?

Rich Fury/Getty Images

We can't escape the world of Bridgerton because one of the show's Co-Executive Producers — Leila Cohan — is attached to the Happy Place TV show! She'll be the showrunner and co-writer for the series which means fans of Emily Henry's fun rom-com are in for a treat (via Deadline).

Are there other Emily Henry book adaptations being made?

Amazon

Beach Read, a beloved Henry best-seller, is being made into a movie! Fans continue to speculate that Paul Mescal and Ayo Edibiri will star in it, especially after Henry said they would be amazing for the roles. Even Paul told Awards Watch he wants to do a romcom with Ayo...so, it's basically meant to be!

People We Meet On Vacationis also getting the movie treatment. The cast will be led by Tom Blyth and Emily Baer, and incredible author, screenplay writer, and rom-com lover Yulin Kuang is set to adapt the script, so that's bound to be a fabulous match!

Finally, we're getting a movie for Book Lovers. According to Us! Weekly, some fans think this is the movie for Ayo and Paul, but we're not convinced. Definitely keeping our eye out for who is cast, though!

We're so excited for the many Emily Henry projects in the works, and pending for the future. Emily Henry said at the end of her newsletter, "I cannot WAIT to tell you more, about this project and others, right here on my grocery list just as soon I’m given the green light. For now, though, I’m back to working on [REDACTED]. Happy reading, my friends."

Yikes, I'm scared and excited all at once, because she has taken over my life. Stay tuned her for further updates on her upcoming projects!

Who do you want to see in the Happy Place series? Follow us on Facebook for more pop culture news, and read This Excerpt Of Emily Henry's Great Big Beautiful Life before the book launches on April 22, 2025.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This post has been updated.

Valentine's Day is almost here, and whether you're single or happily taken, you can always have an amazing time celebrating the season with your best girlfriends. We're channeling our inner Leslie Knope this Galentine's Day with 50 ideas for spending it with your squad. From gathering your girlfriends for a Galentine's Day party or embarking on an epic road trip, now is the time to plan your February weekend with the best of your friends, near and far.

Scroll on for 50 Galentine's Day ideas to celebrate with your girls!

The Best Galentine's Day Ideas For 2025

Brit + Co

Add Some Pink With These Taylor Swift Fuzzy Dice

Pink is always a good idea when it comes to Valentine's Day decor, so for any of your Galentine's Day parties this year, DIY these Taylor Swift fuzzy dice inspired by "Cruel Summer"! (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Make DIY Galentine's Day Candy Boxes

Send your best friends home with adorable candy boxes that may or may not be used as trinket trays later on. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Have A Bachelor Marathon

Calling all Bachelor fans! Catch up on new episodes from your favorite season by hosting a marathon viewing party. Not a Bachelor fan? Try one of these Netflix originals that are perfect for Galentine's Day. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

DIY Galentine's Day Fort

Camp out with your BFFs in this homemade fort that's just as much fun to make as it is to relax in! It's the perfect Galentine's Day idea at home. (via Brit + Co)

A Beautiful Mess

Host A Nail Pampering Galentine's Day Party

Pamper yourself and your BFFs with a nail design party! Put out bottles of their favorite polishes and create a fun playlist of your favorite love songs. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Host A Galentine's Day Bake-off

BFFs stand together even when they're single or happily taken. Host a delicious bake-off with your gals to see who can get the most creative in the kitchen! (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Make Conversation Heart Care Packages

For friends who live near and far, make these sweet care packages filled with their favorite things. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Host a Galentine's Day Party Game Night

Play Gin Rummy with your favorite gin cocktail, dominoes, charades, whatever floats your game-loving boat! Don't forget the candy charcuterie! (via Brit + Co)

Taylor Simpson

Plan A Girl's Getaway

Here are the happiest cities in the world. Grab your girls and escape winter for an amazing Galentine's Day weekend you'll never forget. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Take a Class Together

Film photography is cool again. One reason to get creative with your gals with a day of fun learning and doing. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Host a Brunch

Our epic Galentine's brunch menu has everything from red velvet heart waffles to DIY centerpieces to Galentine's card writing stations. Thisgem-inspired brunch is a fun idea, too! (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Have A DIY Party With Planters

Get a jump on spring decor with an easy DIY planter party! With a few basic steps, you and your girls can create living wall decor to decorate your space for February and even all the way through the summer months. (via Brit + Co)

Shutterstock

Host a Cookie Party

Check out our list of 30 Valentine's Day cookie recipes and start a holiday cookie tradition, G-Day style! (via Brit + Co)

Element5 Digital

Go On A Road Trip With Your Gals

You don't have to spend your Galentine's Day party inside. If you're not near the beach, you can take a day trip instead. Some ideas include visiting a ski resort, going for a hike, or exploring that small town you've been meaning to hit. (via Brit + Co)

Brit + Co

Have A Puppy-Love Play Date

Galentine's Day isn't just for humans. Invite your BFFs and their furry friends over for a puppy-love playdate. If you want to keep things a bit more relaxed, host a movie night and ask your friends to bring their dog beds, too.

Aww Sam

Host A Mean Girls Movie Night

Prepare for a cozy night in with your ladies by catching up on one of the most classic flicks (or the newmusical update!). Set the tone for the night with a DIY burn book vase that doubles as a hilarious take-home treat. (via Aww Sam)

Sasha • Stories

Have A Beach Day Picnic

If you live on the coast, host your Galentine's Day gathering at the beach. Make sure you bring your favorite beach bag, a pair of sunglasses, and perhaps some bubbly!

Kelsey Chance

Have A Wine Tasting

You and your girls love your wine, so use the day as an excuse to host your very own rosé tasting party.

Brit + Co

Hit The Slopes

An adventurous way to get outdoors and spend time with your ladies is to take advantage of the snow. Go skiing or snowboarding, or build a snow(wo)man. Then enjoy après ski cocktails!

Brit + Co

Have A Pool Party

If you live in a warmer climate (or have a heated pool), throw a fun G-Day pool party complete with all of the essentials like vino, floaties, and sunhats.

Brit + Co

Host A Parks & Rec Marathon

The best way to celebrate Galentine's Day is by honoring the creator, Leslie Knope, with a Parks and Rec marathon viewing party. Ask your ladies to supply the booze, and you can serve up the snacks and the show — or any of our other favorite feel-good TV shows.

Brit + Co

Host An Outdoor Dinner + Movie

Your ladies deserve a get-together that's sure to give each gal the much-needed fun she deserves. Host a movie and dinner for your ladies, outdoors if the weather permits. Step up your party with favors, swag bags, and a night of unlimited drinks.

Shutterstock

Have A Karaoke Party

What better way to start off your Galentine's Day shindig than by belting out a few tunes with your favorite ladies? Yep, we didn't think we'd have to tell you twice.

Brit + Co

Go on A Hike

Keep up with your health goals with an active day outdoors. It's a great way to bond with your girlfriends and with nature.

No Revisions

Book A Spa Day

What better way to show self love than to book a much-deserved spa day with gal pals. You'll feel refreshed and recharged.

Brit + Co

Zoom With Surprise Takeout

Bestie live in another state? Plan an evening Zoom call and send each other dinner delivery for a fun gab session and thoughtful Galentine's Day gift. Oh, what a night!

More Galentine's Day Party Ideas

A pom pom and lantern wall is literally the perfect way to add some texture to any Galentine's Day party! Plus, you can reuse them for upcoming bachelorette parties and baby showers.

Take a simple white table cloth (bonus points if it's paper) and paint "XOXO" across it for a personalized, romantic addition to your table.

Never underestimate the power of gold letter balloons. They're our favorite!

In lieu of flowers, fill some of your favorite vases with all kinds of red and pink candies.

If a pure candy charcuterie board is overwhelming, opt for a mix — supplement chocolate, marshmallows, and strawberries with meat and cheese for a board that's both lunch and dessert.

Mix up your Galentine's Day party mimosa bar by providing different juices and different garnishes that your guests can choose from.

Letter boards are a super easy and super fun way to add spunk to your party. Plus, they don't take up a lot of room, so that's a win-win for us!

Grapefruit juice is the perfect addition to your Galentine's Day party's pink cocktails — or to sparkling water for a low-key mocktail.

Candlesticks, jars, cake trays, oh my! The more dishes, the better as far as we're concerned.

It's easier than ever to find super cute, super sassy napkins. It's a small touch that goes a long way!

Mini bottles of champagne aren't just good for your Galentine's Day party — have everyone write a goal on their bottle, and wait to pop it until that goal is achieved!

Find heart-shaped plates to add extra romance to your tablescape.

Galentine's Day Party Favor Ideas

Miniature potted plants are as cute as can be, and when they're wrapped in pink napkins? To die for.

Cupid would totally approve of these red candy kabobs.

If you have a collection of white bags for your Galentine's Day party favors, go crazy with the designs! Draw hearts, arrows, or write a little note to each of your friends.

Nothing says "I love you" like knowing your friend's favorites — which means you'll knock beauty product gift bags out of the park.

Red lollipops get a fruity upgrade when you wrap their sticks in green tape. Voilà!! The cherry on top of all your Galentine's Day festivities.

Wall envelopes are the perfect place to stash all your candy — or a super artsy Galentine's Day note.

Less is more with a Galentine's Day party favor that lets your BFF know how much she means to you.

A little bit of thoughtful wrapping makes a colorful bouquet even more beautiful than it already is!

Add tiny bows to all your champagne bottles for a true coquette party theme.

Use a pair of scalloped scissors to turn regular gift bags into something even more eye-catching!

Galentine's Day party favors don't *just* have to be candy and cards — celebrate your friends' hobbies with thoughtful gifts, too!

We'll literally never say no to chocolate, especially when it includes flower petals!

Looking for more reasons to get together with your girls this Galentine's Day? Follow us on Pinterest for even more ideas!

This article has been updated from a previous post with additional reporting by Sarah Koller and Theresa Gonzalez.

Vacation season is swiftly approaching, which means it’s finally time to dust off your favorite swimsuits! If your current lineup is craving a refresh, though, let it be known that the perfect place to shop for cute, colorful, and comfy swim styles is none other than Anthropologie! We scrolled through their entire swim collection and found 11 stunning swimsuits you can easily rock with confidence on a tropical getaway or pool day this year.

Shop our 11 favorite Anthropologie swimsuits for spring and summer 2025 below!

Anthropologie

Capittana Stephanie Vichy Fruits Bikini Top

This fruity bikini top covered in an ever-trendy gingham pattern was made to be seen at the beach or poolside.

Anthropologie

LSPACE Kyslee Cutout One-Piece Swimsuit

With two cheeky cutouts in the front and back, this style takes your typical black one-piece and jazzes it up perfectly – all while still retaining its modesty! You could easily style this as a bodysuit with some white linen pants, too!

Anthropologie

Seafolly Beach Bound Ring Front Bandeau One-Piece Swimsuit

This swimmie is so Audrey Hepburn-coded, thanks to the minimal black and white color palette and contrasting trim details. It can be worn with or without the straps since they're detachable.

Anthropologie

Andie x Sunshine Tienda One-Piece Swimsuit

Hello, color! We adore this striped one-piece because it makes a statement all on its own and really embraces the lively energy of good old summertime.

Anthropologie

Citrine Swim Luna One-Piece Swimsuit

If you're headed to the beach this year, this design dotted with little palm trees is quite literally the perfect fit – not only for the beachy vibes, but on your body, too! The chic straight neckline is super flattering, while the backside boasts a playful crossed tie to secure its fit.

Anthropologie

Damson Madder Jezebel Bikini Top

Gingham is still super huge, even in the swimsuit world. This simple bandeau bikini top and ruched bottoms supply such a great amount of coverage, while still highlighting flirty details like the keyholes on the sides.

Anthropologie

Hutch Rosanna One-Piece Swimsuit

The side ruching brought up by an easily-accessible drawstring makes this one-piece suit extremely flattering. It hugs your curves in all the best ways, plus you can secure the top half with a similar drawstring – and a keyhole for extra style points!

Anthropologie

Agua Bendita Mariel One-Piece Swmsuit

This feminine swimsuit design will certainly turn heads this summer, plus it photographs beautifully, so you can ensure you walk away from vacay with some stunning Instagram pics!

Anthropologie

Beach Riot Joyce Cutout One-Piece Swimsuit

The bold color-blocking on this one-piece swimmie feels retro to a tee, though the pastel palette gives it a subtle modern spin for repeated wear this spring and summer!

Anthropologie

Seafolly Slide Bikini Top

This frilly number will inspire the utmost confidence no matter where you wear it. Plus, the top ties conveniently in the back for the perfect fit every time.

Anthropologie

Malai Bandeau Halter Bikini Top

Covered in seashell motifs, this bikini is right on-theme for any beach trip. The halter fit and o-ring design are both timeless and fresh, plus we adore that the bottoms in this set are high-waisted and hug the bod in!

Subscribe to our newsletter to shop more seasonal styles!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Grocery shopping nowadays has practically become an extreme budgeting sport. Between inflation, added tariffs, and supply chain issues, many households have begun visiting multiple stores each week to score the best deals and rethinking their usual grocery lists altogether.

However, there is some good news: with a few smart food swaps, you can still eat well without blowing your budget. Here are the simple changes you can make to save at the store without sacrificing taste or nutrition.

Scroll to see the simple swaps you can make to lower your grocery bill amid inflation and tariffs!

1. Chicken

Walmart

Chicken remains one of the more affordable meat options, yet prices have still crept up steadily over the past few years. For instance, in 2019, shoppers paid an average of $1.47 per pound of fresh whole chicken. By the tail end of 2024, this increased to $2.06 per pound.

If chicken breast has been your go-to, you can try swapping it with thighs or drumsticks. These cuts are both more affordable and often more flavorful than white meat.

Or, for even bigger savings, consider buying a whole chicken. It's usually cheaper per pound and offers multiple meals' worth of meat once butchered. Save the carcass to make chicken stock, too!

2. Milk

Walmart

If you're a family that goes through multiple gallons of milk per week, you've probably felt the strain of rising dairy prices. Five years ago, one gallon of whole milk cost an average of $2.91; meanwhile, at the end of last year, the average price rose to $4.10.

This surge means it's worth looking into alternatives. Shelf-stable dairy and non-dairy milks, such as oat, almond, or soy, can often be found in bulk at lower prices. Not to mention, they tend to last longer, helping you cut down on food waste.

3. Eggs

Walmart

Eggs used to be a cheaper protein staple, but today, they're pricier than ever. The easiest way to decrease your spending on eggs each week is by trying egg substitutes, such as Egg Replacer.

Or, if you are baking, consider swapping eggs out for applesauce, mashed banana, or flaxseed mixed with water in your recipes, all of which can replicate the binding properties of eggs.

4. Coffee

Walmart

Those of us who are fueled by caffeine are also feeling the pain. Making coffee at home instead of visiting Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts used to be a foolproof way to lower spending. Now, even brewing a cup of Joe at home is getting quite expensive, particularly if you rely on single-serve pods.

To save, start buying ground coffee in bulk or switching to whole beans. You can also mix your coffee with creamer to stretch your supply or replace it with instant coffee, which may be more affordable over time.

5. Bread

Walmart

Whether you prefer white or wheat, the prices of both kinds of bread have increased. In order to cut back, you can begin baking your own loaves at home. It's actually a lot easier than it sounds and much cheaper in the long run.

Otherwise, if baking's not your thing, you can buy bread in bulk and freeze the extras to avoid any mid-week grocery store runs or waste. Using rice, potatoes, or tortillas in place of traditional bread is another way to lower the price of your meals.

6. Garlic

Walmart

Garlic is a kitchen staple, and many people agree that you can never have enough. Unfortunately, though, a lot of the garlic we buy in the United States is imported from China, meaning prices may soon go up due to tariffs.

For a cost-effective swap, you can try using garlic-infused olive oil, which adds the same flavor and lasts longer, or substitute leeks, onions, or shelf-stable garlic powder.

7. Avocados

Walmart

Not only are avocados expensive, but they're rarely sold ripe and ready-to-eat in supermarkets. So, if you buy them in advance and accidentally miss their ripeness window, you may wind up wasting a pretty pricey piece of produce.

Mashed chickpeas, seasoned edamame, or even hummus can serve as a creamy, versatile substitute in sandwiches and bowls. They're typically cheaper, have a similar texture, and are still nutritious.

8. Sugar

Walmart

Last but not least, it's time to think outside the box if you have a sweet tooth due to the climbing costs of sugar, particularly bulk and imported varieties. You can turn to natural sweeteners like mashed bananas, applesauce, or even maple syrup, which work well in baking, sauces, and drinks.

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