Seven ways to save money on your groceries
Buying groceries can take a large chunk out of your budget, so follow these tricks to slash those costs today!
Grocery shopping can be expensive. But, as we all have to eat, it becomes a matter of outsmarting the supermarket. Can it be done, helping you save money in the process? Yes! Here’s some ideas.
Plan your meals for the week
This tip is not only good for your hip pocket, but your waistline. By planning your meals and snacks in advance, you’re being disciplined about the fuel that’s powering your body. Plus, you won’t be tempted to buy baked goodies or other sweets that you see on sale, which is always strategically placed when you first enter the supermarket.
Plan out your meals and write down what you need on a shopping list. Take this with you and stick to it! Everyone is guilty of making a shopping list and then adding to it while they’re browsing the aisles. This is a sure-fire way to buy treats or snacks you wouldn’t normally have planned for and to blow out your weekly grocery budget.
Make a list and stick to it
Once you’ve planned out your meals, write down what you need on a shopping list. Take this with you and stick to it! Everyone is guilty of making a shopping list and then adding to it while they’re browsing the aisles. This is a sure-fire way to buy treats or snacks you wouldn’t normally have planned for and to blow out your weekly grocery budget.
Have a weekly clean-out of the fridge and cabinets
Have you ever tried to find an ingredient, like the Worchester sauce, only to have to take out half the pantry because it’s at the back and the shelves are packed to the rafters? Over time, non-perishable items, such as sauces, baking goods, cooking oils, pasta, spices and other cooking essentials that don’t expire in the short term, accumulate in the kitchen pantry and surrounding cupboards – just like old crockery you don’t use anymore.
By scheduling in a weekly review or clean-out, you can keep on top of what is in the pantry so you’re not doubling up in your grocery shop and ensuring that you’re using everything purchased until it’s completely empty.
Sign up for supermarket loyalty programs
Free to join and easy to use, supermarket loyalty programs are a good way to save a few bucks here or there. While each differ with what rewards they offer their customers, it’s a good idea to sign up to all of your local supermarkets.
Keep them handy and use them whenever you purchase groceries. While some loyalty programs will try to advertise certain products for a special price, if this a product you don’t normally buy, then avoid buying it now. This rule should apply to products purchase in-store that are advertised as “on special”.
Know what discounts your local supermarket offers
Some supermarkets or local fruit and veg stores will offer their own special discounts for people over-60 for certain days. You may need to hold a Seniors Card to get the discount, so if you’re eligible consider getting a card. This can be done through your state government’s human services department.
Buy supermarket brands over established names
A few years ago, home brand items in supermarkets carried a certain stigma around them. Now, however, with the competition considerably warmed up between supermarket giants, home brands have a revamped image. Most people today don’t have a problem buying supermarket-branded items, with many of these products taking over from traditional “name” brands.
Price has become the biggest motivating factor for buying supermarket brands. If you’re not too fussy or loyal to any of the established brands, why not try a supermarket item? It could save you considerably at the checkout without affecting your tastebuds too much.
Don’t shop hungry!
Did you know that hungry people are more likely to spend more at the supermarket and have bigger waistlines? While the advice to avoid grocery shopping when your stomach is grumbling for food has been around for a while, a 2013 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed just how much it can influence what you buy in a supermarket.
Researchers gave a group of people a snack before sending them off to shop while another group was given no snack. While both groups bought a similar amount of food, the group of people who hadn’t eaten first bought more food with higher calories. Shopping while you’re hungry will also see your nose turn and your mouth start to salivate towards the whiff of freshly baked bread or roast chicken, perhaps even buying one of these when it wasn’t on the shopping list. If you’re hungry, you’re more likely to succumb to the delicious smells wafting in the air.
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