Supermarkets are skilled at convincing us to spend more money than we would want. However, by making a few tiny changes to your buying habits, you can save money on groceries and maybe a little fortune in the long run.
Whether you want to cut your food budget or simply stop wasting food, these tips can help you get organised and eat well while spending less.
Every year, the average family in the UK wastes approximately £470 in food.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could save a little money on groceries each month? It looks like free money to me. However, this is something that many individuals do not consider.
In this post, you will discover the best ways to save money on groceries while still eating healthily.
I divided this post into three sections: what to do before, during, and after shopping.
The majority of our savings occur before we leave the house.
Before you go grocery shopping, make a list of everything you have in your pantry, fridge, freezer, or wherever you keep food. This allows you to plan meals based on what you already have on hand.
This practice has the potential to minimise food waste, which presently stands at 9.5 million tonnes in the UK, which is also a significant waste of money.
Without taking stock, We’re not just wasting money on food we don’t eat — we’re wasting money on food we also don’t even realize we have.
Taking a few minutes each week to take stock will help to reduce waste and enable you to save money on your grocery bill.
Many individuals appear to believe that making a shopping list is the greatest method to save money on groceries. That is not correct.
The easiest approach to save money on groceries is to plan your meals for the week based on what you already have (remember you have taken stock), and then create a shopping list of what you don’t have to make the meal plan a reality.
The first rule of grocery shopping is that you do not go hungry.
This is a no-brainer, but it’s so crucial. When you’re hungry, it’s easy to overspend on unnecessary products since they appear so good.
Though it may not be obvious, where you buy has a significant impact on the amount of money you spend on food; certain places are more expensive than others.
Also, consider local markets in your area.
Always build a buffer into your grocery budget. For example, if you plan to spend £100 weekly, you can give yourself say a 10% buffer so your total grocery budget for the week will be £110
This way, if you overspend while shopping, it won’t have a significant influence on your entire household budget.
If done correctly at the end of the month, you shouldn’t use up your food budget
Marketing gurus have convinced us that if something costs more, it must be better, right? Wrong.
Whenever possible, buy store brands. They are nearly always cheaper or buy a step below the luxury brands you are used to buying.
Then see if you can detect a difference, if not stick to the cheaper or store brand.
Try this with everything you buy. For example, instead of buying your regular two packs of Kellogs, buy one Kellogs and then a store brand or something cheaper and experiment with it.
The whole point of this isn’t to buy only the cheap stuff, but to ensure you’re not wasting money thereby saving money on your grocery bill.
Make a point of sticking to your grocery list when you go shopping. This will help you avoid impulse buying
Products are arranged in stores to influence your buying decisions, what do I mean?
When people walk down the aisles, they tend to notice only what is at eye level, so if you want your product to sell well, place them at eye level, therefore products at eye level are usually the most profitable.
The key is to look for things at the top and bottom of the shelves to find good deals
‘Yellow sticker’ discounts are when items have been reduced with the aim to clear out.
Foods nearing their “sell by” dates are among the products affected by this. If you pick wisely and store it properly, you can still eat it after those dates have passed.
If you’re willing to take the time to do some planning and some cooking, you can save even more.
Most grocery stores now provide a loyalty card that entitles you to savings on purchased items. If you don’t already have one, get one now!
These cards are completely free and will provide you with a 10-20% discount on hundreds of items every time you shop.
Combine this with a credit card that offers cashback as long as you pay off the balance each month
If credit cards are not your thing, then pay for your groceries with cash not a debit card. This is beneficial because it’s difficult to spend more than you have.
You’re restricted to the amount of money you brought with you which forces you to live within your means.
Shopping carts are built to accommodate the most food possible, which can lead to overspending.
Instead, bring a small basket or bag with you to the store and only buy what fits inside. This will help you avoid impulse purchases and keep your grocery spend as low as possible.
it’s simple to justify purchasing something extra when your basket already has space for it.
This tactic isn’t limited to food stores. It can also be employed in any retail setting, including clothes stores and department stores.
You naturally buy fewer items when you have less space to fill. So, the next time you go shopping, forego the giant cart in favour of something smaller to save money!
Track how much everything in your basket costs to keep a clear picture of how much you’re spending when shopping.
This could imply using your phone’s calculator or rounding all prices up to whole digits, making them easier to add up in your head. This keeps you from overspending unintentionally.
We waste a lot more food than we think. Every year, UK families waste 7.3 million tonnes of food, equivalent to £12.5 billion, or £470 per household.
A ‘use-by’ date is the date by which food should be consumed. It is related to safety.
It is critical not to consume items that have gone beyond their “use-by” date because hazardous bacteria that cause food poisoning can grow in them.
These are commonly seen on meat, fish, dairy goods such as milk and yoghurt, cooked sliced meats, and cooked rice meals.
A ‘best before’ date, on the other hand, is concerned with quality rather than safety.
Foods with a ‘best before’ date can be consumed safely after this date, but they may not be at their best. Their flavour and texture may be inferior.
One of the most effective strategies to save money on groceries is to properly store your food. This will extend the life of your food and reduce waste.
It’s easy to overlook the importance of properly storing food, but doing so can help ensure that you get the most out of it.
It’s critical to keep track of your grocery spending once you’ve finished shopping, just like it’s important to keep track of your overall budget.
This could imply entering the numbers into an Excel spreadsheet, an app or just plain old paper.
Shopping online instead of in-store might save you a lot of money. When we shop in-store, we shop with our eyes, and if we are hungry, we will spend much more.
When you buy online, you can simply check your expenditure as you go, make any necessary substitutions before purchase, and only put goods in your cart that are part of a meal plan.
You also save money on petrol and fares, as well as your valuable time. If you have coupon codes, online shopping is both convenient and cost-effective.
Also, online stores usually have enticing offers for customers that you won’t find in supermarkets.
There are apps that give cash back and points for simply scanning your receipts; it isn’t generally much, but it’s still some savings.
Household money savings wrote a very good article regarding this
This is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time but haven’t done much about.
The idea is to look at what fruits and veggies you eat daily and then grow them.
Bulk purchasing can be a terrific method to save money on food items that you use frequently.
This is straightforward if you have a freezer to preserve food; buying in bulk is usually cheaper because the price per serving is lower.
Staples, cleaning supplies, fish, and meat are some items you can buy in bulk.
Saving money on groceries does not have to be a difficult task. It can, in fact, be a lot of fun.
You may save a lot of money on groceries each month by making a few simple substitutions and planning ahead of time.
Remember that groceries are a crucial component of any well-stocked kitchen, so it’s critical to understand where you may save money when purchasing them.
