29.03.2022

HOW TO SAVE WHEN BUYING FOOD

Food prices in our country continue to set historical records, and higher food prices are contributing to a larger jump in overall inflation caused by the pandemic and military conflict. Grocery shopping is a significant expense for most families and households, putting a huge strain on the monthly budget. The good news is that there are ways to make shopping more economical.

Browse the weekly brochures with promotions

Through the promotional brochures you can plan the menu for the next days with products at reasonable prices. In addition to the paper versions by mail, you can compare the offers of different supermarkets and online. Choose a few convenient for you and check out their latest promotions. This method will help you find the best offers, as well as diversify your menu.

Install shopping apps

The search for bargains online is not limited to websites. You also have access to mobile apps for smartphones and tablets that help reduce costs. With these apps, you can browse catalogs, see current bargains, use digital coupons, and create wish lists that you can even share with other devices.

Keep your market list up to date

Organize your purchases with a market list according to the dishes you want to prepare. The list will make shopping easier, faster and, most importantly, smarter. Paste the list in a prominent place or use a small board on which you can make adjustments with a marker when new ideas come to you. There are also mobile applications in which each family member can edit the market list.

Check your cabinets before shopping

Before you go shopping for new products, take stock of what you already have at home. Use the products available in the kitchen cabinets as a starting point for your weekly cooking plan. This will help you avoid unnecessary costs. You should also check the expiration dates regularly and consume shorter-lasting products to avoid wasting food.

Pay in cash when possible

When you pay by credit card or use an overdraft, you can easily indulge in unnecessary expenses. One touch and you're off with a shopping cart. But remember that the loan is never free. On the other hand, when you see banknotes leaving your wallet, it's much harder to spend indiscriminately. Take advantage of this old-school psychological phenomenon.

Count while shopping

To have a clear view of how much you spend while shopping, keep track of how much everything in your cart/cart costs. This may mean using your phone's calculator or rounding all prices to whole numbers, making it easier to come up with. This method will prevent you from overspending and will help you fit into your monthly food budget.

Leave the children at home

For children, shopping with mom and dad is an interesting activity, but it is preferable to take them less often with you. Every parent knows that in the presence of a child the market turns into a series of unplanned purchases. When a child asks for something, many parents find it difficult to refuse. So, if your goal is to shop wisely and there is someone to leave the children at home, choose this option.

Be flexible

Planning is essential. However, you need to be prepared to make changes to your market list on the go. Imagine that you have a selected menu for the coming week, but the main product is exhausted. In this case, try to find a replacement - even better if it is on promotion. Fortunately, the internet is full of recipes for every budget and occasion.

Watch the lower shelves

To encourage you to shop, most supermarkets position their most expensive products at eye level. If you look at the same types of food that are sold on one or two shelves below eye level, you will notice that prices fall significantly. The cheapest products are often at the bottom, so start there first. Look up, too, because sometimes affordable brands are even higher.

Choose a small basket

Another method that supermarkets use to get you to buy more is to provide large shopping carts and baskets. This can mislead you that you have too few groceries, simply because they do not seem to fill the space in which they are located. It is a good idea to carry a reusable shopping bag that you have decided will be enough for all purchases.

Compare the prices of goods

Get in the habit of comparing food prices by weight, not the retail price shown. Usually in addition to the retail price you can see how much each product costs per 100 g or per 1 kg. This is the number you should use when comparing other similar products. Large packages are usually cheaper, but there are some exceptions that you need to be vigilant about.

Compare store offers

Different stores evaluate their products differently. Often the price of the same product varies considerably from store to store. So you need to do a little market research - on site or virtually. Write down the difference in the prices of the products you buy most often. You will soon get into the habit of going to different stores depending on what you need to buy.

Learn the sales cycles

Are you ready for some more detective work? Start paying attention to when your favorite products go on sale and how much the price drops. Keep notes in a small notebook or on your smartphone and see if there is a trend. You'll probably be able to predict sales soon before they even begin. Remember the regular prices of a dozen products. This will help you identify sales cycles.

Stick to the market list

If you go shopping without a list, you can easily like things you don't need. And even if you have a list, it can be difficult to follow if you are shopping on an empty stomach. When you are hungry, the need for food is able to consume everything in your path, including your money. So just eat something quick (like a banana) before heading to the supermarket.

Take advantage of the promotions

Supermarkets always offer various promotions that can help you save on everything from basic products to desserts. Consider buying goods on sale, especially if the standard price is high. Promotional products are usually prominent in the store, such as at the entrance and at the end of the aisles. But even if it's a "promotion", the purchase is only good if you need it.

Don't buy too much

Everyone loves sales, but don't buy something just because it's on promotion or you have a party. If the product is not on your marketing list, then you have spent more money than you planned. Buy it - use it! Check the expiration dates and choose longer-lasting foods that you will have enough time to consume. Because it's a shame to throw your money in the trash.

Give new life to old foods

Almost all supermarkets have sections with products at reduced prices due to the expiration date. Reduced vegetables are very suitable for soups and stews. Ripe bananas are ideal for making muffins or banana bread. Older daily bread is great for French toast or grilled sandwiches. Ripe melons can be diced and frozen or pureed to make smoothies.

Avoid certain types of products

Buying pre-cut vegetables or pre-grated cheese can save you cooking time, but this convenience comes at a price. Choose whole products to save money. The same goes for perfectly portioned goods, the packaging of which makes them significantly more expensive. So buy your favorite products in larger sizes and share them yourself at home.

Buy seasonal or frozen products

Fruits and vegetables out of season are more expensive because they are not so easily available. Plan your meals according to the season to save money and get better goods. Contrary to popular belief, frozen and canned food is no less nutritious than fresh. Frozen fruits and vegetables are a great alternative to their expensive off-season options.

Shop as a team

If you have a roommate, family member or friend who lives nearby, consider sharing products that you should have on hand, but often waste. This method can be especially useful for fresh spices and other goods that are sold in large quantities compared to what a recipe requires. This also applies to budget purchases in bulk - for example, a large package of salmon.

Mastering at least a few of these habits will help you reduce your monthly grocery bill, stick to your budget, and reach your financial goals faster. This means that you will have more money to pay off debt, invest in the future or save for something nice - a nice dinner at a restaurant, babysitter or spa weekend.