Food is one biggest costs to budget for,
Though shopping for groceries is something you don’t want to skimp on, especially when it may have an impact on your health.
Here are some easy tips to ponder on,
Save time
Reducing frequency of going to shops by doing a bigger shop all in one go
Go to a select number of shops, figure out the best places to get all you need, not only does this save time but money too
Knowing what you need, check your cupboards and fridge systematically before you head out
Make a shopping list – and if you are super organised, putting the items in order of picking them up from each aisle!
Saving money
Travel to shops once a week / fortnight or longer if possible
Make a weekly/fortnightly meal plan
Don’t buy excess – regularly check what food you have in stock and make sure it’s used by its best before date
Cook everything from scratch to make food cheap
Sending someone who doesn’t get distracted – Stores are designed to attract customers towards you spending more, so best to designate the chores to one who doesn’t get distracted
Be specific in what you need – a shopping list can help prevent deviations
Keep a track of your grocery spends and budget accordingly – you can use receipts, bank accounts, apps to help you keep a tab of how much you spend on average. This will help you budget too.
Reduce your meat consumption – This is a whole topic in itself, not only is it good for your pocket but good for your health too.
Reduce your takeaway consumption. If you spent just £15 on a takeaway once a fortnight that’s a whopping £390 a year you could be saving instead.
Try cheaper brands – Its worth a go, see if can taste the difference
Recommendations
My supermarket of choice – Aldi works for me as it’s like the Noah ark of supermarkets, it only has one or two of every item, so less chance to get distracted and doesn’t matter where you go, the aisle layout is pretty standard everywhere.
It’s also not so focused on the global brands; its cheap without losing the quality
Local corner stores – not only are you supporting local businesses but you are ensuring a link to your ethical, cultural and religious identity.
I would also recommend using a to do list app as it helps to keep track of the regular items you shop for.
In conclusion
By looking for ways to save money, you may think cutting the food budget is the way to go, as it is one of the biggest spends.
Please don’t do this. Your wellbeing always comes first,
However, with some shopping habit tweaking you can reduce the money spent on stuff that’s not healthy for your diet or your pocket.
Not only will you get a more organised diet but you may be able to replace with good wholesome food with the extra bob you save.
What are your thoughts on this subject? Can you recommend any good services? Write in the comments below!