Being organized and prepared can save you money and time when you do your grocery shopping. Food is becoming more expensive; however, a healthy, nutritious diet is still needed. It is possible to greatly save money at the supermarket and benefit from a healthy and nutritional diet. You may be surprised at how much money you can actually save at the supermarket.
How to save money at the supermarket:
Make a shopping list
Try to do a big shop once a week to save trips back and forth to the supermarket and local shops where you will be tempted to buy more than you need. Plan your meals for the week, and make a list of the food needed and stick to it to save money. List the staples that you have run out of, or are running low on to avoid an extra mid-week shop, as well as the food you need for your upcoming meals. This will reduce the cost of your shopping greatly, as you will only be buying what you need, and the food will not go wasted if you have your meals planned.
Food choices
Buy fresh and non-perishable food items that you can use in bulk. Buying larger packs of food is usually cheaper, but not always so look at what the best value is for you. Buy fruits and vegetables in season, as they will be cheaper and taste more flavorful. Frozen fruit and vegetables are good to keep in, as they can be used towards the end of the week when supplies have run out, so you will still have healthy food. Processed and ready-made meals are unhealthy and cost more than buying ingredients and making it yourself. Don’t buy jars of cooking sauce and ready-made meals, as this is expensive. Instead look on-line for simple recipes to make your own sauces and meals to save money.
Cleaning products
Don’t buy expensive branded cleaning products, instead go for natural cleaning products, as these are generally cheaper. A lot of supermarkets have their own range of natural cleaning products which will save you money, are kinder to your skin and the environment. If you want to really save yourself some money, use natural products that you can find in your food cupboard such as vinegar, lemon and tea tree which are very good for cleaning. These are effective and they can be used to clean your kitchen counters, windows and even your bathroom. A bottle of vinegar can clean almost anything, and it doesn’t cost much at all.
Hygiene products
Regular brands are usually just as good as the expensive brands. Generic basic toiletries and medicine are just as effective and they contain the same ingredients. Basic non-branded and shop’s own food ranges are usually just as good but at a lower price, because they don’t come in fancy packaging and they have not been advertised, so no extra cost to you.
Check your receipt
Always check your receipt to make sure that everything has been scanned through at the right price. Check that you haven’t been charged twice for items, as this can sometimes happen, and sale items don’t always scan at the right price. If you have been overcharged make sure you get reimbursed.
Remember to stick to your shopping list, don’t be tempted by special offers that you don’t need. Offers are generally on unnecessary food items to tempt shoppers to buy more to bumps up the food bill. All the signs for deals make you believe that you are getting the best deal, however, this is not always the case, so look at all of the food on the shelf to make sure you are buying the cheapest option. Don’t be enticed by extra items that you don’t need, and avoid getting caught out at the tills where they carefully stack sugary food to tempt you. If you plan ahead and stick to your shopping list you can save money at the supermarket.