Despite inflation easing over the past few months, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis remains palpable across everyday life. One of the most tangible effects of the increase in living costs is through the rise in grocery prices, which spiralled upwards after shocks such as the pandemic. For many, groceries represent a large chunk of their weekly expenditure, which is why implementing savings habits into your shopping routine can have major benefits – especially if you’re shopping for a family. That’s why we’ve put together a quick-fire list of ten tips to help you shop for less.
1. Go to the shop less – if it’s possible to shop fewer times a week, and buy in larger quantities for more meals, it reduces the chances of buying extra snacks and unnecessary items which can add up quickly.
2. Make a shopping list – similarly, try to limit browsing within grocery stores; this way, you won’t be swayed by items you don’t need for meals. Sticking to a list may require some planning but will save both time and money.
3. Meal plan around your fridge – to avoid wasting food, take a look in your fridge before opening a recipe book. This way, you can build meals around items you already have, instead of being persuaded by recipes that involve buying all-new ingredients.
4. Eat more vegetables – meat is often the most expensive part of a meal, so going vegetarian for a few nights a week is an easy way to save money and has numerous health benefits. We’d recommend adding cost-effective protein using beans, pulses, and legumes, since meat alternatives or tofu can be pricey.
5. Make use of your freezer if you have one – freezing food like meats and vegetables before their sell by date is a great way to make sure they don’t spoil and can be used when you need them.
6. Grow herbs – buying a small plant to replace packets of herbs is often not much more expensive upfront, so it will save money in the long run, especially as fresh herbs don’t last long in the fridge.
7. Have a store cupboard meal up your sleeve – even with meal planning, it’s easy to get into a situation where your fridge stocks leave something to be desired. To avoid having to buy takeout in this situation, we’d recommend having a meal or two up your sleeve that uses store cupboard ingredients you can stock up on, such as a lentil Bolognese or a chickpea curry.
8. Shop in world food sections – often larger supermarkets will stock ingredients in the world food section that can be found cheaper than other sections in the supermarket. It’s also worth comparing different countries within the world food section, as even they may have the same ingredient for different prices!
