HOW TO SAVE MONEY WHEN SHOPPING
Food bills account for a huge amount of people's outgoings, and with money harder to come by than it has been for some time, making sure we save money when shopping has never been more important. But with some discipline and my top 10 shopping tips there is no reason you can't bring your personal grocery bill down, and save money when shopping.
10 TIPS
1) Make a list
If you find that every week your trolley is full of impulse buys, make some time to sit down and plan what you really need. This way there will be less temptation to pick up things you won’t really use. You may also discover items that you could live without, reducing your shopping bill even further.
2) Grab bargains
You will usually find meat, bread and other fresh products reduced for quick sale just before their sell-by date. If you have a reasonably large freezer, you can freeze most fresh items for later. Just make sure you are buying items you will actually eat and are not just buying them because they are cheap.
What's the cheapest way to eat?
3) Bulk buy
‘BOGOF’. No, not an insult, it actually stands for ‘Buy One Get One Free’. Supermarkets are very good at these offers and you can take advantage. Providing you’ve got the storage space, stock up when essential items like toilet roll, washing powder and beer are on special. Just beware of bulk buying items with a limited lifespan or that you don’t actually use that often, otherwise you’ll be wasting instead of saving.
4) Try own brand goods
Supermarkets produce a range of own brand goods, covering everything from pasta to tea. In many cases, you won’t notice the difference in taste but you will notice the difference in price. Basic items such as flour and rice are often produced by the same supplier as other ranges but just in different packaging.
5) Downsize
In many cases, smaller shops, and the farmers’ markets that are springing up everywhere, are cheaper and fresher than the supermarkets.
6) Cut down on luxury shopping items
If you are really determined to shave some money off your bill, reduce the number of luxury items you buy, such as chocolate and alcohol. In many cases, this will cut down the pounds you spend in the shop and the pounds in weight you put on at home.
7) Eat seasonally
Foods that are in season are in more plentiful supply and therefore cheaper. Simple really. You are also doing your bit for the environment as many out of season foods are brought in from abroad, generating a carbon footprint in the process.
8) Grow your own food
It is amazing how many vegetables and fruits you can grow in your back garden or allotment. From tomatoes to runner beans to strawberries, you can have the satisfaction of eating what you’ve grown.
9) Eat more veg
Meat is generally among the most expensive items on a shopping bill. Cut out a couple of meat dishes a week in favour of some seasonal vegetable meals and you will save. It may well turn out to be beneficial to your health as well as your wealth.
10) Use your reward points
If you don’t like theme parks, spa breaks or the other discounts the various reward cards offer, use your points to get money off your shopping. Pound for pound, it offers as good value as some of the other offers. Just don’t spend the money you have saved on items you don’t need later.
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