How to Cut Down on Grocery Bills
By Daksha Gehani
Sticking on a budget for food can be tough and the bundle offers on the mini cake-rolls don’t make this easier for your budget or your diet. Undoubtedly, whatever age group you’re in, food is one of your top three expenses. A massive challenge with preventing your budget from leaking is grocery shopping. A few things, however, could keep things under control:
1.Think Ahead 🚀
Always walk into a supermarket with a grocery list to avoid making any impulsive purchases. Make sure you commit to your lists. Avoid buying anything as soon as you walk into the store as most stores line up bundle offers/promotions right at the front and/or near the cash tills to entice customers.
At the start of the week, you can check sale ads or potential promo codes that could help you save. Focus on sales related to products that you really need (list your promo-code hunting) so that you differentiate between offers worth pursuing and those that could potentially create a dent in your wallet.
Keep in mind that leftovers are to be used as well, and don’t forget to do a quick inventory check before your next stop.
2.Cash-In Once In A While 💸
To limit your purchases, leave your card at home and only carry the limited amount of cash you need to commit to your grocery list. If you don’t have the money, you cannot impulse buy. Research suggests that counting cash before purchasing urges shoppers to be careful with purchases.
“When we use cash, we tend to think more about what we are spending it on, and we literally see that the envelope is getting thinner,” said Danielle Wagasky, who stretched $14,000 a year to cover her family’s needs for five years. She also explained, “When you run out of cash in any particular envelope, the spending stops. You cannot spend money you don’t have.”
3.Keep the Promos in Check ✅
Subscribing to too many mobile alerts or emails can also cause you to overspend. In the new age of data transparency, we’re all well aware that supermarkets use promotional techniques, campaigns, and offers to encourage the customers to shop end. For instance, supermarkets use end caps to get people to buy more. Customers often think that because a food item is on display at the end of the aisle, the price is reduced. However, end caps drive increased sales, even if the price is the same as usual.
4.Follow Order ✋
To “eat in order” is to consume food that spoils fast and keep that long-lasting food for later on. Simply planning your meals isn’t enough, you must be smart with the order you consume your food in. For example, citrus-based fruits last for a considerably long time, however, berries are highly perishable.
Wagasky also has a guide for this, one that’s easy to follow:
- First: bananas, berries, cherries, kiwis, avocado, spinach, lettuce, and grapes
- Second: tomatoes, mango, peaches, pears, melon, apricots, and zucchini
- Third: cucumbers, pineapple, and pomegranates
- Last: carrots, potatoes, celery, apples, grapefruit, and oranges
5.Monday is “No Meat”?
Designation one or two days of the week to meatless meals can also help you cut down your grocery bills since meat products are priced higher than vegetables and fruits.
While it may not seem like it, it’s easier to keep adding to your basket while strolling through a supermarket than it is online. A good rule of thumb to follow is to avoid picking up a basket each time you step into a supermarket. If your list includes less than five items, pick them up yourself, instead of a basket. If you do choose a basket, opt for a smaller option, the excess space in a bigger basket could force you to think you can afford to spend more than you really can.
This article is part of the bite-size bundle ‘Slashing Bills’ on the Finllect app. Find the Finllect app on Appstore today! 💁
