How to Save Money When Food Shopping

Image was taken by kenteegardin on Flickr

Saving money on food shopping isn’t just for those who are trying to save money; it just makes good sense. Why waste money that could be better spent elsewhere? Savvy grocery shopping doesn’t necessarily mean buying the supermarket’s cheapest own brands, or cutting out favorite luxuries (though these techniques do help to reduce costs). There are lots of ways to save money on food shopping, including those ideas below.

Create meal plans

With a plan in hand, it is more simple to only purchase ingredients that are needed, which can often be more cost-effective than trying to work food into sensible meals after it has been purchased. Meal plans can also reduce waste, as food is less likely to go out of date before it is used, and any leftovers can be worked into the plan, or, if suitable, frozen for later use. Planning for breakfasts, lunches, and snacks as well as evening meals can further reduce the need for potentially expensive ‘top-up’ shops. Make a shopping list from your menu and don’t deviate from your list.

Use vouchers, codes, and coupons

Keep an eye out on packaging, in magazines, and online for product reductions. There is no point spending extra on a product that will not be useful, simply because you have a voucher for it, but on the other hand, there is no point paying full price for an item if a valid discount coupon exists. Similarly, try joining supermarket loyalty and reward schemes to earn extra back on your regular shops.

Look out for special offers

As when using vouchers, don’t be tempted to purchase a product just because it is on offer, as this can lead to a false economy of purchasing products that were not needed in the first place. However, do take advantage of good offers on useful products when they are available, especially for goods with a long shelf-life, such as pasta and other dry ingredients, canned foods, beauty products, condiments, and beverages.

Plan where to shop

While current brand matching is closing the gap between relative costs of different supermarkets, there are still vast differences between some of the major brands. Value supermarkets, such as Aldi or Asda, might work out to be cheaper overall (although you will not benefit from rewards offered by Clubcard or Nectar points), whereas convenience outlets, such as Tesco Express or Metro, will be considerably more expensive. A local, independent greengrocer may prove to have better prices on fruit and vegetables, whereas luxury items such as cake and chocolate can often be found at competitive prices in budget shops, such as Poundland. It is worth shopping around to find which outlets have the best deals on selected products.

Consider down-branding

Obviously, this doesn’t work when supermarket value products are already selected, but when branded goods are purchased, consider buying the next lowest value item, just to try it. If it is acceptable, then a saving is made in the future. If not, simply return to buying the preferred brand.

Don’t shop hungry

Perhaps the most simple money saver is to avoid shopping on an empty stomach, as snacks and other unnecessary extra items more are likely to find their way into the basket of a hungry shopper.

These are just a few of many money-saving tips and ideas that could help reduce household spending. A little planning is often all it takes to spend less and save more. There are lots of financial gurus, such as Chase Rubin, who offer good advice for example this site has lots of advice on ways to save money