Did you know that you can save hundreds, possibly even thousands a year when you get your grocery shopping right? With a whopping 8% inflation rate that shopping cart isn’t getting any cheaper. So in order to save you household budget, here are a couple of tips on how to save money on groceries these days. (Psst, do you know the best way to battle inflation? Investing of course!) Declined bank card Have you ever had your card declined at the register because the balance was insufficient? I have. In my early twenties I struggled with money a lot. I discovered that life was expensive and didn’t have much to spend. One time I found myself in line at the supermarket, with only a couple of low cost food items like sandwiches, cheese and yoghurt. The cashier scanned my stuff and typed in the amount I had to pay, which was less than €10. A split second later I heard a mocking beep, along with a message on the screen of the terminal that read “card declined”. Ouch. Money saving ninja Luckily my penny counting days are behind me, but tough financial times taught me how to become a money saving ninja. I learned how to get by with very little, but I still had everything I needed. How did I get out of this situation? I sorted out my priorities and stopped spending money on unimportant things I analyzed my spending with an expense tracker I looked for ways to save as much money as possible on groceries With everything that’s going on in the world prices are soaring. So in order to help you, I am sharing my tips to leave the supermarket with your wallet intact. How to save money on groceries: 7 tips Next time you’re shopping for groceries, keep these 7 tips in mind to save money. Tip 1: Take a shopping list Probably the oldest trick in the book, but taking a shopping list with you is a great way to save money. Everyone who ever went shopping on an empty stomach knows what I mean: hungry feelings cause severe impulse buying. Another reason: if you don’t know what you’re shopping for you’ll buy too much. Make it easy for yourself to get in and out of the supermarket as fast as possible. Tip 2: Plan your meals Meal planning is not only an excellent time management hack, it can also save you money. By putting some thought into your meals for the upcoming day you can cook more efficiently with less ingredients, which means you have to spend less on groceries. On top of that it will be even easier to make a shopping list. Win win. Tip 3: Look at the top and bottom shelves Never forget this again: eye level shelves display the most expensive products. It’s simple marketing. If you are rushing through the store after work it’s just really convenient to grab whatever is within reach. The cheaper products are stashed away on the top and bottom shelves, so they are harder to reach. So next time go the extra mile to grab that can on the top shelf – or if you’re short like me: ask the tallest person in sight to help you. I can assure you that it will pay off. Tip 4: Check the price per kilo or liter Price tags can fool you. One product might seem cheaper than the other, but always remember to check the price per kilo or liter before you buy. So often you’ll see huge differences. It’s only a tiny effort, but one with great result. Tip 5: Move away from A-brands We get bombarded with commercials every day. Even the strongest people get influenced once in a while, be it on social media or tv. Once a brand has nestled in our brain through the power of advertising it is really tempting to grab in in the store, because it looks and feels so familiar. But those A-brands can be really costly, and most of the time the quality is not top notch (contrary to popular belief). I challenge you to do the test: take both A-brands and house brands home with you and organize a blind tasting. Do you think you’ll be able to recognize which is which? Give house brands a chance, your wallet will thank you. Tip 6: Eat less meat Meat can be pricy. If you’re the kind of person who likes a good steak on a regular basis you’ll know that it comes with a price tag. And that’s fine because let’s be honest: in this day and age we know how the meat industry impacts our environment. I am pro flexitarian diet. I like meat (and fish for that matter), but I really don’t need it in every meal. Why not replace your trusted protein with vegetables from time to time? Fresh veggies aren’t expensive if you buy whatever is in season, and they’re healthy too. Go green, and keep your spending lean. Tip 7: Double check discounts Who doesn’t love a discount? But please double check them. It’s a well known trick for suppliers to increase prices right before giving a discount. Also: some stores might offer a “buy 1, get 1 for half price” deal, but maybe that same product is way cheaper somewhere else. The same thing goes for discount supermarkets. We are so used to Aldi offering cheap products that we automatically assume they are alway the best budget choice, but you might be surprised how many products actually cost more than in ‘fancier’ stores. In other words: keep hunting for discounts, but don’t fall for the marketing traps. Do you want free money tips and investing knowledge in your inbox? Subscribe!
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