Does your paycheck seem to be insufficient for your day-to-day expenses? The food category may be one of the major culprits.
Grocery expenses are no joke, especially if you have a big family to feed. However, this does not mean it is impossible to budget. To help you in this challenging feat, start by establishing a realistic goal, and keep reading for some ways to help save money on grocery shopping.
- Shop on Wednesdays
Promotional offers and coupons in weekly circulars, like those often found in aldi catalogue, are not the only ways to reduce grocery expenses. Shopping on the right day also works wonders. Why Wednesday? Wednesday is commonly the day of the week when shops release their weekly circulars, therefore giving you first dibs on their promotional and sale items.
Similarly, avoid Saturdays and Tuesdays. Tuesdays are when people flock to the grocers to take advantage of the last-day sale, while Saturdays are generally the busiest days to shop.
- Shop for Meats at the Meat Market
Although it takes more effort to shop for food at different shops, it pays (a lot!) to go out of the way and head to a meat market for meats. Smaller and specialised shops—like butchers—often offer cheaper prices on fresher products.
Another great thing about meat markets is that they sell their products in bulk. So, when they run a good promo, you can purchase items in big quantities and then freeze the rest for later use.
- Prepare a List
This one may sound cliché but try the refined version. Take advantage of online Nobili catalogs, like the aldi catalogue, to prepare your list. Go through the catalogue and list down the items you need. This is a better way to prepare your grocery list since you know you will find the exact product in that exact grocery. Therefore, it provides lesser chances for you to aimlessly walk around grocery lanes, look for substitute products, and pick items out on a whim along the way.
- Avoid the Eye-Level Products
Grocery stores strategically place the more expensive products at eye level and the cheaper goods on the lower and upper shelves. Seasonal and sale products are usually placed at the ends of the aisles for more visibility.
So, the next time you go grocery shopping, you know where to check when you want a cheaper can of, say, tomato sauce, or you’re on the lookout for bundled sale items.
- Pick Store Brands
You have probably noticed by now that store brands cost cheaper than popular brands. Don’t get caught by catchy advertisements; store brands are just as good as the branded versions.
For common kitchen and household items—like sugar, milk and cleaning products—go for store brands. If you are hesitant, check the ingredients to compare them with your old brand.
- Stretch What You Have
Think outside of the box. If you have already consumed most items in your kitchen, think about what you can do with the remaining ones. And don’ forget about the leftovers in the fridge that you can still use. Think of pulled pork recipes for leftover meats and stir-fried rice with frozen veggies for your leftover rice. Simple, fast and cheap recipes.
Saving money on grocery shopping is about being creative and smart in the kitchen. If you have a few minutes to spare, planning your meals ahead of time helps reduce your food expenses.
