Food and grocery items are a major expense in every household. With many South Africans facing financial setbacks in 2020, we made a list of five top ways you can instantly save money when doing your shopping.
1. Eat before you go shopping
This is a golden rule that we always follow: eat a medium meal (like a peanut butter sandwich) and have a drink of water before you leave the house. Shopping on an empty stomach will leave you feeling peckish and tempted by convenience foods and snacks – unnecessary last-minute expenses.
2. Write a list
It might feel a little old-fashioned, but writing a list on a piece of paper – and sticking to it – is an essential way to avoid impulse purchases. Shops can be overwhelming places filled with colours and noises, so a list will help you focus on what’s important.
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3. Buy staple items on special
Make a list of things that are regular items in your household, then buy them in bulk and only on special. All of these things should be shelf-stable and long-life. Items such as toilet paper, sugar, flour, rice, pasta, coffee, tinned beans, UHT milk, breakfast cereal, tea and washing powder will go on special at different times, so buy them up when the price is good!
4. Compare prices per kilo or litre
Be careful of differently sized packages. Always calculate the price per kilogram or litre when comparing products on the shelves. Sometimes, but not always, larger packages are cheaper by the kilogram.
5. Consider no-name brands
Take a look at your list that you made and compare branded items versus no-name items. There can be a significant saving on items that are not the well-known brand names, with a small compromise in packaging or quality.
Looking to save more money on your food bills? Read 4 ways I used meal planning to save money every month for some more great tips.