As prices rise and hit budgets, many people are cutting back on their weekly grocery shopping.
In addition to buying less, people are looking for ways to get more out of their money and make the most of what you have, especially now that a wave of inflation is sweeping the world.
And as the economic forecasts are not very encouraging for the coming year, consumers are preparing to navigate likely turbulent waters.
The BBC spoke to some personal finance bloggers to share tips they have found effective in their daily lives.
1. Check what you already have at home
Rosie suggests that you take a good look at your pantry before every shopping trip. “We all know the value of making a list, but if you’re adding items you already have in your pantry, then you’re spending money on things you don’t need.”
“There’s no point in buying more jars of pasta sauce if you already have five in your cupboard,” she says.
She keeps a list in a notebook of what’s in her pantry, so she always knows what she already has when she goes shopping. She says that tactic has helped her weekly grocery shopping for her family — herself, her husband and her one-year-old son — drop by about $50.
2. Go to the discounts section first
Lynn, another of the bloggers consulted, recommends changing the way you shop when you enter a store and go directly to the section of offers.
“If you find something that’s on your list, you’ve already saved some money,” he says.
She also suggests going directly to the frozen food section, then to the canned goods aisle.
“Frozen meat, fish, and vegetables will almost always be cheaper.”aIt’s that cool option», He says. “If you get what you need in that section, before moving on to the fresh produce aisles, you are likely to see significant savings.”
3. Make better use of your freezer
Something common in several countries is that households waste a lot of food, losing economic resources that could be used.
Lynn says that making better use of her freezer has helped her drastically reduce waste of food at home.
“If things are nearing their expiration date, you should always try to freeze them,” he explains.
“You can also buy cheaper things that are close to their expiration date in supermarkets. Things like milk and cheese, even fruits and vegetables, can be frozen and stored for when you need them.
Kate Hall, who runs the website The Full Freezeryou use your freezer as a pause button rather than a long-term storage solution.
He says that while almost all foods can be frozen, you must change the way you eat them.
“You can’t thaw a banana or a salad and expect it to be the same as when it was put in the freezer,” he explains. “But if you think about how you could use it in desserts, soups, or stews, then you’ll save a lot of money.”
4. Choose the best packaging
Rosie says that a lot of what we buy at the supermarket is packaged for their convenience, not ours.
“How often have you bought a tray of mushrooms covered in a layer of clear plastic and they rot in their packaging? They are wrapped like this so that they are easier to transport », he explains.
She puts hers in a paper bag when she takes them home, but says she just removing the plastic wrap will help them last longer.
Helen White, who runs a campaign to stop food waste in the UK, says there are little things we can do to make food last longer, especially fresh vegetables and salads, the most wasted food group.
«Just putting a piece ofabsorbent paper that we use in the kitchen in an open salad bag to absorb moisture, it will help it last longer.”
On the other hand, keeping fruit in the fridge will help extend its life, but she suggests verify that the temperature is below 5 °C., because in many homes the temperature is usually higher.
“This is bad news for milk and other foods stored in the refrigerator, which can spoil.” [más rápido] when they are not stored at the proper temperature.”
5. Ask the experts
Rosie tries to ask those who work in smaller local businesses for advice on how to take advantage of their years of experience.
«Butchers are a great resource and someone we shouldn’t be afraid to talk to about saving money,” she explains.
“If you go to your local butcher shop and tell them you have a low budget for meat for the week, they will be able to tell you how to stretch your money by buying the cheapest cuts.
“They are the best people to advise on how to cook them and how to make them perform better.”
Some readers sent us their own tips. Is is a selectionhis suggestions:
- “My wife and I sit down with our computers and order online with a list that includes the exact same products in two different supermarkets. We then check the total costs, including delivery, and whoever is cheaper ‘wins’ our order«.
- “I highly recommend having a weekly menu, so you know what you are going to cook every week. I put it in the fridge and our family of five always knows what to expect. This not only saves money, but it eliminates the stress of not knowing what to prepare each day. Also, I know exactly what I need to buy and I stick to my budget because I go to the supermarket with a plan.”
- “My advice is not about food, but about cleaning products. there is a lot of money for save on laundry and cleaning products. These are full of tricks to make us buy additional things. For example, you don’t need a different detergent for colored clothes. The discoloration is largely due to exposure to daylight rather than the type of detergent you use.”
