With soaring prices, the budgets of people are blowing up, which has led many people to slash their weekly spending on food shopping. One in 20 adults, according to a survey, is unable to afford food as rising prices bite into the budget.
According to the survey, it administered a severe blow to a particular group of people. Tenants and single parents were one of them. Mortgage holders also found it harder to keep up with monthly payments. Stranded parents and disabled adults were not the exception.
This scenario has put savings at risk. Many people have already dipped into them and turned to emergency loans with no credit check. This is making their finances more complicated.
If you are one of those who are being unable to afford the food because of the rising cost, you should try to use the following tips to save money on food shopping:
- Look at your cupboards before shopping
“Experts always suggest that it is a good idea to keep track of what you have already.” Everything is placed on shelves there, so you will remember what you need. But you are more likely to buy what you have already. Overstocking cannot be appreciated at this time when prices are touching the sky, and you are not able to cut it.
Taking a look at your cupboards before shopping will keep you from adding things to the list you do not need. You already know the importance of making the list. Get some spare time to make the list. There is no point in buying more spices when you already have enough for the entire month.
- Keep a list of what is in your cupboard, so you know things you do not have to buy.
- If there is something that is not enough, like a jar of sauce, make sure that you buy a small jar. Or you can simply make do with what you have already.
When you make a list in advance, you can bring the grocery budget for your family significantly down.
- Head for the lower-price section first
“How much money you will be able to save on your grocery bills also depends on the way you shop.” It is not uncommon to see people straightaway going to aisles on autopilot mode. You should instead head for the reduced section first.
For instance, frozen fish, meat and vegetables are cheaper than fresh produce. First, you should buy from the frozen section and then head for the fresh produce.
“If you find something that is already on your list, tick that off.” Since you are not stocking up, you are saving a lot of money on your budget.
- Make the most of your refrigerator
Making the most of the freezer is what most of the people slip up at. Food wastage is very common. Even if you try not to throw leftovers away, the average household wastes money worth €7,000 on food every year by throwing them away.
It is not possible to use all the things before the use-by date as it depends on the consumption. If you have got things close to their use-by date, you should keep them in the freezer. In fact, you can buy such foods from a supermarket at cheaper prices. Milk, cheese and fruits and vegetables are some of them.
Tomatoes quickly go off whether you use them in your refrigerator basket or openly in the kitchen. To make their shelf life way longer, you should keep tomatoes in an air-tight container in the fridge. In fact, you should also try to keep uncooked veggies in air-tight containers, especially if you buy the stock for a whole week.
As far as you are concerned about the expiry date of spices, you should keep them in a freezer. They will last until you consume them all. They remain fresh when kept in the freezer even though they are past the use-by date.
However, you must bear in mind that not all foods can be frozen. For instance, if you defrost salad or banana as it will not retain the same taste as it had at the time, it went into the freezer. It means a freezer cannot be a long-term solution to prevent food wastage.
- Online shopping can help
This works for many couples who buy groceries for a whole week. Some couples have found an amazing way to cut back on food. They buy the same number of items online from different online stores and then compare the prices, including delivery fees, and whoever is cheapest is picked for next-time purchases.
Some online retail stores offer extra discounts when you buy things in bulk. You are more likely to get one of the items complimentary. Do not be tempted to overbuy in order to save money on the deal because it will cost you double when things go off.
In addition, you should also try to work on the menu. Having a weekly menu will save a lot of money on your food bills. You already know what you have to buy, and this also helps tackle the stress of what you want to eat for dinner.
Buying groceries will no longer be a headache as you have a list. You will only buy items on the list. You will check the fridge or cellar before making a trip to the grocery store.
- Take opinions from experts
It is not surprising to have little money left just after buying a few of the items you need. You will certainly need to stretch your penny. In such a scenario, many of you will end up taking out a loan. If you are unemployed, you will turn to loans for the unemployed in Ireland.
“It is advisable that you do not borrow money when you run out of it to buy groceries” In fact, take help from an expert. You will be surprised to know that some people tap into the experience of retailers to stretch their pennies.
“For instance, if you are left with little money to buy meat, you can ask your local butcher for cheaper cuts.” You can even ask them about the cooking methods to increase their shelf life. These small tips will help you a lot to save money on your food bills.
To sum up
Amid the rising cost, it is becoming more challenging for people to afford high-quality food. Some households are running out of it. Well, you can stretch your penny a little longer if you follow the aforementioned tips.
If you buy only what you need, you can avoid overstocking. How you keep food also decides whether it will go off before you use it up. Try to buy groceries from online retail stores as they will let you buy more at lower prices than physical stores.
