How to save money on food items shopping

Do you wonder how is it that you spend so much on food items shopping? Or are you questioning your food items purchases (if all that was purchased were necessities)?

Look no further as I also had these thoughts and experiences.

Yes, you read right…had but not anymore as I adhere to the following in order to save money on food items shopping:

 

Pre-Shopping process 

The following are the pre-shopping processes to be carried out in order to save money on food items:

Meal planning: This is deciding meals in advance using your schedule, preferences, foods on hand, seasonal produce, sale items, etc. Meal planning involves taking food stocks and meal mapping (timetable) which usually leads to listing food items that need to be restocked.

 

·         Create a shopping list: Next is to create a Shopping list based on the meal plan or timetable, putting into consideration seasonal food items, inventory of food items store (pantry), and fridge (freezer) which will prevent unnecessary and impulse buying. Also, try swapping from processed foods to whole foods and try swapping different food items alternatives (for example swapping meat for other types of proteins)

                                          

                                                                   Shopping list

 

·         Try Online Shopping: Armed with a shopping list, it is advisable to browse online shops/stores to compare prices and check for discounts and bulk sales. Purchases can be made online if the prices are favorable and are items that cannot be found in the marketplace. It also helps to give an estimate or budget for items to be purchased.

                                  

                                                                         online shopping

 

·         Budget: Create a budget for your shopping list and try as much as possible not to overshoot the shopping list budget.

                                            

                                                                        budget

 

It’s Shopping time

   

     shopping time

 

Things to do while Shopping in order to save money on food items purchased in no particular order:

·         Strict adherence to a Shopping list and budget.

·         Compare prices between stores and stalls.

·         Avoid shopping on an empty stomach as you might be tempted to buy impulsively or buy food items that you do not need.

·         Scan the store for discounted items on sale but be careful to note the labels on the food package such as use-by-date (which indicates when food may no longer be safe to eat) and best-before date or expiry date (which indicates the quality of the food has started to reduce but it is still safe to eat).

·         Bulk buying food items on the shopping list that are used frequently and or are on discount sales such as grains, canned foods, etc. but be careful not to stock up on perishable items or items that need to be refrigerated.

·         Switch brands by buying generic or store-branded items instead of name brand (big brand) products as they are most times cheaper and can be good as the name brand food items.

·         Avoid pre-packaged food items that tend to be more expensive than the food items in their original raw form (for example shredded vegetables like shredded carrots are more expensive than the vegetable – carrot itself).

·         When shopping it is advisable to look for similar food items above or below shelves (looking up and down shelves) as the stores place the most expensive food item at eye level. Also, some items can be found at a cheaper price in a different aisle.

·         Avoid other marketing gimmicks of the stores such as placing essential items at the end/back of the stall (back shelf), and placing fruits and vegetables at the front shelf (front of the stall)…so that you will not feel guilty buying unhealthy choices as you walk down through the stalls / Shelfs to the back.

 

Post Shopping

Well, we are done shopping and the following are the things to do after shopping in order to save money on food items purchased by reducing food wastage and cutting costs in no particular order:

·         Ensure that foods are stored properly to prolong life span and reduce wastage such as storing apples, oranges, some fruits, and vegetables in the refrigerator while food items like potatoes, bananas, pineapples, onions, and bread should be kept in a cool dry place in their original packaging (if they have any).

·         Preserving food items by drying food items, and freezing some food items and food leftovers.

·         If possible grow your vegetables (consider vegetable farming).

·         Keeping abreast with seasonal fruits and vegetables.

·         Checking receipts to have a look at food items bought, amount, and how much was spent.

·         Consider alternatives for food items and a healthy meal plan, also update your meal plan.

       

food in the fridge                                                                 food in the pantry

Note that these tips save you money but the degree (percentage or amount) is dependent on your meal plan, changes to what you eat, and how and where food items are gotten from and or purchased that means no two persons can get the same amount of saving as it is dependent on our choices.

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