How to work your way around the supermarket without spending a fortune should be named as a science. After all, retailers make a science out of trying to sell us things we don’t really need.
There are several ways in which you can save money on your weekly supermarket shopping, and it is not that difficult but you have to be a bit disciplined.
Fight the impulse
It might be a good idea to start shopping more often than doing an enormous weekly shop.
Surveys show that the more time we spend in the supermarket the more we are likely to impulse buy. People that do a weekly shop in the supermarket may spend more money on impulse buys - a lot people even spent a further 50% on impulse purchases compared to people who just went in and bought food for the same day.
You can fight the impulse buy planning your meals and snacks and be really strict with yourself and stick to your shopping list. Alternatively you can shop more often which can have other benefits such as fresher food. Another good idea is to shop on line which should stop the temptation of impulse buys.
Check out the shelves
Retailers know that we are more likely to buy food that are placed at hand level or eye level. Most top brands and the most expensive items are always placed there.
Start to scan the shelves and look up and down often you will find supermarkets on brands on the bottom shelves and perhaps in less colourful packaging.
Special offers – are they really special offers
Special offers on food are now always on the food that we need to buy. For instance most supermarkets have special offers on junk food, sweets and chips. Do you actually need the extra calories and is the food on special offer that healthy anyway. Check out use by dates on special offers and also other items around the special offer. Is the special offer really a special offer?
How to be price smart
Retailers can make prices very misleading. A can of corn might cost $1 but may contain a smaller quantity of corn than the can from another manufacturer. Bread is another good example and you should always check out the weight of your loaf of bread rather than the amount of slices. Thinly sliced bread is often worse value for money as it is more difficult to make sandwiches from, or may just fall apart when it comes out of the bag.
The best thing is always to check out the weight of the product and compare the price and weight to other products.
Time savers are expensive
Grated cheese, bagged salad and vegetables are indeed time savers but they do come at a higher price. Check out un -bagged fruit and vegetables, and buy larger blocks of cheese.
It only takes minutes to grate cheese or prepare a chicken. So focus on buying foods which is not prepared. Cheese can even be grated and frozen for use at a later date, and onions can also be sliced and frozen.
Be careful at the till or check out
Tills and check outs are dangerous places, and retailers tempt us to buy things we don’t need. Check out lines add to profit margins, and a recent survey indicates that for every five minutes you wait at a check you may an impulse purchase. Choose the check out with the shortest line.
Buy seasonal food
Buying seasonal food is a great idea. It is better for you as it has not been transported half way across the world and you are more likely to benefit growers in your own country.
Always look out for seasonal food and stock up on it. For instance if cauliflowers is in season buy extra cauliflower, freeze for use later or make up cauliflower cheese which can also be frozen. Now you are making your own fast food which is ready to eat, and much better for you.
Bulk Buy
Buying bulk is only a good idea if the items on offer are what you need. Good bulk buy items to look out for are:
- Toilet Paper
- Washing Powder
- Tooth paste
- Pet food
- Washing up liquid
- Soap
- Shower gel
- Hair Shampoo
Shop Around
Finally, shop around. Don’t be loyal to one supermarket unless they offer really great value for money. A lot of supermarkets print regular advertising leaflets promoting their offers. Take them home, sit down and go through them with a cup of tea. Base your shopping list on the promotions, and perhaps even create separate shopping list for each supermarket. Remember, that pennies saved always add up.