9 Ways to Reduce Your Grocery Shopping Bill

If anything does sap money, it’s groceries. Below are nine proven ways to cut costs when you go grocery shopping!

1. Shop Weekly

Because most of us can walk to a supermarket, it becomes easy to shop a little and frequently. However, each time you go in, you're more likely to give in to temptation and spend more than you need. If you plan ahead and only shop once a week, you will save money. Pick a day that is convenient for you and stick to it.

If you're going to the store, go later in the evening. Not only will it be quieter, but you might be able to find some fantastic bargains. Full-size supermarkets also provide greater value for money than local convenience stores.

2. Arm Yourself with a Shopping List

It shouldn't take long to prepare a grocery list if you have a meal plan. Before you go shopping, make sure you check your cabinets - are you sure there isn't already a jar of ground cumin in the back?

Supermarkets use a variety of methods to get you to spend more money, but having a list makes it simpler to stay disciplined. It's not in the cart if it's not on the list!

3. Avoid Being Picky about Brands

Dropping brands is a great method to save money quickly and easily. Many individuals have preconceived notions regarding the quality of store-bought foods such as baked beans, ketchup, and morning cereals. Although not all own-brand items are as delectable as their branded counterparts, many are. You could be pleasantly surprised if you give them a try. Even if you don't replace every brand you use, switching a few can save you a lot of money on your grocery bill.

4. Make Good Use of Your Freezer

If you have a large freezer, make use of it. Alternatively, if you don't have one, it may be a wise investment. Freezer space allows you to batch cook your meals, keep leftovers, and take advantage of end-of-day meat and fish bargains.

Taking meals from the freezer during weeks when money is tight can be a terrific way to eat healthily while keeping spending to a minimum. Whether you prefer curry or lasagne, bulk cooking and freezing your favorites may save you money on takeout or ready meals on times when you don't feel like cooking.

5. Shop Online

Shopping online is not only faster; it also means you won't be enticed by the bakery's aroma or the juice product offering free samples at the store entrance. The majority of accounts allow you to construct a shopping list that you may keep for future orders. This makes it easy to resist impulsive purchases and store floor offers that you don't truly need.

If you’re bothered by the cost of delivery, some supermarkets may charge you less if you pick a longer delivery window. Click and collect, on the other hand, is typically free.

6. Plan Your Meals

Planning what you'll eat for the week ahead is one of the simplest methods to save your grocery expenditure since you'll only buy what you need. It's also a fantastic technique to reduce food waste. So, if you're buying a chicken to roast on Sunday, you may make a risotto with the leftovers on Monday night.

Planning meals with similar ingredients decrease the quantity of food you need to buy and reduces the likelihood of wasting food.

7. Eat before Going Shopping

Never shop on an empty stomach, whether it's online or in a store. When you shop when you're hungry, you're more prone to buy convenience meals and snacks. Having a meal beforehand can keep your costs and waistline in check.

8. Grab Only Offers That You Need

Multi-purchase offers, such as buy one, get one free, are one of the numerous tricks supermarkets employ to persuade us to fill our carts. Everyone likes a freebie, but these offers are only worth it if they apply to food you were planning to buy anyway. Another thing would be to make sure it's actually food you WILL use before the expiration date.

9. Set a Specific Card Aside

It takes discipline to stick to a list or a budget. Make it hard for you to spend more than you can afford if you're afraid of getting carried away in the aisles. You may achieve this by bringing your weekly food budget in cash or moving it to a debit or prepaid card that you only use for shopping.