The weekly food shop is an expense which affects everyone. However, there’s no reason for you to be paying a high amount to fill the fridge so we’ve put together some top tips on how to reduce your weekly food shop bill.
Write a list
One of the best ways to avoid excessive purchases is to write a list before you leave for your weekly shop. By doing this, and sticking to it, you can be sure to avoid those extras that usually entice you but you don’t really need.
We’ve all been there, we see the special offers of buy one get one free on the end of the aisle and pick up so much more than we initially intended. By sticking to the list, you can avoid these ‘special offers’ for items which you know you don’t really need or even want. Even though it may seem like a great deal, you’ll end up saving money. Nobody needs three multipack bags of crisps. Our advice would be to only pick up a special offer if it is an alternative to something you would’ve purchased anyway (e.g. half price for a different brand of shampoo).
Look out for supermarket own-brands
We’ve all heard the stories of how sometimes a supermarkets own brand can be exactly the same as the pricier famous brands despite being a fraction of the cost. Of course, in some instances their may be differences in quality so it’s worth doing your homework. However, if you find that they are the same, or very similar, you could save yourself a small fortune by opting for the own-brand alternatives.
Don’t shop on an empty stomach
It’s well known that if you shop when hungry, you’re much more likely to pick up items that you don’t really need. So please make sure you’ve eaten well prior to heading out for your food shop so that those tasty treats don’t entice you even more than they should!
By eating well beforehand, you can focus on what’s needed for the entire week and not be concentrating on what you fancy right then and there.
Create a meal plan
Something that can really help with writing a list is to also write a meal plan before you leave. By deciding what ingredients you need for each day of the week, you can ensure that you don’t buy in excess and therefore keep the final bill low. This allows you to plan what you need for the week ahead until you go out again for your next shop.
Using the above methods should see your weekly food bill lower and should result in more cash in your pocket. However, if you still find yourself struggling to make ends meet one week, then a personal credit option such as a payday loan could work for you providing you’re in a stable financial position to be able to repay it.
