Supermarkets are designed to make us spend our money – and more money than we intended to spend, at that. There are so many sneaky tactics used to encourage consumerism at these stores, like deliberate store layouts that force us to walk the entire store before reaching the checkout tills, profitable items placed at eye level, and snacks we can’t resist positioned to tempt us as we queue to pay for our goods.
Being aware of these tactics is a good place to start if you’re looking to save money on your weekly grocery shop, but there are plenty more ways to be smart with your spending. In this guide, I’ll be sharing the best ways to cut down on your groceries, according to the experts. You’re going to want to take notes!
1. Understand the deal behind certain brands
Branded products are always going to be more expensive, and often for no good reason. The big brands have more money for advertising, which makes you feel like you can trust them more. But that’s often not the case at all, and the small brands and supermarket’s own products are usually just as good.
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Mike Mozart/ Flickr
2. If you’re hungry, get a snack before you shop
Shopping when you’re hungry is a disaster waiting to happen. Didn’t set out to buy that multipack of Doritos or the bakery cookies? If you’re hungry, you’ll probably just pick them up anyway on a whim, purely for the fact that your belly wants them. Make sure to only shop on a full stomach.
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Christian Scheja/ Flickr
3. Of course, clip those coupons $$$
If you’re the sort who never bothers with coupons because you’re too lazy for the hassle, you could be spending hundreds of dollars more than necessary per year. There are plenty of ways to take advantage of coupons in your grocery shop. A quick Google search will teach you all the best hacks for couponing.
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Carol Pyles/ Flickr
4. Beware of “special offers”
Supermarkets can often advertise products with bold, “special offer”-type displays – and sometimes they’re not even on offer. Always read the fine print carefully. If a product that’s on a “special offer” is still more expensive than an identical product, don’t go for it for the sake of it being on offer.
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Artem Beliaikin/ Flickr
5. Grab the big cart and stock up
While buying foods in bulk costs more upfront, it can save you hundreds of dollars over the year. If you live close to family and friends, consider hitting wholesale stores together and splitting the cost of your overall shop. Tinned and frozen foods are great things to buy in bulk.
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Open Grid Scheduler/ Flickr
6. Don’t fear the discount grocery stores
Some of us can become self-confessed supermarket snobs over time, refusing to shop anywhere other than the store we’re familiar with. This, however, may mean you’re spending more money than you need to. More affordable supermarkets will give you the same products at a much fairer price.
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Kristina D.C. Hoeppner/ Flickr
7. Consider this before falling for “buy one, get one free”
We’ve all been tempted by a Buy One Get One Free offer – but what if you don’t need two of a certain product, let alone one? BOGOF offers are designed to tempt you into spending money you don’t even need to spend. Avoid unless you will genuinely benefit from the deal.
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Bobby P/ Flickr
8. Consider whether loyalty schemes are worth it
Supermarket loyalty schemes can be a great way to save money in the long run. However, they’ll also make you less inclined to shop anywhere else because you’ll be so focused on getting points at one particular store. It’s worth considering whether it’s worth going elsewhere and actually spending less money than the store you’re using a loyalty scheme for.
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Karen Bryan/ Flickr
9. Shop in the evenings
Shopping in the evenings is the best time to take advantage of those yellow-label discounts. You can usually find refrigerated food that’s out of date tomorrow for more than half its original price. Take it home and put it straight in your freezer, and you’re winning.
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Bobby Mckay/ Flickr
10. Crouch down
Nobody ever really pays attention to the bottom shelf, do they? That’s the thing: supermarkets know that we’re more likely to look at the middle shelves and upwards when we’re shopping, so we miss out on the cheapest deals – which are almost always placed on that bottom shelf.
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Beatrice Murch/ Flickr
11. Don’t buy to waste
When there are so many supermarket offers, it can be tempting to buy so much of a certain product that you end up wasting some of it. This can be a real problem for impulsive buyers in particular, so stick to your list if you can’t resist an offer. If you’re going to waste it, don’t buy it.
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jbloom/ Flickr
12. Make a list
Speaking of sticking to a list, you’ll need to make one first! Making a shopping list on your phone or a piece of paper will give your trip to the grocery store some purpose. You’ll be less inclined to pick up products on a whim, so you’ll likely save money and only buy what you need.
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Karen/ Flickr
13. Don’t be brand-loyal
We all know that person who will only drink Pepsi or eat Heinz beans. This is often a case of stubbornness combined with an unwillingness to change – that person knows they like a certain product, and, in their eyes, nothing else matches up. If you’re a little more open-minded, however, you’ll find that other branded products really aren’t so bad at all, and being flexible in what you’re willing to buy can often save you money.
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Mike Mozart/ Flickr
14. Consider shopping online
With the Covid pandemic putting our lives on hold this past year, many of us have considered how we can stay safe while still carrying out our essential chores. Online shopping has seen a surge in popularity – but it has benefits aside from being a safer way to shop. When you shop online, you have more time to analyse deals, and you’ll be able to find the things you’re looking for with a quick search, which will help you to make the smartest buying decisions.
Source:
Sari Montag
15. Write a meal plan
Meal planning might seem like something you don’t have time for, but there are so many benefits to doing it. When you know exactly what you’ll eat this week, you can shop only for the ingredients you need. This’ll help reduce your food waste and help you save money on your groceries.
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Marco Verch/ Flickr
16. Use up larder leftovers
We all have random foods lingering in our fridges, pantries and cupboards that never seem to get used. Challenge yourself to get creative and think up a dish that can use several of these foods in one go. Eating solely from your own cupboards will mean you’re spending far less on new food from the grocery store.
Source:
Elizabeth
17. Check out local market stalls
Local market stalls are a great place to get your hands on some delicious, home-grown fruits and veggies. You can usually always haggle for your foods, too, so you might just get yourself a bargain! Just make sure to keep your haggling on respectful terms.
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neajjan/ Flickr
18. Go veggie
No, I’m not suggesting you cut out meat altogether, but eating vegetarian meals at least once or twice a week will help you to cut down on overall spending. Meat is far more expensive than vegetarian alternatives like sweet potato, tofu and beans. If you usually base your meals around meat, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how tasty vegetarian food can be.
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Ella Olsson/ Flickr
19. Stick to a budget
When you’re meal-planning and making your shopping list, it helps to have a budget in mind. You don’t want to spend money you don’t have, so make sure you’re only planning to buy the stuff you can afford. Sticking to a budget will help you in all areas of life, not just grocery shopping.
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GotCredit/ Flickr
20. Shop less often
If you shop several times a week instead of once a week, you’ll probably end up buying more. This is partly because you’ll find it less easy to track your weekly spending. It’s also because you’re being exposed to products more often, which increases your probability of buying things you don’t need.
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Michael Ocampo/ Flickr
21. Use discounts
You might not know it, but you may be eligible for a discount at your local grocery store that you haven’t been making the most of. Student discounts, carers’ discounts and military discounts are all offered at a number of stores across the country. Make sure you use your discounts to save pennies whenever you can.
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Mike Cohen/ Flickr
22. Get cashback on your shopping
There are a number of cashback apps available nowadays that will give you cash back based on your purchasing decisions. Search “cashback shopping app” and you’ll see what I mean. Do your research before using a cashback app to make sure you’re not being scammed.
Source:
Mike Lawrance
23. Shop seasonally
Produce is cheaper when it’s in season, so it helps to shop seasonally to save cash. Fruits and veggies will rise and fall in price over the year. Opt for frozen produce if you’re shopping out of season, which should help you to save money.
Source:
Mike Mozart
24. Buy frozen
Speaking of frozen produce, why not see just how many things you can buy frozen? A bag of frozen peas, for instance, is far cheaper per gram than buying fresh peas – and you probably won’t notice a difference in taste. Another benefit of buying frozen produce is that it’ll last much longer, so you can dip into your supplies as and when you fancy.
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Ben Schumin/ Flickr
25. Check out “world food” aisles
Your grocery store might have an “exotic foods” or “word foods” aisle that offers some great deals that not many people know about. Things like rice and dried beans can often be bought in bulk for only a few dollars. Coconut oil, coconut milk, soy sauce, salsa and tinned tomatoes are other “world food” products that you can usually get for much cheaper.
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Paul Long/ Flickr
26. Buy tinned foods
Like buying frozen foods, buying tinned foods will help you save money in the long run. Tinned stuff tends to be cheaper in general, and it’ll also last for much longer (we’re talking decades, here). Canned beans, soups, veggies and even quick dinners like chili con carne are all very affordably priced.
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Matthew Hurst/ Flickr
27. Cook from scratch
It can be tempting to buy a load of microwave meals if you’ve had a long week at work or you just find cooking a hassle. But you pay for the privilege of a meal that’s pre-made – and you can usually make something so much nicer when you cook from scratch, too. Try cooking a few simple meals from scratch, like pasta bake and curry, and see if you can get into it.
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Scott Rubin/ Flickr
28. Grow your own food at home
Whether you have a back garden, a balcony, or space next to a window, you can grow your own produce. Everything from potatoes to onions and garlic, carrots, chilies, peppers and peas can be grown at home. If you eat a lot of it, grow it yourself so you never have to pick it up from the grocery store.
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Forestfolks/ Flickr
29. Make bigger dinners…
… and save the leftovers for lunch the next day. If you’re the sort to buy your lunches while you’re out and about, this tip is especially for you. You can save so much money by simply cutting down on what you eat in the evening, or deliberately making more and saving some in a Tupperware tub for the next day.
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Boca Dorada/ Flickr
30. Use storage hacks to make your food last longer
Fresh produce like fruit and vegetables can last for much longer if you know how to correctly store it. Some foods belong in the fridge; others don’t. Some need to go in the crisper drawer, while others do worse in there. Make sure you know how to store your food to prevent it from going bad before you can eat it.
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Toms Baugis/ Flickir
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