Being prepared before heading to the store is the best way to make sure you stick to your grocery shopping budget. But there are also some strategies to keep in mind. Here are some of our favorite ways to save while shopping.
1. Write a shopping list
Keep a writing pad and pen in the kitchen, or keep your phone handy to type up a shopping list. During the week, add to this list whenever you think of things you need. Remember to take it with you when you go shopping so you don’t forget anything. Only buy what’s on the list – this will make it easier to stick to your budget.
2. Plan your meals
Plan your meals in advance and add the ingredients to your shopping list. Create a menu based around items you already have in the pantry so you are using the food you’ve already got and buy fewer items. You can download a free weekly meal planner from Sustainability Victoria’s Love Food Hate Waste website.
3. Use spending tracker app
To work out how much you are really spending on groceries, use our free app for a few weeks to get a real picture of your food spend. Then you can try to reduce your spend and create a reasonable budget you can stick to. Download TrackMySpend to track your groceries on the go.
4. Don’t shop hungry
Eat a meal or snack before you go to the supermarket. When you are not hungry, you tend to buy less food.
5. Set a budget and use cash only
Set a budget for your shopping trip, withdraw the cash from an ATM and only take this money with you when you go shopping. Don’t take any other cash or cards with you so you can only spend what you have. This old school way of budgeting worked well for previous generations before they had access to credit cards.
