7 Ways To Save Money On Food
There are so many ways to save money, and it shouldn’t be just limited to certain aspects of you life. There’s a saying that goes something like this:
There are two things you can be sure of in life, paying tax and death.
Well I’d like to add another to that rather demure and completely uninspiring list, that of spending money. If you’re anything like me (alive, needed fed regularly) then you can start saving big next time you are stocking up. Here’s a few tips to get you started on the road to frugality in the kitchen!
- Choose where you shop - Want to save money on food, then start training yourself to avoid those costly delicatessens and specialty stores. You may not agree with large, faceless, soulless corporate non-entities like Tesco and Walmart, but they are cheap. And when you have a credit card balance to clear, you can do with saving some cash.
- Keep your eyes down - Yep that’s right, keep your head down. This isn’t some anti-ego post either, it’s purely a tip to keep more of your cash in your back pocket. Ever noticed that prices of goods at eye level are more expensive? Well, it’s not by chance. Supermarkets cater to our inherent laziness; we want in and out as fast as possible. And who cares about price? Wrong. Get those eyes down low, where the cheap goods are and start saving!
- Shop in the evenings - Yeah, I’d rather spend my evenings on the sofa or chatting with friends, but if it means wringing that little extra out of your cash it then so be it. So why shop later in the evening? Well it’s simple really. All those perishable goods (bread, milk, cheese) have a date on them that determines whether they can be sold or not. So if something is due to expire tonight, it gets marked down to sell quickly. Hence your late night saving.
- Brands cost more - Have you ever thought why or how brands can afford snazzy logos, fancy packaging and prime time television ads? It’s because they cost more. And just because they cost more doesn’t necessarily mean they taste any better. Be on the lookout for plainly packaged, non-branded and cheaper food on the lower shelves.
- BOGOF - I don’t mean to be rude! BOGOF, if you haven’t worked it out yet, means ‘Buy One Get One Free’. If you see a BOGOF on an item you need to stock up on, get it. Nay, get two of them and save even more!
- Collect your points - Most decent supermarkets run royalty schemes to keep you coming back. Make sure you are registered and that you have that card in your wallet any time you go food shopping. Start gathering your points and you can maybe get a few freebies out of them!
- Be determined - It’s highly unfashionable, but giving yourself a food budget is so important. Whether it is £50 or $75, do not overspend. Squeeze every last penny out of your budget and do not be tempted by the in store advertising to spend.
So there you go, seven fundamental and ultra simple tips to make your money go longer next time you are out shopping for food.
