Hello everyone,
I love food, but I absolutely dread grocery shopping. It used to be very simple – I saw what I liked and I bought it.
Good times.
But then, I got older, took on a mortgage, ran into some health issues, and started to watch my weight. And so, my relationship with food became more complicated. I woke up on the weekends just knowing that I was going to be overwhelmed pushing my trolley down every aisle, trying to figure out how to balance my budget with my health goals.
That was, until I found some really good way to really help me cope with the whole ordeal.
I can safely say that I’m a lot better at grocery shopping – and much more well informed to make good food choices, and stay within budget. I feel like this is more important now more than ever, given the cost of living crisis.
So I’d like to share with you my tips and tricks of how to get the best experience out of your grocery shop 🙂
1. Stay satiated
Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT go shopping on an empty stomach. I cannot count how many times I’ve gone to the shops when I’m starving. Everything looked delicious and I wanted to buy the whole shop. Definitely not a good strategy when trying to stick to a budget or making good food choices. If you eat beforehand, you will have less cravings and desire to buy excess or junk food, and consciously think about how much you end up spending at the till.
2. Potty first
There have been a number of times that I was halfway through my shop when I realised that I needed to go to the toilet. Dealing with the anxiety of ‘hanging on’ makes for a very rushed shopping trip. Items get missed, and rash decisions are made in order to get through the checkout and into the bathroom stall. I mean, you could always ask an employee to mind your cart while you dash out, but what’s to say that you forget your valuables and they are taken in your absence? Or what if the toilets are really far away? I’m just thinking about the worst case scenarios here, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
3. Secure the smooth cart
Not that it’s relevant to saving money, it’s more to make your shopping experience better. I hate having a cart that is bumpy or hard to steer; it puts me in a foul mood. A smooth ride is just one less thing to worry about when you’re perusing the aisles, so make sure you do a little roll test before committing to your trolley.
4. Stick to the list
Having a plan in your hand while you’re looking at the shelves full of food is a good way to cut out distractions. A shopping list means that you’re empowering yourself to shop with purpose and efficiency, meaning that you’re more likely to stay within budget and better food choices. Sure, you might have to spend some time beforehand thinking about what meals you’re going to make, but it will save you time and money in the long run.
5. Shop online
More people are doing this and we are so lucky that we have this option. Creating an account and shopping online helps to really understand how much you’re going to spend before you spend it. I mean, most people won’t walk around the shops with a calculator, trying to work out their total cost. Plus, it’s a good way to see what’s on special, rather than leafing through a paper catalogue or looking for them while going down each aisle.
6. Seek the specials
Adding to the above, shopping specials is a great way to save money. Albeit, sometimes they are not the most healthiest options, but tins and perishables can be incorporated into nutritious meals that will keep you full. Just be prepared to visit more than one store, because specials tend to work in cycles, so, for example, Woolworths might have cheap cans of tuna one week, but the next week Coles might have the same special. Also, it’s good to find out what day of the week the specials end, so that you can plan your shopping trip.
7. Check the cost per unit
I have found that just because something is cheaper or on sale, doesn’t mean that it will last longer, or be enough for a meal. Olive oil is a great example of understanding value for money. It could be on sale for $10 for 500ml, but there could be another brand with the same amount of ml, but is $8. That would mean that per 100mls it would be $1.60, saving you 40c per 100ml. Of course, you would have to weigh this up against the brand, and your preferences but if your goal is to try and make your dollar stretch further, then at a base level, it is a like for like product.
8. Deli deals
Depending on what you need to buy, the deli section is a great way to ensure that you’re not buying more than what you need. It can minimise food wastage and is more cost effective. Especially if you are single – do you really want 4 cabanosi sausages when you only need 1? I totally get that you could buy in bulk and store/freeze it and use it another time, but they do have some really great deals and usually are cheaper costs per unit than prepackaged food. And on that note; having less food packaging to add to landfill is probably better for the environment in the long run.
9. Docket discounts
Sometimes on the back of the receipt (or at the bottom) have some good deals. They aren’t necessarily for groceries, but for discounts on services, and even liquor. I can’t guarantee that you’ll get access to the same deals if you shop online, but if you’re in the good old brick and mortar building, make sure that you have a closer look next time you get your docket.
10. End of day bargains
If you can hold out, heading to the supermarket at the end of the day before they close is a sure fire way to grab some great bargains. A lot of the perishables foods, including some fruits, vegetables, meat, bread, pastries, etc, get marked down because they won’t last overnight, or are close to expiration. I’ve done this a couple of times and scored a whole roast chicken for $5 and punnets of strawberries for $1.00 each! It’s really worthwhile if you’re not too fussy or don’t stick to a shopping list.
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Well there you have it; these tips and tricks have really helped me over the years to make my grocery shopping less daunting and easy on the hip pocket. Whilst these work for me, I really hope that they may work for you too!
I’m also really interested to hear if you have any tips that you use when going shopping – please let me know in the comments below.
Can’t wait to hear all your tricks and suggestions 🙂
Much love,
Liseyworks 