Top Tips to Save Money on Food Shopping

Are you looking for how to save money on food shopping? Eating isn’t just essential in life, it’s also something to enjoy as a family, but food shopping can sometimes be a nightmare, if you feel as though it’s costing you way too much money.

Very few people have an unlimited budget to spend, even on something as vital as food. The good news is that there are several ways to save money on food shopping while still having a healthy and varied diet. We’re going to give you some ideas to think about.

How to Save Money on Food Shopping

1. Think About Growing Your Own Food

We’re not suggesting you go completely self-sufficient, when it comes to fruit and vegetables, but you can think about growing some of your own produce. You don’t need to have a lot of space either; tomatoes can be grown in window boxes.

If you opt for trailing varieties, radishes don’t root as deeply as some root vegetables, so they can easily be grown indoors and mushrooms can easily be grown in dark spaces such as cupboards or attics.

You can grow your own produce from seed or seedling and, even after you’ve paid for any growing materials such as fertilizers, you will still be saving money.

2. Don’t Shop By Habit

For many people food shopping becomes a habit, and this can prove costly. You should never just go to a shop and buy something because it’s what that you normally buy.

Before you do your food shopping you should always check your cabinets and your fridge to see what food you actually need, and make a comprehensive list.

If you buy items you don’t need there’s a good chance they could go out of date before you get to use them, if they are perishable.

This means that you end up having to replace the items without having the benefit of eating them; a huge waste of money.

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3. Buy Staples When They Are On Sale

Another way to save money on food is to buy staple foods when they are on sale.

There are some staple items, such as oils, grains and tinned goods that have a long shelf life, so you can take advantage of sale prices and buy them when they are cheaper.

Always keep an eye out for bargains like these when you are out doing your food shopping.

4. Make Good Use of Leftovers

All too often people throw good food away when there is nothing wrong with it. It’s far more cost effective to use leftovers creatively.

If you buy a chicken for a meal one day, you can use it the following day, on sandwiches for lunch, or in a curry for dinner.

Yoghurts which are due to expire can be used as a topping for muesli for breakfast, and leftover vegetables can be combined together to make delicious soups, or even homemade pasties, if you have some pastry to hand.

It may seem like the easiest option just to throw leftover food away, but it’s far from being cost effective.

5. Make Good Use of Your Freezer

Remember that freezers are there to be used. If you have any items of food that you aren’t going to be able to use before their use by date, it’s a good idea to freeze them before the date is reached.

It’s also a good idea to separate items such as meat when you buy them; that way you can eat half and freeze half for using at a later date.

This also discourages the cooking of larger portions than necessary, and reduces waste.

Using your freezer can also help with meal planning, which in turn helps you to only buy what you need. You can cook at the beginning of the week and freeze the meals to be used later on.

6. Check Out the Coupons

Many people ignore coupons that come through the front door, or are included in the press, but it’s amazing how quickly they can add up to big savings.

One thing to be careful of is that you don’t buy items just because they are reduced.

If you don’t actually need a product then you aren’t saving money by using coupons or vouchers to buy it. In this case, you’re just spending money on something you don’t want, which is a waste of money.

Conversely, if you need to buy an item, especially if it’s something more expensive, it’s a good idea to have a look for available coupons, including those available online.

8. Buy Generic Items

It’s not always necessary to buy named brands of food, generic items can be just as good. Many contain the same ingredients as the brand items.

If you are going to buy generic food items you need to take the time to check the ingredients listed on the packaging. It’s well worth taking the time if you want to save money on food.

As you can see, it is possible to save money on your food shopping. It may take a little more time and effort, but it’s worth it if it means you can afford to eat healthily on your budget.

Your Turn…

What do you do to reduce your food bill? Do you have any great ideas on how to save money on food? Please leave your comments below. We’d love your thoughts on this.

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