11 tips to save a ton at the supermarket
An average family with two children spends 450 euros a month at the supermarket. But there can be quite a difference. Do you mainly buy branded products and fill your trolley at Albert Heijn? Then you end up spending more on average than bargain hunters who only shop at Lidl and Aldi. With these eleven tips, you can save an incredible amount of money on your everyday groceries.
Our groceries have become more expensive, and prices will continue to rise for a while, according to research agency GfK. Over the past year, prices of animal feed, meat and salads in particular have gone up. On average, we are paying 9 percent more at the checkout, the research agency calculated. Had enough? Then take advantage of these expert tips to bring your grocery budget down significantly.
#1: Go to a different supermarket
Take a good look at which supermarket is the cheapest. In the Netherlands, Spar and Poiesz are expensive stores, Lidl and Plus are relatively cheap, and Albert Heijn and Jumbo are mid-range. But prices may be different in your area, because supermarkets sometimes take the competition into account – and adjust their prices accordingly. Try a different supermarket nearby and see what your regular groceries cost there; then you’ll know where you can save.
#2: Buy everything under the store brand from now on
A-brand products in particular have become considerably more expensive lately. If you choose store brands, the increase may not be so bad. And the taste? Just give them a try.
#3: Make a shopping list
Those clever people who design supermarkets know exactly how to break down your resistance, so that despite your good intentions you still fill your trolley with expensive cheeses, bottles of wine and ready-made meals. Make a shopping list, and stick to it.
#4: Don’t go to the store too often
A daily trip around the supermarket is a surefire way to spend too much money. Do your shopping once a week, and possibly pick up some fresh products halfway through (with a list!).
#5: Keep a close eye on those special offers
Every now and then, packs of coffee are on sale. Or dried pasta. Or toilet paper. And you, as a true penny-pincher, strike hard.
#6: The best deals are at the front of the supermarket
According to experts, these are products on which a supermarket even takes a loss, but they put the offers at the front because you then think you’ve already secured your savings – and afterwards you go wild on the expensive tea and olive oil. But no: keep a cool head, put the offers in your trolley and calmly follow your usual route.
#7: Look at the price per gram, or per 100 grams
Sometimes a large package seems very good value, but when you calculate what you pay per 100 grams, a small package may actually be perfectly fine. So look at the price per gram, but also pay attention to what you actually use. Throwing away food is essentially throwing away money.
#8: Run for those reduced-price stickers
Some products will not keep for much longer, so the supermarket puts a sticker on them. Take them home! You can always keep them longer in the freezer. Those items are often heavily discounted. Also take a look near the checkout, in the baskets with products being removed from the range. But keep those dollar signs in your eyes under control: it’s silly to buy discounted bubble bath when you don’t need it at all, just because you’re saving so much.
#9: Eat with the seasons
It’s sustainable too! Strawberries in summer: cheap. In winter: ridiculously expensive (and not tasty). This applies to all fresh produce. Pay attention to courgette season, Brussels sprout season and cucumber season, and eat those vegetables then.
#10: Check your receipt
Sometimes special offers don’t register at the checkout, sometimes a markdown (such as one with a sticker) isn’t entered correctly, and sometimes a cashier simply makes a mistake: so check your receipt before leaving the store.
#11: Skip takeout, but raid the freezer
Throw a few frozen pizzas in your freezer when they’re discounted, or make sure you have a good supply of another meal you enjoy. Grab one when you feel like ordering something. A delivered pizza quickly costs 15 euros, while a frozen pizza costs only a few euros. Easy savings!
Read also:
- How great! This new restaurant cooks with unsold supermarket products
- 5 reasons why I love the German Tankstelle so much
- McDonald’s fans share their best MacHacks
Source: Clark.com
