9 ways to save money even though the supermarket keeps getting more expensive
Everyday groceries are getting more and more expensive. We’re looking at inflation of more than 17 percent (!), and it’s expected to rise even further. How can you still save money at the supermarket? We wrote about Miserly Gerda’s tips. So many people responded on Facebook with their own money-saving tips that we’ve listed the best ones for you.
Think prices aren’t that bad? Some people know the prices of their regular groceries by heart. Yvonne says she does her shopping like a kind of walking encyclopedia—and regularly gets a huge shock at the price increases. ‘Breakfast cereals went from 1.61 to 1.75 euros last week. (…) Rye bread from 0.49 to 0.55 euros.’ And are you thinking now: those aren’t gigantic amounts, are they? ‘Add it all up at the end of the month,’ says Yvonne. Luckily, many people responded with their own money-saving tips. Take advantage of them.
Buy your own spices
Han: ‘Money-saving tip for Miserly Gerda: with a basic supply of spices (buy them at the Asian or Turkish shop), you only need a good recipe, and no more Knorr Wereldgerechten or other packets and sachets.’
Get down on your knees
Tamara: ‘Go grocery shopping on your knees for a change. That’s where you’ll find products that are just as good as the big brands. Why should I care that tinned croissants at Lidl are cheaper than Danerol’s? Or iced tea, cola, etc.’
Store brands are fine
The prices of store brands are rising just as quickly as those of big brands, but Henny still sees a money-saving tip here: switch. Unfortunately, that doesn’t help people who have always bought store brands…
Chocolate milk
Cor: ‘Try emptying a jam jar without too much effort; there’s always a lot left under the rim and on the bottom. That way, many kilos of jam end up in the glass.’ But Nicole has a handy tip for that: ‘Put a little milk in an empty chocolate spread jar and microwave it, then you have chocolate milk.’ Other suggestions: use a jar spatula, run a piece of bread through it, make your own jam, or turn leftover jam into a salad dressing: ‘Put everything in the jar and shake.’
Chestnuts
Those laundry detergent pods are getting more and more expensive. Jacqueline’s clever tip: ‘Wash with horse chestnuts—completely free. Works perfectly!’ Don’t just throw the chestnut into your washing machine; it takes a little preparation. Google it and you’ll find it! Not keen on that? Marijke suggests: ‘Just use washing powder, much cheaper and better for your washing machine.’
Convert the prices
According to Rikie, it all started with the euro. ‘The business owners simply changed the guilder sign into the euro sign. Calculate what a cup of coffee with cake costs if you convert it back. It’s crazy what you’d have to pay then.’ Anneke is a master at looking at things differently: ‘Have you ever converted your salary back into guilders? That’ll cheer you up again.’
Use half
Mieke: ‘Half a dishwasher tablet is enough.’
Take a different route
Diane: ‘Don’t walk down every aisle. Stick to the outer ring.’
Stock up
Hannie: ‘Saving money on dishwasher tablets is quite easy. I buy two-year boxes through bol.com for 50 euros. That’s enough to run the dishwasher ten times a week, and I actually get more than twelve months out of it. Same story with laundry detergent. I buy six two-liter bottles a year for a family of six. I don’t use the recommended amount, but one tablespoon per load, and everything comes out perfectly clean.’
