How to save money on grocery bill
Rotorua Budget Advisory Services manager Pakanui Tuhura has shared his top tips for saving money on your weekly grocery bill.
1. Plan your grocery shop
It is really important to plan your grocery shop because it makes you think and plan for downstream activities for the week such as:
■ The meals you are going to cook
■ The cost to be taken out of your overall budget (ie, will there be enough for rent, power, fuel for trips, etc?)
Write it down and take it with you.
2. Nutrition is paramount
You don’t have to buy top quality ingredients, just ones that are nutritionally good for you. If you want to see how it is done there is a great show on TV Eat Better for Less and there is nutritional advice available through the internet and books. We can also provide books for our clients that show nutritionally good but cheap meals and recipes.
3. Stick to your list
Don’t impulse-buy and stick to your written shop, even if there are ‘awesome sales on’. Remember, your shop forms the basis of your meal plan so if you buy something else it will be for an additional meal you may not need. To help people follow this tip we used to say “take just enough cash to cover your planned shop” but nowadays with contactless payment that isn’t appropriate. Perhaps get a Paywave debit card and load only sufficient for your shopping as an alternative.
4. Look around and shop where there are specials
Usually supermarkets are cheaper than dairies and small grocery shops but sometimes buying at the local within walking distance may cost you a few more cents — saving a lot more on fuel than travelling to the supermarket. Remember, loyalty can sometimes come at a cost so if you shop at one supermarket because that is where you always shop then you may be missing out on specials at another one.
5. Don’t use takeaways to plug any gaps in your weekly meal plan.
Generally they are much less nutritionally good for you and require cost of fuel to access (or get delivered). Takeaways are a treat, not a necessity, and it’s okay to put them into your meal plan but ONLY as a treat. Most nutritionists will tell you to get rid of them from your diet altogether in favour of healthier, cheaper options that can be cooked at home.