Experts Share How To Planning Your Groceries To Save Money
Experts Share How To Planning Your Groceries To Save Money
Ugh inflation! For years now we’ve been on our saving money journey and we’ve found that food is one of the buckets where it’s easier to make cuts and have the best ROI. We’re bringing our experience in hopes that it will help you too.
We’re joined by another expert, Jason, the Senior Deals Strategist at Bountii, who shares insights on how a simple shift towards organized meal planning can lead to substantial savings.
1. Having a Strict List
When you sit down to plan your meals, you create a strict shopping list of necessary items. This focused approach keeps your grocery trips disciplined, preventing you from tempting distractions.
With a list in hand, you’re less likely to fill your cart with unnecessary extras that catch your eye, ensuring every item you buy has a purpose for the week’s meals.
2. Buying Needs Before Wants
A clear meal plan helps you understand exactly how much food you require for the week, which means you’ll only purchase what you need.
This reduces the chance of food going to waste because you’ve overbought. It’s a straightforward yet effective way to make sure your grocery shopping is both economical and eco-friendly.
3. Say Goodbye To Impulsive Purchases
Jason, a Senior Deals Strategist at Bountii, highlights a major benefit of meal planning: cutting down grocery costs. By deciding on your meals in advance, you can compile a precise shopping list that eliminates impulsive buys. This focused approach not only saves money but also ensures that every purchase is intentional.
You may also like: 10 Ways To Never Pay Full Price
4. Avoiding Duplicate Purchases
Meal planning allows you to take stock of what you already have at home, preventing you from buying ingredients you don’t need. This not only saves money but also helps clear out your pantry and fridge, making the best use of everything you have before buying more.
5. Using Your Own Stored Food
Regularly planning your meals encourages you to use up the frozen items and pantry staples that have been sitting unused. This practice not only frees up space in your kitchen but also stretches your food budget further by ensuring you consume what you already own.
6. Regular Meal Plan Reviews
It’s easy to stray from your budget with small, seemingly harmless additions to your shopping cart. By reviewing your meal plan every three months, you can correct any deviations that increase your expenses. This periodic check ensures your meal planning remains aligned with your budget goals.
Read More: Inflation: 20 Ways To Save Money Easily
7. The Online Grocery Hack
Ordering groceries online can be a game-changer. It allows you to monitor your cart’s total cost as you shop, enabling you to make swaps for more affordable options in real-time. Plus, comparing prices and picking the best value becomes easier, further trimming your grocery bill.
8. The Two-Week Rotation Plan
Planning your meals for two weeks at a time, with a rotation system, keeps your diet varied and interesting while minimizing the frequency of grocery shopping trips. This not only saves time but also reduces the temptation to make impulsive purchases, contributing to more savings.
9. Crafting Your Meal Plan
Begin with a simple paper layout divided into days of the week, with columns for lunch and dinner. Populate it with meals based on what you already have, turning leftovers and pantry items into planned dishes. For filling in the gaps, choose ingredients that are both cost-effective and versatile.
10. Embracing Affordable Ingredients
Focusing on budget-friendly ingredients can make a big difference. Incorporate items like courgettes, eggplants, tomatoes, canned goods, rice, frozen fish, canned tuna, corn, lettuce, avocados on sale, chicken, and pasta. These ingredients are not only economical but also offer versatility in your meal planning, ensuring delicious meals that don’t break the bank.
Spend Less: 18 Mistakes People Make When Grocery Shopping
Read More: Spend Less: 18 Mistakes People Make When Grocery Shopping
11 Things That Are Better Value Now Than They Used To Be
Read More: 11 Things That Are Better Value Now Than They Used To Be
Inflation: 12 Reasons To Choose To Cook At Home
Read More: Inflation: 12 Reasons To Choose To Cook At Home
We are Mary and Eric, the founders of Be Right Back, a blog dedicated to romance around the globe and at home.
We are Mary and Eric, the founders of Be Right Back, a blog dedicated to romance around the globe and at home. With over 10 years of experience in dating and traveling to romantic places, we share our favorite date ideas and romantic destinations to help couples level up their relationships. Having lived in and traveled through the USA, we also share our favourite things to do in the States.
With 70,000 monthly readers and 16,000 followers on social media, Be Right Back is your go-to resource for romantic trip ideas and couple activities at home and abroad.