If you find yourself spending more money each month than you’d like, chances are you need to re-evaluate your weekly shopping bill.
Saving money isn’t hard when you shop smartly. Whether it’s scoring deals in the discount bins or buying in bulk, there are methods that really make a difference when you’re counting the pennies.
Here are my top 10 tips to save pounds off your weekly shopping bill:
1. Check The Discount Bins
I love checking out the discount bins at stores, mainly with produce. Stores always put bananas on sale when they start to ripen. So you can buy good-quality, ripe bananas for extremely cheap. Same with bagged fruit. If there is one lemon that has gone bad in a bag of lemons, then they will usually put the whole bag on discount as 50% off. Asking the produce workers if you can get something that looks “not perfect” is also a great way to save money.
2. Buy In Bulk
A well-executed bulk purchase of an item can save you a lot of money. For example, buying a few rolls of toilet paper at a time can be incredibly pricey, buy purchasing a huge package of 24 rolls of toilet paper when on sale can save you some serious dollars. Office supplies, vitamins and non-perishable food items are also good items to buy in bulk to save money.
3. Shop Online
I absolutely love buying things online. Especially for superfood powders and other beauty products I might need. I can sometimes find stuff I need online for half the price it costs in store. I love VitaCost for this purpose – plus they usually have $15 off for every $50 order!
4. Don’t Just Shop At One Supermarket
Shopping around instead of shopping at just one market is the smartest move you can make to cut your monthly bills. Some stores will charge $1-2 more per pound or per item, so looking around before you buy can be a smart move. Where I live we have a Safeway and a Real Canadian Superstore among other smaller stores. I find myself constantly shifting between these stores to find the best deals!
5. Shop Local
Shopping local and checking out farmers markets can cut your produce bill in half. Buying local means that the food you’re buying was grown in the area you live in, which means zero transportation costs and lower prices. Make sure you look around the farmers market to find growers with the lowest prices – some farmers charge higher than others for the same product.
6. Write A Shopping List
Writing a shopping list is so important. Especially if you happen to go shopping on an empty stomach (which you shouldn’t be doing anyway). Don’t be swayed by impulse purchases, just buy what you need, and leave the store. You’ll have a lower bill at checkout, and you won’t end up throwing out things you don’t end up eating.
7. Steer Clear of Branding
Name brands are a huge money guzzler. Some own-brand products even taste better than name-brand. Not just food, but toiletries can be bought own-brand, too, without sacrificing quality.
8. Plan A Weekly Menu
Writing a menu every week will provide you with a clear shopping list that ensures you only get what you need when you go shopping. Planning a weekly menu can be fun, too, especially if you search for new recipes to try your hand at.
9. Use Coupons
Using coupons for shopping is one of the easiest ways to split your weekly spending bill. There are so many coupon websites online where you can print your own coupon or just download them on your phone.
10. Avoid Waste
If you find yourself throwing out a lot of food, then you might not be storing it properly or you’re just un-necessarily throwing out food items that could otherwise be frozen. Freeze your leftovers and only buy what you are sure you will eat.
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