According to statistics, two-thirds of the population of our country monthly spend more than half of their earnings in grocery stores. Of course, these expenses are quite understandable because food is a basic need. And it is not recommended to save on food: the diet must be balanced and complete, health is at stake. Still, it is quite possible to reduce costs in this category and without harming the body.

In this article, we will look at 3 ways to save money on groceries and eat deliciously.

1. Compare prices

The pricing policy of different retail chains is different. For example, when a product is expensive somewhere, it might be sold at a discount in another store.

Yes, buying chicken in one store and eggs in another is not very convenient. But you can make a shopping list in advance, highlight expensive and those you can buy for future use, and then find a store with discounts on these goods.

You can track groceries prices through services and sites like Shoptoit.

2. Think over the menu for the week

It’s a great habit to schedule meals on days of the week in advance.

Firstly, it allows you to rationally use food. For example, you can immediately foresee where to apply a head of cabbage or a litre of milk so that nothing stays in the refrigerator and does not end up in the trash can.

Secondly, if you immediately draw up a menu for the whole week, then you can visit the supermarket only once every seven days, purchasing everything you need at once. This can help significantly save your budget because the more often you find yourself at the shelves with groceries, the more likely you are to buy something extra. With a well-thought-out menu, it will be possible only as a last resort to go to the nearest small store for bread or other perishable products, avoiding unnecessary temptations.

And before drawing up the menu, it is worth reviewing the leftover products from the last week to successfully apply them. And it will not be superfluous to study the current promotions and offers of stores.

3. Earn cash back on every purchase

If you’re getting cash back on something you buy, it’s basically like getting your exclusive mini deal.

With the right cashback credit card, you could be earning up to 3% on everything you buy.

Take a closer look at the bonus programs of banks. For example, you can apply for the American Express Cobalt Card. It gives an increased number of points eligible eats and drinks in Canada, including groceries and food delivery.

In conclusion

Impulse buys are the enemy of your wallet. All those extra items you grab on the way to check out are like small leaks that can sink your financial ship.

The remedy? Make a shopping list and stick to it.

• When the menu is drawn up, you need to write down the necessary products on paper or in a special application on the phone.
• Write down what is required for each dish.
• Go through the resulting list, combine duplicate foods, and figure out how much you need.
• Pay attention to items that may remain after cooking. If they’re not used anywhere else, it might be worth revisiting something on the menu.
• Add to the list what is not part of the recipes but is consumed throughout the week. This includes, for example, bread, coffee, etc.
• Look in the refrigerator and cabinets and check what is already available to avoid buying too much.

If you apply these tips judiciously, it will help you save significant amount of money on groceries without harming your body.