Food shopping - the affordable way
Families all across the nation are feeling the pinch when it comes to covering the basic household costs. With rising inflation, stalled wages and benefit cuts all putting a strain on many families' purse strings, just covering the basics from month to month can be difficult - with every penny having to go much further.
The cost of putting food on the table for everybody seven nights a week can be tough to budget for, especially if you also have the kids' packed lunches to cover and all the trimmings for Sunday lunch!
However, your monthly food bills don't necessarily have to cost a small fortune. Let's take a look at some cost-effective approaches you could take to getting all the food you need - and reducing the financial pressure you don't!
Plan your food shop in advance
There are a number of potential pitfalls when food shopping, which could see your receipts spiral if they're not avoided. 'Impulse' buying, shopping while hungry and making lots of regular trips to the supermarket rather than one large one could all end up costing you more overall.
One of the best ways of food shopping is by forward planning. Work out all the essential items you need in your fridge and cupboards every month - e.g. bread, milk, fruit & veg, pasta, cereals, meat and fish. Then make a rough estimate of how much of each item you get through every month, so you can stock up accordingly.
There are certain things that you may find are worth buying in bulk, or freezing, so you should always have a spare supply when you need it.
Why not switch to 'basic' brands?
As the saying goes, you get what you pay for - and when it comes to certain items, saving on the cost could very well mean scrimping on quality.
However, that's not always the case. Switching to more affordable 'economy' brands could have little impact on your enjoyment of plenty of items in your weekly shop - while having a big effect on the size of your bills.
Items such as tinned fruit & veg, beans & pulses and pasta could be just as good if bought from the 'no frills' range as from a well-known brand - and even if you don't feel the 'trade-off' is worth it, you could always switch back after giving it a go.
Do a supermarket price check
Many of us tend to shop wherever is most convenient, i.e. at the local supermarket. But could it be worth travelling that bit further to knock £s off your food shopping bills?
It could really pay off to check how the prices at your local supermarket compare with other stores in your area. Many supermarkets offer their own discounts, money-off deals and even customer loyalty schemes, which could convert the 'points' you build up over time into decent savings.
Visit a few supermarkets' websites to find out more, or take a look at our vouchers page to see what discounts could be up for grabs.
Click here for more money saving tips.
Image top © iStockPhotos / John Bouma; 2nd image © iStockPhotos / Anna Zielińska; 3rd image © iStockPhotos / Michael Flippo.
Tags: food, shopping, food shopping, money saving, save money, affordable, afford, cheap