With the current scenario of inflation and rising interest rates of mortgage loans, the Portuguese are increasingly looking for savings solutions. The family budget begins to tighten and it is essential to adopt measures to adapt the portfolios to the country’s economic context. Therefore, taking into account that the supermarket is one of the places where the increase in prices has been most reflected, you should start with try to save on shopping.Therefore, in this article, we have gathered 10 practical tips that intend to help to reduce the supermarket billand that can guide you on what to do, what to watch out for and what to avoid, before and during purchases.
before going shopping
1. Open the fridge and pantry
So that you don’t buy anything repeated and avoid food waste, before going shopping you should check what you still have. So, when thinking about the recipes for the next few days, add shopping list to the ingredients you already have, identifying the ones you are missing. So it is easier to build the shopping list because if you already have ingredients at home, buy less and save some money. Do not forget also check the freezer. Often, as they are in a different compartment, frozen foods end up being forgotten and the expiration date passes. So check the freezer to see if you can include these foods in the week’s recipes.
2. Make a list of what you need
The shopping list goes depending on whether it is for the month, fortnightly or weekly. If it’s a monthly shopping list, pay attention to expiration dates. That is, it must focus on the food needed for the temporal space defined. Avoid putting foods that are not consumed regularly.
3. Split the list into sections
To make shopping easier and not disperse through the supermarket aisles, split the list by sections. So when you go shopping, know what to bring from each category/section. This visual list can also be created dividing by meals. If the family stipulates the meals for the next few days, just put on paper the ingredients that are missing in each meal. And this way, you avoid giving in to the temptation of taking products you don’t need.
4. Set a maximum amount to spend
Another strategy you can perform is to define a maximum amount to spend Shopping. And, from there, look for affordable products so that you don’t exceed that ceiling. Make one prior research to understand what the current values are of products, due to inflation, so that the maximum value stipulated is adequate to reality. This is because, at the moment, food is more expensive compared to recent months.
5. Compare prices between supermarkets
Finally, before you go shopping, do a search for the various online supermarkets so that notice where the products who goes looking are cheaper. You can also do this comparison through weekly leaflets. So that you can also identify the week’s promotions in each supermarket, and see if any of the products you want to buy are at a discount. Also read: Is it worth saving at the supermarket?
at the time of purchases
6. Take your own bags
At the moment, any kind of bags is charged in all establishments, so you should take your own bags from home not to spend money unnecessarily. If you make these purchases regularly, you already know how many bags you need. Either way, it’s always better to take bags on accountbecause if you think about taking any other product off the list, you will think twice about no longer fit in the bags. So, save double: don’t buy bags that you already bring from home and don’t buy products you don’t need.
7. Take a small cart
The same goes for the cart you pick up at the supermarket. if you take one smallest cartthere is not tendency to take nothing else because it no longer fits. When taking a large cart, you will visually see space inside and want to fill it up. Therefore, if there is no need for the larger cart, always choose the smallest.
8. Search for white tags
This is one of the most common tips to give when you want to save on the supermarket bill: search for brands white. The difference is often in cents. However, in the final account of the various products it will make a difference to save a few euros in the monthly family budget. It is possible to make a price comparisonso much between supermarkets as between brands, to understand where to find the products at the lowest prices. THE discount application, for example, suggests the cheapest products on the market and you can consult the various promotional brochures online. In this way it is easier to build the list and set the ceiling to spend. If you choose other brands, because you trust the quality, you should reflect that choice in the list.
9. Check the validity of the products
This tip is also essential so you don’t waste products or money. Check the validity of product labels can help decide if it’s worth buying soon.Depending on whether it is a product that you will consume in the following days or not. if it goes to use laterthe product should have an expiry date greater validity. Then note that “consume thetis” and “preferably consume before” are different warnings. In the first case, the food must be consumed within the maximum period identified on the packaging (it is more present in fresh products, such as milk, cheese, fish, meat, etc.). In the second case, it indicates the minimum period of shelf life of the product, that is, it represents the date by which the food retains specific components. But it can be consumed later, as long as it is properly packaged. Like pasta, rice, olive oil, cookies, among others. Therefore, be aware that products with shorter validity must be purchased, for example, weekly. While products with greater validity can be purchased at greater amount for longer.
10. Using the supermarket card
Most supermarkets have a customer card associated with the Tax Identification Number (NIF/taxpayer number). By using this card for every purchase you make at the supermarket, you can go accumulating points at the same time they end up convert to discounts. And, in addition, these cards also allow access to specific promotions, exclusive to those who use them. Therefore, subscribe to supermarket cards who attends and install the applications of each one, so that you are aware of the campaigns. Also read: A guide to saving at the supermarket: better shopping, more savings
A professional writer by day, a tech-nerd by night, with a love for all things money.