Grocery shoppers in some supermarkets will no longer have to pay more in different stores. Picture: Russell Millard
WANT to cut the cost of grocery shopping? Here are 50 great ideas for reducing the cost of stocking the fridge, cupboards and pantry. Add your tips.
1 Make a list. It helps you stick to your budget, reduce annoying mid-week trips and cuts down on impulse buys.
2 Plan your meals ahead of time then shop to buy the ingredients for them.
3 Shop by yourself. Not only will you get some peace and quiet, you will save money by avoiding the kid pester factor.
4 Eat before you shop. You spend more money when you are hungry.
5
Work clockwise. A Choice report on supermarket tricks of the trade
published earlier this year said US research found shoppers who travel
in an anti-clockwise direction will spend, on average, $2 more per trip
than clockwise shoppers.
6 Beware the BOGOF. A BOGOF is a Buy One Get One Free promotion. They are only good value if they are for things you can use.
7 Buy toilet paper when it's on sale. Packets of toilet roll doesn't go off.
8.Buy
in-season fruit and vegetables. It's a supply and demand thing. If
there's more around the price will be lower. And the taste will be
better, too.
9 Buy in bulk. The trick is to only purchase the things you use a lot or that last.
10
Don't buy in bulk. This tip relates to the BOGOF advice. As Saturday's
list explained, in Sydney alone we waste $183m of food a year. Make sure
you're not buying more than you need.
11 Add an extra meat-free meal to your weekly planning.
12 Or cut down on meat portions and eat more sides.
13 Know what things cost. That way you can tell if something really is a bargain.
14
Keep an eye on Curtis Stone. Coles heavily discounts items that appear
in his recipes. But be warned - the prices rise within weeks.
15
Be inspired. Don't just watch Masterchef. Save money by becoming a
better cook. Learn great recipes that are more affordable - for
instance, ones that use secondary cuts of meat.
16 Cut your own vegetables. If someone else did it for you then you will pay for the privilege.
17
Read the new unit-pricing information. It's there right on the shelf.
It reveals which size within a product line is cheapest - and just how
good the "special"' is.
18
Check the cupboards to see what's lurking at the back. If you work from
memory you may be planning to buy items - especially tinned goods -
which you already have.
19
Empty your fridge. If you couldn't get to the supermarket, could you
make a meal using what's already in the fridge (as well as the freezer
and the pantry)? Give it a try.
20 Porridge. Delicious. Bargain.
21 Avoid snack packs. They are poor value. Buy a larger pack and make the snack sizes yourself.
22 Don't buy pre-made. If some has done all the work, you'll pay for it.
23
Consider home brands for staples. The Federal Consumer Affairs Minister
Craig Emerson has estimated a family can save $450 a year by switching
to house-brand staples such as eggs, milk, flour and sugar.
24 Shop late in the day. Chickens, bread and other items are heavily discounted.
25 Don't know how close to closing time your local supermarket puts the discount stickers on? Ask.
26 Choice says free-range chickens don't taste any better than battery-farmed.
27
Buy direct. Get closer to the source and save. Buying from meat
distributors such Glenmore Meat Company in Glebe (public welcome) can
save a packet.
28 Use your local deli. It's usually cheaper, fresher and you're not paying for all the packaging that ends up in the bin.
29 Same goes for fruit and vegetables. Supermarkets don't just sell groceries, they sell convenience. So go to a specialist.
30
Give the freezer section of the supermarket the cold shoulder. If you
need to have meals on standby, invest in some decent storage containers
and pre-prepare your own, cooking double quantities occasionally and
stashing them in the freezer.
31
Any meat that has been boned, marinated, stuffed, wrapped in pastry or
packaged will be about double the price of meat with bone.
32 Start a vegetable garden. Great entertainment for kids and a big saver.
33
If you don't have space for a vege patch, what about a herb garden? You
can buy potted herbs for $3 _ a bargain when you consider supermarkets
charge upwards of $2 a bunch.
34
A point on petrol - keep your 4c-a-litre supermarket discounts in the
car. But make sure you are getting the best deal in your area.
35
Another point on petrol - be aware that the supermarket chains are
influencing the discounting cycle. Cheap day used to be Tuesday, then
Wednesday, then Friday. Now it's Saturday.
36
Write to Coles. Ask them when they are going to put their prices on
line so that you can compare with Woolies and decide who is cheapest in
your area.
37
Write to Mr Emerson and ask him to increase not only the pressure on
Coles, but on the industry, which said it would introduce a comparison
site but hasn't.
38 Shop around. Spending $100 on groceries at one store may be as little as $70 at another.
39 Be wary of the rewards card. You have to spend $170 a week at Woolies for a year to earn a $50 gift card.
40
Be disloyal. If there are multiple supermarkets in your mall, offering
specials on different items on your shopping list, then spread your
money around.
41
Make pizza rather than buying takeaway or going out for it. Your
children will enjoy making it and appreciate what they eat more.
42 Eat more pasta. It's a bargain and just about everyone loves Italian.
43 Ditto beans. When was the last time you had Mexican for dinner?
44
Drink more water. We are supposed to consume two litres a day. If
you're drinking soft drink or something else, consider a switch to H20.
45
Try shopping at bulk-buy phenomenon Costco when it opens in Sydney next
year. You could begin organising a neighbourhood co-op now.
46 Don't walk down the aisle that contains biscuits, sweets, choclate bars, etc.
47
Pay attention. According to the Australian Retailers Association code
of practice, if an item scans wrong you get it free. So check your
docket.
48 Pay with cash. Avoid interest. Stick to your budget.
49 Shop less often. You'll save on petrol, time and reduce the chance of impulse buying.
50 Be aware of the supermarket tricks. For instance cast your eyes to the top and bottom shelves. Chances
are that's where you'll find the budget-priced goodies. They are the
supermarket equal of the cheap seats. Reach up or bend down and use
aisle aerobics to save.
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