6 Tips to save you money on your grocery orders!
In the majority of households, food is one of the biggest expenses people may face, along with housing and transportation. With the price of grocery items steadily increasing, its no surprise that now more than ever people are taking the time to research ways that can save them money on their grocery orders. It is projected that in 2023 a family of four is expected to spend $1,357.37/month ($16,288.44/year), an increase of $1,065.60/year from 2022. The Canada’s Food Price Report 2023 is also predicting another 5-7% increase in prices, the larger increases coming from vegetables, dairy and meat.
To lessen the effects of the previous and impending increases, it’s important to take a look at the different ways you could possibly save money and implement the ones that work for you. Below are a few easy tips that could easily fit anyone’s lifestyle.
1. Redefine dinner – When some people think of dinner, its quite possible they’re thinking of a homemade meal with all the fixings. However, that can get costly, and can take a lot of effort. To simplify it, take advantage of easier meals, like breakfast for dinner or sandwiches.
2. Do the math while shopping – Nothing is worse than getting to the cash and discovering that everything cost way more than budgeted. At that point, it feels too late to put things back, or maybe even slightly embarrassing. To avoid that discomfort, keep a running tally as you go. Open up the calculator on your phone, and for each item you toss in the cart, add it to the tally. By doing this, you eliminate any unexpected surprises, and if things need to be put back, it’s much easier to do.
3. Pay with cash – If you opt to pay for your grocery order with cash, you eliminate the option to go over budget because you know exactly what you have available to spend. This may go hand in hand with the previous tip because you’ll want to do the math as you go along to ensure you don’t run over your budget.
4. Order curbside pickup – If you’re an impulse shopper, curbside pickup might be a good option for you. Usually for a small fee, you’re able to pick and purchase your groceries online, pick a time slot, and pick them up when ready. This also allows you to see the running tally of your grocery order, allowing you to remove items, change items out for cheaper options, etc.
5. Meal Plan – With easy access to apps such as Pinterest, meal planning has become an easy feat. It gives an opportunity to find some different cost-effective meals, that may even leave you with leftovers for the next day, allowing you to avoid purchasing your lunch. To meal plan efficiently, it’s a great idea to go through your fridge and cupboards to see what items you can utilize, and to see what needs to be purchased in the next grocery order to go with it to make a full meal.
6. Make a list and stick to it – This may take some time, but the combination of meal planning and taking inventory of what you currently have on hand is imperative. By doing this, you eliminate buying things you may not need, and things that could potentially go to waste. When making a list, it’s great to check the flyers to see which stores have the items you’re looking for on sale, and meal plan around the deals. Digital flyer apps as Flipp make it easy to make a list right on the app and compare prices. This will also allow you to add the cost of the items prior, ensuring you’re staying on budget.
These are only of a few of the many tips and tricks that are available online with a quick google search. It’s important to ensure the ones you pick will be beneficial and not setting yourself up for failure. What works for one person, or family, might not work for the other due to different income levels, lifestyles, etc.
If adopting money saving techniques still does not allow room to pay down debt, it might be an indication that it is time to look into your options to get you on the right financial path.
If you are looking for advice, or a second opinion about your debt, it does not cost anything to talk about your options. Every financial situation is unique and viable options can differ from person to person. A conversation free of judgment and cost, is the first step to determine options for debt that make sense for you. For a free consultation, please call or text (506) 645-1814 or email jaime@tackledebt.ca; or visit www.tackledebt.ca.