We all know it, but we all do it. Grocery shopping while hungry could be the biggest bite out of your wallet. You end up thinking you’ll want to eat, well, just about anything on the shelves. You get home and realise that you’ve overspent your food budget and well, you don’t need half of the items you bought. Another money waster while shopping is going to the store without a plan or idea of what you want to get, which in turns leads to paying more for something that you could find a substitute for, for less.
Here are a few ideas to help you avoid overspending:
• It may seem obvious, but many people don’t do it. Make a list. Write down what you normally like to eat in a week and add a couple of other ideas. Then when at the shop, stick to the list. It may take a while to get used to shopping like this and you may at first forget a couple of things, but after you’ve made it a habit, you will see how much less you end up spending on food.
• This one can greatly help the previous idea. Make a weekly meal plan. Write down a menu for the week, remembering all the ingredients needed for each meal. For one, you can plan cheaper but equally delicious meals; and two, it helps you to make a more organised and comprehensive list of what you really need to buy. Occasionally allow yourself to step outside the plan and buy extra treats.
• Don’t be afraid to spend time shopping. It may seem like that is a counterproductive, but the time you spend looking for better deals in different stores can save you more money than you realise. Of course, don’t overdo it to the point where you spend all day shopping as time is also money.