Introduction
Let’s talk about budget friendly grocery shopping!
Grocery shopping can really add up, but there are plenty of ways to keep those costs down without sacrificing your favorite meals. With a few clever tricks and some planning, you can save big at the store and stick to your budget.
Whether you want to free up some cash for other things or just make your money go further, getting savvy with your grocery shopping can make a huge difference. In this post, we’ll chat about easy and practical tips to help you shop smart and save more.
Grocery Shopping Tips For Budget Friendly Shopping
1. Visit charity shops
I often get free bread and rolls from the local charity shops for free which I can last me weeks as I freeze them.
2. Apps such as Olio and Too Good To Go
These apps offer food for free or at a reduced cost. While I was in uni I got bread, milk, vegetables and even clothing all free on the Olio app. I was also able to share any excess foods that I could not use. The Too Good to Go App offers discounted meals from local cafes, bakeries and restaurants. They work to reduce food wastage and saving the environment. I have used it and I recommend it.
3. Cashback apps.
These apps will give refunds for money spent on a shop just make sure you follow their instructions and guidelines. I have used Shopmium and my experience was okay. The variety (fresh produce) was however limited and most of the foods I found were cupboard foods.
4. Surveys.
While I am not a fan of surveys as I found some to be rather time consuming for little rewards (usually points) but they add up and can be redeemed for cash. That being said they are an excellent use of free time that could have been spent mindlessly online. Remember to withdraw the points or cash once they are redeemable.
5. Grow
Grow what you can in small containers, window sills or in your backyard or get an allotment. I love growing vegetables! I think nothing beats the feeling of watching a plant grow from seed to harvest. When you grow veggies you love, you are get to eat healthy too. Win-win! Additionally you can always sell the surplus and buy crops that you don’t grow such as fruits.
6. Buy in bulk
Bulk purchases will likely offer discounts. However be cautious as the discounts could be pennies and cheaper alternatives may be found elsewhere. The overall price might be higher compared to your usual monthly budget.
7. Buy frozen
vegetables and meat like fish. Often I have found frozen fish cheaper than going with fresh ones. With regard to frozen vegetables I have found them as tasty as the fresh ones except for spinach and Kale which in in my opinion fresh taste much better.
8. Go shopping after you have eaten
My mother made it a rule to ensure that before we went to parties, we ate at home. As a kid I never understood why: to keep us in good behaviour. Similarly, when I go shoppin on an empty stomach I tend to buy so much in foods or snacks. The temptation when I got near the bakery section oh my!!! I can easily yield! Only to come home and regret buying it.
9. Buy store brand items
because they are cheaper and most of them have very little or no difference in quality adn even taste. Do not fall into the marketing tactics meant to cause you to believe a that a product is far more superior than another. Alternatively, try it out for yourself and record your experience.
10. Stick to grocery list
Shopping begins at home. Before going to buy open your fridge adn check what you have and make note of it. Check your pantry as well as freezer which is often forgotten. You know that meal that you planned to cook but never got the time and so the ingredients are stacked away in the freezer? Yep! Start with those before you go out.
11. Always be checking for reduced prices
Different stores will reduce prices of the items past their display date but these are foods which have not yet expired. these areot hard to miss as they have yellow stickers such as the one shown below. Do some research and find out when the prices are lowered and you most definitely will be glad you did. I once got a 5 pack of eggs for 50p each.
What did Bible teach about food?
My dad specfically asked me one day what did Jesus teach us regarding food waste? I would have said nothing when asked the question. Until my father pointed out this text in Mark 8:1-9 where we see Jesus feeding about 4000 people. He carefully pointed out these three lessons:
- God’s provision. God is our provider, not our jobs or businesses but God from whom all blessings flow. If you really think this through you will see many times in your life where God provided miraculously even when you did not have a source of income. That is why our hope is in Him and not the resources He gives us.
- Jesus gave thanks for the food. In like manner we ought to be grateful when God gives us our daily bread.
- Leftover pieces were collected. Mark 8:8 so they did eat and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat, that was left seven baskets.
Imagine if no christian wasted their food/meals (indirectly money) and went ahead and shared of their bread with the poor, how much impact would that have for the kingdom of God! Think of how much glory that God will gain!
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
My father’s words struck deep making me ever so conscious of the food that I have and as a result I have become careful of my spending.
Conclusion
I hope these tips help you create a budget friendly grocery shopping pattern in your life. A penny saved here and there goes a long way, I believe. I also hope that these scriptures inspire you to be a faithful steward of all that God has put in you hands including food.
Do you have other tips that we did not mention here, please feel free to share below.
Shalom
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