Many of us mums want to spend less on groceries, but figuring out where to make cuts can be tough. Little kids are constantly hungry, and if you have a teenaged boy in your house, it’s almost like having an extra mouth to feed. And we all know that some of the cheapest foods, like noodle packets, are also some of the unhealthiest!

So what’s a budget-conscious mum to do? Check out my list of 8 tips to help you spend less on groceries and still eat well.

1. Meal planning

I know – broken record here. You might have noticed I talk a LOT about meal planning, but there are a few good reasons for that, and saving money is definitely one of them.

When you go shopping without a plan, you’ll just be tossing things into your cart that you may not even end up using before they go bad. If you sit down and plan a week’s worth of meals, however, you can really stretch your money.

For example, if I’m going to make a roasted chicken on Tuesday, I know I’ll have some cooked chicken left over that I can shred for tacos on Thursday instead of just letting it sit in the fridge and go bad.

2. Batch cooking and freezing

Since we’re starting with my favourite topics today, let’s not forget batch cooking. Everyone knows batch cooking can save time, but did you know it can also be more economical?

That’s because it helps you use up bulk purchases and cut waste. For example, you can buy a lot of ground beef when it’s on sale, cook a huge batch of chili, and then portion and freeze it.

3. Buy online

Even if you didn’t shop online before the pandemic, you’re probably familiar with it now.

When you buy groceries online, you have all the prices laid out for you clearly. You can see your total before you commit, and you can add and remove items from your cart easily to help get it down to the price you want.

Plus, there’s far less pressure than you’d find in person if you see the total rising too high and need to sub in some cheaper meals for more expensive dishes you’d planned. And the temptation for impulse buys is also a lot lower when you’re not walking down the aisles of the store!

4. Avoid impulse buys

Speaking of impulse buys, they can really add up. You’ve probably already heard the advice not to go shopping while hungry a thousand times, but it’s such a good way to spend less on groceries. Everything looks good when you’re walking down the aisles starving.

Go with a list and stick to what’s on it. It might take some discipline, but you’ll walk away with more money!

5. Learn how to work with affordable staples

A lot of mums are intimidated by working with dirt-cheap food like dried beans, but you can do so much with them and they take ages to go bad. I love keeping staples like dried beans, lentils, and pasta on hand because I can always whip something up with them in a pinch.

Another good food to stock up on is frozen vegetables. They can be cheaper than fresh ones, plus they last a lot longer, so you’re less likely to waste them. How many times have you had to toss a limp, sad-looking red pepper because you only used half of it before it went bad?

6. Buy in-season and consider store brand items

When you’re buying produce, sticking to what’s in season can save you a lot of money. The prices of fruits like berries, for example, swing wildly depending on the time of year. Plus, produce that has had a several-day journey is more likely to have pesticides and preservatives to help it hold up longer.

When it comes to anything in a package, consider the store brand version. In many cases, it will be nearly identical to the name brand and you can shave quite a bit off your grocery bill this way. In fact, I can only think of a handful of foods where the store brand just doesn’t compare (hello, Heinz ketchup!).

7. Buy in bulk

If you’re always grabbing the smaller bottle or package of everything because it’s cheaper, you’re probably spending more in the long run. Some grocery stores list the price per kilo of foods in smaller print right on the shelf, and this makes it easy to compare.

If you make a lot of bread, for example, that 5-kilo bag of flour is going to save you over buying individual 500g bags every time. Do this with as many foods as possible – and even things like toilet paper and spices – and the savings can really add up.

8. Plant a garden

If you’ve got the space, consider starting a vegetable garden. It’s really fun for the kids, it’s a great way to get more sunshine and fresh air, and you can save some money, too. I wish I had the space (and skill!) for this!

I suggest growing whatever veggies your family eats the most often, as long as they grow well here. Apparently tomatoes are super easy for beginning gardeners, as are bell peppers. I managed to grow both cherry tomatoes, and a LOT of bell peppers (and I ain’t got no green fingers!) If you don’t have a yard, consider growing some herbs on your balcony or windowsill. That alone can save you money weekly.

9. Compare prices properly

Very often, what you see is not what you get. Two similar products sitting on the shelf can be very misleading in terms of how much you’re actually paying. Always compare prices by looking at the tiny text below the bold price. You will be able to see the actual price per kilo of each product. You’ll be surprised to note how many products are produced in slightly smaller or differently shaped containers or packages to mislead you into thinking they are cheaper.

As you can see, there are lots of ways to spend less on groceries without giving up the foods your family loves. We consume quite a bit of food, and our grocery bills are never extravagant!

I really hope this helps!

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Love,

Nakita xxx