You are already struggling with so much on your plate, like- petrol bills, utility bills, child fees, rent, etc. Why put an extra burden on yourself by dedicating one portion to food?

Whether it is a small celebration or just an ordinary day, food is an essential part of your life. Moreover, with inflation ruling the pockets of individuals, cost-cutting on certain things has become imperative.

The groceries are getting costly due to transportation costs and surplus availability. Everything from daily milk and tea is soaring in price. You may be unaware that you can make the most of the leftovers and save on food. The blog here lists some lesser-known ways to save on food and grocery costs hassle-free.

How To Save On Food Given The Minimal Income And High Price?

The cost of food rose to another 0.6% in January 2023 from the last month. There is a sharp price hike for maximum food categories except for fish and meat. And to utter shock, food inflation is at an all-time high this year in the last 45 years in the UK. It is indeed an alarming thing to counter.

Why are food prices rising in the UK?

Inflation in food has gone recently due to the following reasons:

• Soaring energy prices owing to the Russia-Ukraine war
• The war is also pushing the costs the animal feed and fertilizers
• An increase in demand after the lockdown
• Brexit regulations

It is the very reason behind the rise of prices of essentials by 65% in the past 12 months. Right now, the primary concern among the country’s citizens is countering food costs. If you can relate to the concern, here are some ways to save on food and grocery costs hassle-free.

1)      Plan your meals portions carefully

Yes, it may sound easier than done. But having a good meal plan can save you from the weekly meal planning hassle. Identify what you would need for the week – like the ingredients, vegetables, etc.

Doing so can save on adding something extra to your kitchen counter that you hardly need. Invite the attention of the other members of the family to prepare a weekly menu. It would help you identify and prepare dishes everyone likes and buy ingredients in advance.

Buy ingredients by the weekly meal plan. Do not buy extra; it will go to waste- like buying extra vegetables.

2)      Keep stock of the available ingredients

Always keep an eye on the things you already have

Planning and stocking things will help you cut through buying extras. If you have good spices for the week, skip them.

Stress other things that you would need more of in the coming week. Make a list. Double-check the non-perishable items on your list.

And while doing so, check your fridge and freezer. You may find some leftovers like meat, egg, and milk. Please do not ignore it and wrap it up by making delicious dishes the next day. If you doubt the quality, throw it in the bin.

3)      Identify things that you can buy in bulk for profit

Certain things, like buying mince in bulk, can be cheaper than buying a limited quantity. Identify things like these to work within your budget and save more. However, buy such things only if you need them weekly; otherwise, skip them.

Do not fall into impulse buying encountering the big banner stating discount. It is easy to give up on that temptation. It is especially when you are in the supermarket. It is hard to resist certain things there. To avoid this, take only the cash you need.

4)      Know when to land in supermarkets

When you are out to shop, decide whether it is the best day to do so or not. Some days are shopping when it is cheaper than other weekdays. Identify these in your area and grab th opportunity. The grocery stores either re-stock their stocks or mark what they skipped to sell the last week.

And because they are out on clearing the stock, they offer a whopping discount on some groceries. However, always identify the freshness of the same while buying. If you suspect it leaves it, no matter how cheap it is. It may cost your health.

 Early birds get to hit the clearance button. Thus, be the early bird when you shop on these busy days. You may encounter a good crowd, thus choose a time when there is less traffic in the supermarket, and you can shop without panicking.

5)      Prefer to pay with cash than credit cards

It is a thumb rule while shopping online- Keep up the cash as cash is king! You are less likely to fall or spend extra when you have a grocery list. When you reach the store with the needed cash, you only spend the amount you ought to.

It would help you buy vegetables than vying over ice creams and chocolates. Buying such items occasionally is okay but stop when it begins to regulate most of your finances. You can either shop for the month or the week.

 It is better to go by the week as the freshness of the items matters to cook a portion of healthy food. However, you can buy items that last longer than a month on week offs or as suitable. Follow the same procedure while doing so.

6)      Check out reduced food sections

Many people avoid the reduced section when shopping for food because they mistakenly think that the counter must be out of food or would not be healthy.

However, this isn’t the case. The food in the reduced section of your supermarket has products that share close dates or near expiry. It is ideal only if you have same-day usage.

But if you have one, you can save on the costs of such items.  

However, if you want to avoid taking a chance and need extra cash to invest in healthy stuff, tap easy and quick loans for bad credit online. You can easily spot and fund your purchase without second thoughts about the stuff. 

Bottom line

These are some ways to save on food and grocery costs hassle-free. Apart from this, it would help if you worked on your spending habits and financials. You will be surprised to see your wallet by the end of the month.