Parenthood guides you through a few steps that might tighten your shopping bill without having to deprive yourself. Read our guide and pick and choose the things that might work for you.
Cutting down your food bill is a long-term solution. You will have to make a plan that best suits your family needs, tastes and circumstances. Over time it will become easier to set up a plan for the items you usually buy and which are unnecessary. You will also be able to have more control of what things cost and where and when you find good deals.
1. Weekly menu
The first thing to do is to make a weekly menu, including all meals and food you will consume. This will not only reduce your food bill, but also facilitate your shopping and reduce the amount of food you throw away. Make sure to vary the foods, both in terms of preparation time and ingredients, and let all the cooks in the household have an input in the meals chosen for the week. Include at least one vegetarian meal a week.
2. Write your shopping list
Once your weekly menu is done, make a list of the ingredients needed for each meal. Go through your fridge, freezer and stores adding all that is missing ingredients to a shopping list. Mark all ingredients that are optional and don't forget your basics, such as milk and bread. Make sure to include other household items you need which you usually buy in a supermarket, such as toilet paper, toothpaste, kitchen foil, and so on. At the beginning stick strictly to your list and avoid adding things out of curiosity or as treats. Never shop with a hungry stomach.
3. Learn the codes
Don't be fooled by all deals, look closer at the price per weight. Something that costs less might not necessarily be cheaper by weight. Calculate the deals that are offered and compare them, it might just be a cheaper deal for a particular brand. Get an idea on when last minute deals are put up on the shelves, usually Sunday. Try adapting the fruit and vegetables you buy to its growing season, the price will drop when you buy at the right time. Keep an eye out on specials at http://www.cheapeats.ie/
4. Budget and goal
Keep track of all receipts and you will over time see how much your household budget is and review it. Compare your shopping lists to the food you might have thrown out, maybe you find that you should buy lower quantities of one thing and increase another. When you have a monthly overview of your spending, try setting a goal and sticking to it every month. You will also over time be able to gauge what is cheaper where. We find the best tomatoes are sold in Lidl, while Tesco and Dunnes often will have good last minute deals on meat and veg.
5. Saturday treats
Cut out the daily treats, both for the sake of your health and your pocket. Save your treats for the weekend and make an occasion of it. Soft drinks, crisps, fast food and desserts are unnecessary for a healthy diet and are not things you need, they are just a treat.
6. Ethnic shops
Be a bit adventurous and try out a local ethnic shop, which can be found in most larger towns. Depending on the ethnicity of the owner you will usually get great deals on dried foods, such as rice, olive oil, beans, couscous, chickpeas, pickles, flour and herbs.
7. Bulk up
When you see a deal, buy in bulk. Consider the durability of the food and the storage space you have available. Spending more money in dry goods one month, such as tins, rice and pasta, will ease up the budget next month. If you have a large freezer use it wisely, don't just fill it up with frozen pizzas. Frozen vegetables are handy for a quick meal. Meat, fish, bread and even milk can be frozen easily. Always leave a space for tubs of leftovers.
8. Get inspired and be creative
Don't step in the same place when it comes to your cooking. Keep an eye out for easy recipes with simple ingredients. Unless you truly enjoy it, disregard any recipe with an array of ingredients that are expensive or difficult to find.
9. Grow your own
Regardless of your space and gardening skills, it is insane to pay for fresh herbs. Herbs are easy to grow, hard to kill, very tasty and cheap if you grow them at home on a windowsill. If you have the space in the back get started on a vegetable bed. Focus on growing vegetables that are either hard to get or expensive, such as fresh beetroot, parsnips and green beans. Get inspired with www.giyireland.com
10. Cut the binning
Unless you can freeze it or do not mind eating the same again, try to cook just enough for each meal. If you find you throw out a lot of food, make smaller batches of food when you cook. Try to be creative with your left overs. A roasted chicken can leave meat for sandwiches or salad and bones for home made stock. Bolognese can become a Chilli con Carne or lasagne. Don't be over sensitive with vegetables that are a bit old, in a stew, soup or roasted it will not make much difference. Use up things in your fridge and don't let it go to waste just because they don't fit into your usual recipe.
Do you have any great tips to share?