2016 Nov 20
by Ridmi Upeksha
Having trouble keeping your grocery bill under your budget? Spending on your grocery bill is important. But don’t you wish you had some way to cut down on grocery costs and save up for something else? Here are some hacks to follow the next time you are on your way to the grocery store…
- Check your stock – Make a list; be prepared…
If you are the breadwinner of your house, you need to be prepared when it comes to spending your hard earned money. If you see a must-buy gutsy pair of shoes, check your shoe collection and revise if you really need to buy it. Likewise, when it comes to buying groceries for the month, check in with your pantry & freezer before stepping out of the house to go grocery shopping. Make a list of the things you need – add essentials first. Then add the other things you need, such as things you may need to cook a special meal for yourself. This is a step you need to take if you are in dire need of some cost cutting… It’s about time you say goodbye to your unprepared rushed shopping sprees!
- Buy your fresh food weekly and canned or packaged food monthly
For canned & packaged food; make a list that will suffice for a whole month. When you buy items in bulk there are so many great deals available in grocery stores or even wholesale shops that you find Pettah.
When buying fresh food for the month, the smartest way to save some money is by buying them only for a week, because there is a 90% chance that most of your fresh food goes in to the garbage if you keep them for more than seven days. Find a local vegetable market close to your workplace or even your house and drop by when on your way. But as Sri Lankans, the best place we can buy fresh fruits and veggies is at the weekly Sunday Pola. You’ll be able to score some really good deals!
- Don’t be brand loyal
Yes, the fancy packaged, branded salt at the store may be better looking than cheap salt in Soma Akka’s petti kade, but come on, is there that great of a difference? There are plenty of brands of the same items for you to pick from, so go ahead and buy the brand that will save your money and serves the purpose of buying it at the same time.
- Don’t fall for quickies
Don’t fall for exclusively packaged goods and buy things that aren’t on your list. It’s no surprise that most of us are attracted to things that look new and exclusive, but you’ve got to make sure you resist that feeling if you want to save some money. You can do this! Just look straight and go straight for the checkout counter. You can go home and cry about it.
- Make sure to pay your bill by cash
You might feel like this is unnecessary work, but trust me when I tell you, this is kind of an important trick to follow if you are in saving mode. When you pay from your credit or debit card, you may find it difficult to keep track of things you buy. So next time when you are on your way to the grocery store withdraw the portion of money that you kept for grocery expenditure and make sure you spend that money for your grocery bill only – Nothing more, but may be less if you are getting good at this game!
