An ordinary Russian family spends most of its finances on food. In this article, you will learn other ways to help you reduce food costs.
10. Make a budget
You should know how much you can spend each month on products. First, pay all required payments: utilities, phone, Internet, loans. Distribute the remaining amount as you see fit. To properly budget, you have a couple of months to conduct home accounting. Count your income and expenses, determine how much you can allocate for food, clothing, entertainment. It would be better if you also distribute money on products. Someone makes a menu for a week, and then buys the right products. Someone purchases once a month, and then buys only bread and milk. Choose the appropriate scheme that is convenient for you.
9. Pay in cash
It is more convenient to pay with a card, but this way you can spend more than you planned. If you take a certain amount with you, you will not be able to exceed it. Take as much as you have enough money. If you are used to using the card, and cash is just a reminder of the last century, get yourself another card for shopping. Transfer the amount you plan to spend on it, then you definitely will not buy more.
8. Go to the store alone
To save on the purchase of products, you have to go to the store alone. Of course, it is more convenient to drop into the store with the whole family after kindergarten or school, but then you risk buying a lot of unnecessary products. Leave the children with husband / wife and go to the store alone. You know that the hardest “no” is powerless in front of children's tears and persuasion. When a child makes a scandal in a store and other customers turn to you, saving is the last thing you will think about. You buy the child everything, if only he calmed down. If you have to go shopping with a child, for example, there is no one to leave him with, then be patient. Explain to him that this time you will do without chocolate eggs and corn sticks.
7. Prepare a list
Each person decides how often to go to the store. It doesn’t matter if you visit the supermarket once a week or twice a month, make a shopping list. Think carefully about what foods you need. It’s best to create a sample menu so that it doesn’t turn out that at some point you will not have the right ingredients. If you came to the store with a list, do not buy too much, even if the price is very attractive. If you go for bread and dairy products, still make a list. Otherwise, you will buy half of the dairy department, not kefir and milk. Yes, by the way, the grain department has even more temptations.
6. Do not go to the store on an empty stomach
Everyone knows this rule, but many do not use it. Go to the store hungry, even the desire to save money will not deter you from buying. You are sure to buy something that you can eat right now. It will be a sweet bun, a package of chips, a chocolate bar. You will pick up more products than you planned. According to statistics, a hungry person is more likely to buy fatty or sweet. He will walk past the shelves with healthy food, he needs something that will satisfy his hunger right now. Have a snack before going to the supermarket, so you reduce the risk of unnecessary purchases.
5. Use discount coupons and discount cards
Very often in supermarkets they hold promotions: they give discounts for the next purchase. But not all buyers use this chance to save. They are usually handed over with checks that customers leave at the checkout. And those people who still take discounts and coupons forget about them at their next purchase. Put coupons in a bag, let them always be with you, try not to forget about their existence. Let the amount saved be scanty, but it's better than nothing. Do not neglect either 50 or 100 rubles. Calculate how much you can save for several trips to the store. The amount is already much more substantial, isn't it?
4. Hypermarket membership card
Also, many buyers do not use the hypermarket membership card. They are usually issued free of charge if the purchase exceeds a certain amount, or sold for a nominal price. Do not think that this card will not help you save money. It will even help. Some networks accrue bonuses or points for which you can later purchase products. Some stores offer special promotions for customers with a card. So, if you have a card, you can buy goods at better prices. You probably grabbed goods from a shelf at a very attractive price, and at the checkout it turned out that this price was only for cardholders. Get a card and do not forget to use it.
3. Buy in bulk
Some products are more profitable to buy in bulk. There are wholesale bases where the prices of goods are much cheaper than in the store. You can team up with relatives or friends. Sugar, flour, cereals, pasta - these products have a long shelf life, they will never be superfluous. But you must understand that you need to organize the correct storage area so that the products do not deteriorate, do not become damp. If you do not have such an opportunity, then you should not buy for the future. You will spend money, and the products will have to be thrown away.
2. Look for great deals
Before going to the store, look at the promotions of the nearest supermarkets on the Internet. It will not take much time, but you will find out where the price of the product you need is more favorable. Many buyers like to buy stock items. However, be careful. Often, people seem to go crazy, they gain a lot of unnecessary products, because their cost is low. But think for yourself, why do you need 10 chocolates for 50 rubles, or 20 ice creams for 15? Buy only what you need. Before you grab a promotional item, look, maybe next to it is exactly the same, but at an even cheaper price. So the price of expensive pasta for a stock will be higher than the price of budget ones.
1. Buy agricultural products from local state farms and agricultural firms
If you have the opportunity to buy products from local state farms and agricultural firms, this is wonderful. You will not only save money, but also get a quality product. The cost of the same product in the store will be higher. Still, you need to pay for its delivery, for the rental of retail space, for electricity, for the work of sellers. As a result, the price rises by several tens of rubles. You can buy goods from private individuals, many people sell vegetables from their garden, honey, mushrooms, meat. Just do not chase cheapness, buy from trusted sellers.