Planning brings savings!
Groceries are expensive. And this year, consumers won’t see their bill getting any lower. According to specialists, Canadian families with two adults and two children will spend up to $420 more on basic food ingredients, which is a 3 to 5% increase compared to last year. But don’t panic! We’ve got five tips to help you deal with this rise in prices.
1. Take an inventory
Before even setting out to the grocery store, take an inventory of what you have in the fridge and freezer. You can quickly cook up perishable food that’s about to expire and eat the leftovers. Once the fridge is properly organized, it’s be easier to make a list and prepare meals for the week, and you’ll be saving money by reducing food waste. To find out where to start, take a look at our 10 clever tricks to organize your fridge and your freezer:
2. Plan your weekly menu
Plan a menu for the upcoming week. You don’t have to follow it exactly, but this menu will be an excellent starting point to make your shopping list. You should also make a list of basic ingredients that should always be in your pantry or freezer for emergencies.
For example, a can of navy beans, some cooked rice, canned salmon, frozen vegetables and a few dried cranberries, spices, oil and vinegar are enough to whip up a nutritious salad in less than 10 minutes. No need to call for Chinese delivery if your pantry is always well stocked. And you’ll be saving a few dollars!
And because we’ve thought of everything, you can download our planning lists right here:
www.patiencefruitco.com/app/uploads/2016/09/patience_liste_epicerie.pdf
3. Make a shopping list
Once the weekly menu is planned out, write up a list of the products you’ll need to prepare meals and snacks. By going grocery shopping only once, you can lower your grocery bill by about 35% compared to going grocery shopping as you need it. Plus, you’ll be saving time!
Lean toward local, seasonal products and fresh produce, which are less expensive than highly processed or individually packaged products.
4. Start couponing
Without going overboard, you can take some time to pore through mailers, applications specializing in discounts, and your favorite brands’ websites. This is a very effective trick to save a few dollars every week. Once you’re at the store, watch out for additional coupons you’ll can find on site. If you regularly shop in the same store, take advantage of loyalty programs and find out about their pricing policy. Some store chains will match their competitors’ prices.
5. Compare prices
Hesitating between the $3.49 the $4.99 boxes of cereal? Look at the unit price of the product (the price per 100g), which is given in fine print on the shelf tags. The best value may actually be the more expensive of the two!
Because we all have to eat, we might as well do it properly. Organize and opt for homemade meals, which are less expensive and are more nourishing. So get started on your list!
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