How to Save on Your Grocery Bill
The first food shop at university can be quite daunting, with no parents around to govern what you eat it can be quite difficult to save money and stay healthy. But don’t fret, it’s easy when you keep these tips in mind.
Budget & Plan Accordingly
Before undertaking your weekly food shop sit down and figure out your budget and what you’re going to be eating for the rest of the week. Research recipes that use the same ingredients to cut down on food waste, it’s not the most romantic of eating but it will stand to save you a lot of money.
Frozen Food is Your Friend
Don’t shy away from the frozen aisle, frozen meat (such as chicken breast) and frozen vegetables are often dramatically cheaper when frozen and are a lot cheaper than fresh.
No brand, No Problem
Are you a brand snob? Do you find yourself buying branded versions of store cupboard basics? If you’re overspending on a tin of chopped tomatoes you’re definitely getting ripped off. It might not seem like a lot of money but over time these little costs can add up.
As a rule of thumb, for store cupboard basics it doesn’t really matter about the brand. Always go for the supermarket no name brand over their pricier product relatives.
Sharing is Caring
As a student it’s likely you’ll be in a house share, use this to your advantage. Purchase food that’s on offer in bulk and split it between your house mates. This means you’ll be able to take advantage of the savings but not have a surplus of food and an empty wallet.
It’s also a good idea to take this further and take turns cooking meals for each other, cooking together can be a great experience and it’ll save you a ton of money to boot. It’s a win-win situation, just remember to do the washing up when you’re not cooking!
Buy In Bulk / No Waste, No Worries
Buy in bulk! Get cupboard staples that’ll last for a while (e.g pasta, tins) in big quantities f you can as it’ll be a lot cheaper. Split this with a housemate and you’re on to even more savings!
Also, don’t chuck off food away! Search online for recipes, e.g. stale bread can be made into bread and butter pudding and overripe bananas into all sorts (cakes, pancakes, etc).
So there you have it folks, a few tips on saving money whilst student food shopping!