So its the end of the month, or any day other than pay day, and money is tight. You need to do that weekly task that enables basic survival: the supermarket grocery shop. However, the small amount of money you have available for this basic survival task seems to only result in a trolley full of ‘beige’ looking food.… you know what I mean.
So here are a few top tips I have come up with to save your body from your empty wallet.
Prepare
‘Failing to prepare is preparing to fail,’ quote: your grandmother. But maybe she is actually onto something – making a shopping list is the one cardinal rule which you must obey by at all times. Failure to follow the list and you simply end up with the most wonderful food fit for a three-year-old’s birthday party, but not a single meal. Equally, going food shopping when you are hungry will only result in you buying what you want (tasty £5 chocolates), rather than what you need.
Buy frozen
You maybe shocked at a dietitian actually recommending you to buy frozen foods, and yes, you maybe aware that they are cheaper. However, what you probably didn’t know is that they are just as good as fresh foods. Take a carrot, for example: by the time farmer Joe has harvested that carrot, it has been transported to the supermarket, sat on the shelf for a day or two and then it then sits in your fridge for a while… not so fresh. Compare that to frozen veg, which tends to be frozen shortly after being harvested, helping preserve its goodness.
From the counter
Counter food looks more expensive, but actually they are often cheaper and there is always a deal on. Buying counter food may seem a daunting experience, with questions in your head like, ‘What does a kilogram of ham even look like?’ If it is the wrong amount then you will simply say thanks, and pay for it anyway (especially if you are British). Yes, we are the ‘packet’ generation, where everything we buy has the price clearly labelled on it. However (this is the crazy bit), the counter staff are well aware of our lagging skills and will happily assist you by giving examples of what you might get for your money (minus obligation to buy). So give it a try and you maybe surprised at how much money you could save… I recently bought rainbow trout for just £1.50 each (‘packet’ generation don’t freak out, the counter staff do gut and prepare the fish for you).
READ MORE: The Vegan Fry Up That'll Ward Off Your Hangover Just As Well As Bacon
Coffee
Coffee lovers will appreciate it when I say cheap coffee can taste like someone has actually taken the time to go and capture the smell of a newly laid road in a hot drink. Sadly, good coffee is SO expensive! One top tip is to simply buy a jar of cheap coffee and a small jar of normal coffee (AKA the most expensive thing you will ever buy from a supermarket), and mix them together to dilute the taste, whilst ensuring a tolerable caffeine intake. You may also want to invest in a nice looking jar which you can pour your new mixture into, so that friends who come round are none the wiser.
Avoid packages
Pre-packaged fruit and veg (‘freg') seems to be the quick option and, obviously, if the price is written in big red lettering, then it must be the cheaper option, right? Wrong – when entering the ‘freg’ section of the supermarket, please remember you are not a bull, so do not act like one. Take your time, and figure out how much ‘freg’ you actually need and then figure out what is the cheapest option. For example, there maybe a six-pack of apples for £1.50, but you may only need four. One detail you should never overlook is the ‘price per kg/g’, which should be clearly displayed; compare the pre-packaged food price to that of the loose ‘freg’ – the savings will surprise you.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.