ConsumerValue - groceries
This section of ConsumerValue focuses on ways to save money on groceries including food.
The proportion of our household budget that we spend on groceries is very significant, so given the current economic climate it is more important than ever to seek out best value.
There are many ways to reduce the amount you spend on groceries. Most of them involve changing your behaviour, rather than cutting back on the quantity or quality of what you buy.
How you shop
You do not need to eat poor quality food to save money - very often, you can save money and maintain or even improve the quality of your diet by simply rethinking the way you shop.
Remember, too, that you can save each and every time you shop by bringing your own bags, so keep a supply handy and avoid the Government levy.
Here are 10 ways to manage your weekly food bill...
1. Shop around
Market research by the National Consumer Agency has shown that consumers have had a change of priority when it comes to choosing where to shop.
While at one time consumers in our market research were principally shopping for groceries based on convenience, since the middle of 2008 consumers have placed a greater emphasis placed on price.
Our Grocery Price Survey shows that the quickest route to the best prices is through shopping around and spreading your spend across a range of different stores.
The Irish retail scene offers more choice now than ever before, so keep your eyes peeled for special offers advertised in the press, on radio or even in shop windows.
Online comparisons
You can also consult websites such as:
- ThriftyPages.ie, which carry listings of current special offers
- Other "community" sites such as Rollercoaster.ie which have "Bargains" threads that are updated by users themselves as they spot bargains and special offers such as this live example of consumers helping each other and provides "real time" updates on where the value is to be had
Remember that there is usually a trade off between the convenience aspect of the small local store and the prices charged.
On the other hand, a trip to an out-of-town discount store for just a few small items may cost you more in travel expenses than you could hope to save on the items themselves.
All parts of the retail scene have their place in meeting consumer needs.
2. Check the unit price
If a food product is sold by weight, volume or measure, the shop must display its unit price such as "price per kg" or "price per litre" along with the price of the product. This must be shown on or near the food, such as on the shop shelves.
Check the unit price of what you are buying. Buying another size (sometimes even the smaller size) may decrease the unit price.
Some items are typically cheaper when bought in bulk. For example, a large bag of potatoes can work out a lot cheaper per kilogram than one or two potatoes bought individually, but this only makes sense if you will be able to use them all before they go off.
By contrast, smaller pre-packed items such as tomatoes or parsnips can work out more expensive when bought under cellophane than if you buy them by the kilo from the "loose" vegetable section. Again, always check the kilo price, which must be displayed for all products sold by weight or volume.
The same principle applies to meat products. A whole chicken can work out to be not much more expensive than two or three breasts, and yet will provide you with more meat and a carcass which can be boiled up to make stock for soups etc.
Pre-sliced ham or other cold meats can work out at multiples of the price of a joint of that meat that you cook and slice yourself at home, so consider your needs, the likelihood of waste and make a judgment as to which format represents best value for you.
3. Make fresh meals
Carry-out, frozen, pre-packaged and pre-prepared meals can work out a lot more expensive than making meals fresh. If you are busy, make several meals at the weekend or one evening and freeze them yourself.
Not only will they be cheaper, they are healthier too.
Nutritious meals
Many people are put off at the prospect of spending hours in the kitchen, but with so many excellent recipes and easy-to-source ingredients now available, nutritious meals can be prepared in the time it takes to wait in line at the fast food outlet.
Avoid pre-prepared fruit and vegetables unless you are very caught for time.
Buying raw, whole fruit and vegetables can be a lot cheaper than buying pre-sliced, washed and prepared ones - why pay someone else to chop and wash it for you?
4. Buy in season
Certain fruit and vegetables are available all year round, such as bananas and carrots.
But others such as strawberries and raspberries can be very expensive when bought out of season.
If necessary, buy the fruit or vegetables when they are cheaper and in season, and freeze them for use later on in the year.
5. Buy only what you need
Don't buy too much of items that may go off. Buying a large tray or bag of fruit and throwing half of it out is a waste of money and good food.
Plan meals and make a shopping list of what you need. If you're buying fresh food, work out whether you will be home to eat it in the following days.
If you find that you have too much of something to use before its best before date, consider freezing it for use at a later date.
6. Buy discounted items and look for special offers
Keep an eye on the discount cabinet in your local shops. Highly perishable items such as bread or ready-meals are sometimes discounted at the end of the day before their "Best Before" or "Use By" date.
If you have nothing in for dinner that night, it could be just the ticket, or if you have a freezer, buy discount items on the day and freeze them for later use.
Be cautious about two-for-one offers and consider whether you really need the second item at this time.
Some retail chains have regular email newsletters on their latest offers. These can be a good way to keep an eye on upcoming bargains and comparing value across competing stores.
7. Don't be a brand slave
Whether consciously or unconsciously, many of us slavishly stick with the same brand of particular products day in, day out without ever questioning whether that brand offers fair value.
Marketers rely on this brand loyalty to secure return purchases, yet in many cases the best known brands attract a premium price.
This is not necessarily because their product is demonstrably "better" in some way than any alternatives, but simply because they have that recognition factor that makes us reach for them out of habit.
Next time you are shopping for groceries, check out if there are alternatives to your usual brands.
Savings can be made by choosing a less well known label and, as long as you remain satisfied with the quality of the product, this can have a long-term benefit for your wallet too.
8. Use coupons
Coupons can save you money - but don't buy products you don't need just because you have a coupon.
Members of websites such as Pigsback.com can order coupons for products they use.
Watch out for special offers and two-for-one deals on products you regularly use, and stock up when your items are on special offer.
9. Earn with loyalty cards (or even just with loyalty!)
Using a loyalty card can allow you to accumulate points, which entitle you to money-off vouchers for the same store.
The down side is that the store collects your personal data and shopping details and uses it for marketing and research purposes, so consider in advance whether this is something with which you are comfortable.
In the context of very small traders such as your local butcher or greengrocer, many will reward their most faithful customers with the odd "extra" - thrown in with the shopping as a small thank you for loyal custom.
Small gestures like this may not cost a great deal to the trader, but they generate a feel-good factor and loyalty from regular shoppers.
And don't believe that the best value is always to be had from the biggest chains - know your prices for everyday items and you will be able to compare and contrast offers from across the range of retailers to decide what is right for you both in terms of price and quality.
10. Cut down on the lattes and bottled water
Watch what you are spending on small items such as a daily latte and muffin at work.
A spend of just €5 per day on a coffee and pastry can add up to €100 per month.
Bringing your own lunch - or at least part of it - will save a lot of money too.
A carton or packet of soup from the supermarket, which you can heat up at work, can work out a lot cheaper than a small cup of soup from your local deli.
Buy your soft drinks and chocolate in bulk from the supermarket rather than from the expensive vending machine at work - and drink tap water instead of buying expensive bottled water.
Return to the web vesion of this guide:
http://www.consumerconnect.ie/eng/Hot_Topics/ConsumerValue/Groceries/intro.html