Smart Shopping strategies
Plan your meals and snacks.
Make a grocery list to get just what you need. Do not buy on impulse.
At the supermarket, compare prices and pick items that are cheaper so as not to burn a hole in your pocket.
House brand and items on sale are usually the cheapest.
Go for the basics, focus on the staples – rice, bread, milk, fruit, vegetables, lentils, chicken, fish and oil – things that you really do without. Indulgences that are high in salt, fat and sugar can be enjoyed occasionally and in small portions.
Buy local foods as it will save you money.
Buy seasonal items, the price of delicacies like mangoes prices dip during fruit season.
Buy in bulk as it usually works out cheaper. Families buying together can get better deals. If the portion is more than you need, pack it into smaller amounts and freeze.
Do not over stock as in Singapore you can easily get to a retail shop within 30 minutes.
Practice good stock rotation – use up the older items first before you consume the fresh foods. Most of the time, consumers throw away a lot of food that does not get used up as the quality of food deteriorates beyond the “use by” or “expiry” date.
Scan the shelves before you buy. Less popular brands are usually placed at the bottom or on the top of the bay, not at eye level. With these foods, cheaper does not mean poor quality or inferior taste.
Buy sale items and use discount coupons, credit exchange schemes to offset cost of your food purchases.
There’s no quick formula to cooking on a budget. Like anything else worthwhile doing in life, it takes a little effort in planning, creativity and work. Combine the right ingredients to get a meal that looks and tastes good. Put in extra efforts in the use of herbs and spices.
If you do not want to cook, eat at a cheap stalls where the same bowl of noodles costs a lot less than in the shopping centers. Make an effort to select cheaper and healthier foods.
Plan your meals and snacks.
Make a grocery list to get just what you need. Do not buy on impulse.
At the supermarket, compare prices and pick items that are cheaper so as not to burn a hole in your pocket.
House brand and items on sale are usually the cheapest.
Go for the basics, focus on the staples – rice, bread, milk, fruit, vegetables, lentils, chicken, fish and oil – things that you really do without. Indulgences that are high in salt, fat and sugar can be enjoyed occasionally and in small portions.
Buy local foods as it will save you money.
Buy seasonal items, the price of delicacies like mangoes prices dip during fruit season.
Buy in bulk as it usually works out cheaper. Families buying together can get better deals. If the portion is more than you need, pack it into smaller amounts and freeze.
Do not over stock as in Singapore you can easily get to a retail shop within 30 minutes.
Practice good stock rotation – use up the older items first before you consume the fresh foods. Most of the time, consumers throw away a lot of food that does not get used up as the quality of food deteriorates beyond the “use by” or “expiry” date.
Scan the shelves before you buy. Less popular brands are usually placed at the bottom or on the top of the bay, not at eye level. With these foods, cheaper does not mean poor quality or inferior taste.
Buy sale items and use discount coupons, credit exchange schemes to offset cost of your food purchases.
There’s no quick formula to cooking on a budget. Like anything else worthwhile doing in life, it takes a little effort in planning, creativity and work. Combine the right ingredients to get a meal that looks and tastes good. Put in extra efforts in the use of herbs and spices.
If you do not want to cook, eat at a cheap stalls where the same bowl of noodles costs a lot less than in the shopping centers. Make an effort to select cheaper and healthier foods.
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