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Make a list. Don’t leave your house until you have written down exactly what you need to buy. Shopping on impulse is guaranteed to leave you with less money in your pocket and more reason to cheat.
Read pamphlets. Those flyers in the middle of the newspaper? They actually do have a purpose. Don’t chuck ‘em until you’ve scanned and identified the relevant bargains.
Shop around. Just because the chicken is on special at Woolies, doesn’t mean the fish and yogurt will be too. If possible, do your big buys at a mall so that you’ll be able to zip between stores, in your quest to save where you can.
Check the date. Check the date. Most supermarkets have items with a sell-by date (not to be confused with a use-by date) which they usually markdown later in the day. Saving a few rands may not seem significant at first, but in the end, every bit helps!
Stick to the basics. Plain pasta and rice may require more preparation time, but with no added sugar, salt or preservatives, they’re healthier and cheaper than their processed, instant and microwaveable counterparts.
Buy produce that is in season. It makes sense – if an item needs to be shipped halfway across the world, obviously it will be more expensive. (And this is adds heaps to your carbon footprint!)
Consider tinned food. Tuna, peas, lentils, beans… they’re all packed with protein and other healthy nutrients at a fraction of the cost.
Avoid overpriced ‘diet’ food. Reduced-fat, fat-free and sugar-free items often play on consumers’ conscience making them believe that it’s healthier and therefore shelling out extra money is to their advantage. Not so. In fact, many of these items bare false claims. Read this if you want proof.
Don’t fall prey to big names and fancy packaging. It’s called clever marketing. The flashier the packaging, the more chance you’ll end up buying it. In-house products can be just as good and nutritious as those elaborate brands whose items usually cost an arm and a leg.
What other pocket-friendly advice can you add? Share your tips, secrets and suggestions in the box below.
Read pamphlets. Those flyers in the middle of the newspaper? They actually do have a purpose. Don’t chuck ‘em until you’ve scanned and identified the relevant bargains.
Shop around. Just because the chicken is on special at Woolies, doesn’t mean the fish and yogurt will be too. If possible, do your big buys at a mall so that you’ll be able to zip between stores, in your quest to save where you can.
Check the date. Check the date. Most supermarkets have items with a sell-by date (not to be confused with a use-by date) which they usually markdown later in the day. Saving a few rands may not seem significant at first, but in the end, every bit helps!
Stick to the basics. Plain pasta and rice may require more preparation time, but with no added sugar, salt or preservatives, they’re healthier and cheaper than their processed, instant and microwaveable counterparts.
Buy produce that is in season. It makes sense – if an item needs to be shipped halfway across the world, obviously it will be more expensive. (And this is adds heaps to your carbon footprint!)
Consider tinned food. Tuna, peas, lentils, beans… they’re all packed with protein and other healthy nutrients at a fraction of the cost.
Avoid overpriced ‘diet’ food. Reduced-fat, fat-free and sugar-free items often play on consumers’ conscience making them believe that it’s healthier and therefore shelling out extra money is to their advantage. Not so. In fact, many of these items bare false claims. Read this if you want proof.
Don’t fall prey to big names and fancy packaging. It’s called clever marketing. The flashier the packaging, the more chance you’ll end up buying it. In-house products can be just as good and nutritious as those elaborate brands whose items usually cost an arm and a leg.
What other pocket-friendly advice can you add? Share your tips, secrets and suggestions in the box below.
