As the cost of living continues to be an issue, food is one area in particular where many of us have noticed a huge jump in prices in the last couple of years.
So, if you’re a tenant trying to make savings, here are our 7 tips to help you beat the rising cost of your grocery bill.
#1 Cook from scratch
If you’re used to buying ready meals or getting take-aways, it’s time to get back to basics! Buying simple ingredients and cooking from scratch can save you a lot of money – plus, it’s usually healthier and better for the environment!
#2 Buy and/or cook in bulk
If you share your rented property with other people, make an effort to shop and cook together. Buying in bulk – particularly store cupboard items that have a long shelf life - should mean you need to shop less often and your overall cost per meal will reduce. And if you cook large batches, you can then freeze meals in portions and defrost them as needed.
#3 Go veggie!
The reality is that meat has become very expensive, so you should be able to save a fair amount by switching at least some of your meals to non-meat recipes.
#4 Bulk out meals with tinned produce
Tinned goods tend to be cheaper than fresh items, so use things like canned tomatoes, lentils and chickpeas to help ensure your meals are satisfying without breaking the bank. By combining tinned produce with cheaper vegetables like onions and potatoes, then adding stock, herbs and spices, you can make really tasty casseroles, hearty soups and curries for as little as a pound or two.
#5 Switch your usual choices for special offers
It’s easy to get into the habit of picking up the same things from the same sections at the supermarket but make an effort to look at money-saving special offers that may simply be different versions of what you normally buy. You may even find that you prefer a cheaper alternative! And if you don’t already buy supermarkets’ own-label products, they’re often as good if not better than more widely advertised brands, and can cost significantly less.
#6 Look out for reduced items
You can save a lot of money by looking for items that are reduced because of a short remaining shelf life – most shops will do this, particularly near the end of the day. And if they are fresh items that haven’t previously been frozen, you can always put them in your own freezer – you don’t have to use them immediately.
#7 Change where you shop
Although most big supermarkets ‘price match’ a lot of items these days, it’s worth doing a bit of research to see whether you could make savings by switching where you do your main shopping. Popping to a local corner shop may be more convenient, but travelling a bit further might cut your grocery bill by a significant amount.
