By Kaya 959 Lifestyle
Going grocery shopping can be a painful exercise. It is a task many people do not enjoy but it has to be done.
Sometimes it does not always go to plan and you end up forgetting a few items or buying too much of others.
We have put together some tips that will make sure you get it right the first time.
But first, tell us how organised you are when it comes to grocery shopping and you could win one of 8 Giraffe Wine Holder’s worth R389! All you need to do is take part in the poll below and give us your details. Good luck!
READ: 10 ways to save on your grocery bill
Plan your monthly menu
Take note of what you eat regularly, the meals you prepare often, and what you use daily.
Develop a menu including your planned meals, breakfasts, school and work lunches, cupboard snacks and note if you are entertaining any guests as well.
Once you have your menu, create a list of all the ingredients needed to prepare these meals and the quantities needed.
If your children are old enough, allow them to do the list with you and let them see just how much the food costs and what their eating habits cost you.
Perishable VS non-perishable food
Write down the items that can last for the entire month like cereal, rice, pasta, and canned goods, and buy enough of those.
Look at the perishable foods you need, if they can be frozen, purchase enough for the month and freeze them.
You won’t be able to buy everything you need for the month, but you can get most of your grocery needs at once.
Plan your fresh vegetables and fruits
Buy your fruit and veggies weekly from your local supermarket or greengrocer. It’s always a good idea to have a bag or two of frozen vegetables in the freezer as well for those midweek emergencies.
Write down your meat quantities
Meat is one of the most expensive things to buy, and if your family likes to eat it often, consider what type of meat you like to cook and which type you eat the most.
Write down the quantity you need for the meats. Compare how much each meat cost per kg at different stores.
It might be worth your while to find a local butcher. Your butcher will cut your purchased meat to your specifications, as well as package the meat for you in serving portions making it easier to store.
Sometimes butchers will have better prices since they are sometimes supplied directly from the farm.
Read: 8 tips and tricks for the perfect braai
Cleaning items and toiletries
Don’t forget to include your cleaning items and toiletries for the entire family. These should form part of your standard monthly list.
Finally, check your cupboards and fridge to see what you may have left out or what you have enough of, and make sure your list reflects that.
Main image credit: Pexels/Vegan Liftz
