How to cut your grocery bill: 10 practical habits

The short answer

Plan meals around what you already have, shop from a list, compare the price per kilo or litre rather than the pack price, buy staples in sensible bulk, and throw less away. Do those five things consistently and the weekly bill falls without a big change to how you eat.

lightbulb Food you throw away is money you spent twice: once at the till and again in the bin.

Ten habits that work

1. Plan the week’s meals before you shop.
2. Check the fridge, freezer and cupboards first, and use what is about to expire.
3. Shop from a written list, grouped by section, and stick to it.
4. Do not shop hungry; it adds unplanned items.
5. Compare the unit price (per kg, per litre) and not just the pack price.
6. Buy staples that keep, such as rice, flour and pulses, in larger packs when you will use them.
7. Choose seasonal fruit and vegetables, which are usually cheaper.
8. Try the store’s own brand for basics.
9. Cook larger batches and freeze portions.
10. Track what you spend each month so you can see the effect.

Do the unit-price sum

Bigger packs are not always cheaper. Divide the price by the weight or volume to compare fairly. For example, a 500 g pack at 90 costs 0.18 per gram, while a 750 g pack at 120 costs 0.16 per gram, so the bigger pack is cheaper per gram. Only buy it if you will use it before it spoils.

lightbulb Amounts here are made-up numbers to show the method. Use the prices on your shelf.

Waste less food

• Store things properly: keep herbs, leafy greens and bread where they last longest.
• Put older items at the front of the fridge and cupboard.
• Use leftovers for the next day’s lunch.
• Freeze bread, cooked rice portions and overripe bananas before they spoil.

Make the list easy to keep

A list is only useful if you actually keep it up to date. Listino, the free Android app from Robince Studio, lets you build lists with categories and units, share them with your household so nobody doubles up, and use them offline in the shop, syncing again when you are back online.

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