Fighting the food prices!

Fighting the food prices!




Weekend was back, so I got ready with the shopping list I had compiled over the week of all the things I needed to buy. It wasn’t a long one, just around ten items because I wanted to buy only the necessary ones.

At the end of my shopping at the local super market, when I saw the end total on the bill, my eyes popped out in shock.The bill was this much for less than ten items!

I checked the bill thrice and it was correct! “Food has become really expensive nowadays, I thought!”
World crises and inflation are to blame.we are now spending more than 22 per cent of their salaries on food or gas. That’s a high that we’ve only seen twice in the last two decades, according to some stats I recently read in an article.

So, if you like to eat (and who doesn’t!), what can you do to try to stay within your budget? I am no Consumer Savings Expert, but I will tell you those 10 tips my

boss taught me to combat food prices.
1. Shop warehouse stores: Not all prices are the same everywhere particularly if you tend to go overboard, but there are some really good deals to be had. Look for great buys on perishable items and shop towards the end of the day, when department managers want to unload extra inventory from the stores.
2. Use vouchers or coupons: Buy those vouchers which come with magazines and go to stores which let you shop during special days or on online. It’s a great way to save money on certain products. Online, you not only save money, you also get exactly what you want. However not all supermarkets allow you to stack, so check first.
3. Hit/Big stores: Whether you cruise the narrow aisles of the big Giant or hit one of the smaller chains,big stores offer savings on boxed, bagged and canned goods. Make sure you check the expiration dates, however.
4. Use grocery store rewards cards: These loyalty cards have become a necessity to access store sales, but they also have another benefit. You can download online coupons directly to your rewards card and the savings will be taken off at the register. Visit the rewards-card pages of such store websites to find these manufacturer coupons. Keep your cards safe!
5. Buy generic: By and large, store-brand generics can be much cheaper than manufacturer products with the exactly same quality. In fact, generics come off the same assembly line before being slapped with separate labels so skip the brand name items.
6. Use discount gift cards: Like the rewards cards, this is another way of combatting high food prices. Certain big stores offer discount cards and these can also be used on most of the products on the shelf. Make use of these cards to save up on those extra few dirhams.
7. Make a reasonable list: Avoid impulse purchases by making a list before you leave home and sticking to it when you hit the store. Knowing specifically what you need also helps avoid duplications of products you already have at home.
8. Plan your meals: It’s a lot easier to make a list when you have a plan. Creating a weekly menu also helps you avoid quick trips to the supermarket that end up costing you more in many ways. For last minute meals, look for great discounts by buying meats, produce and other food items that are on sale at your local grocery store.
9. One-stop shop: Save gas, time and money by shopping in stores which allow you to buy everything on your list within one visit.

10. Avoid out-of-season produce: To every vegetable and fruit there is a season...and a better price. . Wait until prices are at their best and plan your menu around seasonal produce to save big.
Happy Shopping – Happy Saving !