With the cost of food on the rise, it’s more important than ever to budget, plan, and only buy what you need, this doesn’t mean cutting back on the goodies. It just means you have to be more creative with your weekly shop. Here at Irish consumer, we are going to give some helpful tips, on making the most of your budget.

The key is to treat your household income like a business, it’s important to know your in comings and outgoings, that way you will know how much you can spend, and it will give you control of your finances instead of your finances controlling you.

What food do Irish shoppers waste the most?

In a recent survey, it was revealed, that Irish consumers throw away 30% of their food. The main culprits of food waste are lettuce, milk, and bread. To avoid food waste, it’s a good idea to keep a food diary for a week, to see how much food is consumed.

How to budget and prepare a shopping list for savings.

Another tip would be to have a shopping list prepared before you go out to the supermarket. Stick to the list don’t be tempted by the indulgences at the tills. This is a marketing tactic supermarkets use, to get Irish consumers to spend more money.

Once your list is completed have a budget done, on how much you have to spend. Some weeks you might have to spend a little more for example on toiletries, birthdays, and alcohol. This is when you have to do your homework. Do a price comparison in each supermarket, to see what’s on special offer this can be done online.

Budget and plan your meals to cut down on costs.

Plan your meals and check your cupboards, you may already have some of the ingredients. Use coupons if you have them, it’s also a good idea to apply for a supermarket club card most of the chains have them, each time you make a purchase you swipe your card, and each quarter voucher is rewarded to customers to spend in-store.

Dunnes Stores are currently offering customers €10 off €50 vouchers check in-store for details.

Here’s a quick list to remember before you shop

  • Keep track of the food you eat
  • Prepare a list and stick to it
  • Don’t buy the offers at tills
  • Know how much you can spend
  • Do a price comparison in each store
  • Check your fridge/ cupboards
  • Plan your meals in advance
  • Use coupons/ club cards

So with careful planning and a bit of homework, you will get the best out of your budget and the fridge will never be empty, within the time you will start to notice significant savings on your shopping.