Are you struggling with the cost of your grocery shopping? It is common to hear our friends complain about how expensive it is to cook a meal here in Singapore. Is it true that things are so expensive that we need to spend $20 on a meal for one person or are we just buying ingredients that are more expensive that they should?
Let us share 5 tips on how you can save on your grocery.
1. Make a weekly meal plan and stick to it
Yes, we know it is difficult, but it can save you lots of money. By making a weekly meal plan before you head to the supermarket or the wet market, you already know what you need for the week. Sticking to the plan means that you only buy what you need, and not spend on those which you don’t need, even if there is a 2 for 1 offer on the product.
2. Avoid high-end supermarkets
There is a tendency to believe that high-end supermarkets like MarketPlace and Jason’s have better quality stuff. It is not entirely true. What these high-end supermarkets sell is not quality food, but imported food. Therefore, you can find equally good quality food from supermarkets such as Giant, Sheng Siong and NTUC FairPrice. The same product can cost you $8 at MarketPlace but only $2 in Giant. Choose your supermarket wisely.
3. Make use of online shopping such as RedMart or Amazon Prime
When it comes to grocery shopping, it is a good idea to shop online. You will not only save time on travelling and waiting in queue, these online stores also deliver the food to your door. If you are buying a full week worth of food, you are more than likely to unlock their free delivery services too. In addition, you can see visibly what you are buying and paying for before you put in your credit cards details. If you start spending on a lot of unnecessary stuff, you will see it clearly on your screen before payment.
4. Shop at the wet market near you
If you are lucky to have a wet market near you, shop there. It has the freshest food and possibly the cheapest price. Some wet markets might not have the cheapest prices, especially if they are the monopoly for a rather large estate, but they will still have the freshest food. One other benefit is that stallholders at the wet market usually allow you to buy items separately and do not force you to buy in bulk. For example, if you need 2 potatoes for your soup tonight, buying at the wet market means getting 2 potatoes, but going to a supermarket like FairPrice usually means you end up with a big bag of 10 potatoes.
5. Do not overbuy fresh food
It is a mistake that many people commit. This is why your weekly meal plan comes in handy. When you are not sure how much food you really need, you tend to overbuy. The result is to throw away spoilt food; it is literally throwing away your hard-earned money. When you plan well, overbuying is not a problem. You can estimate better the amount of food you need and buy only what is necessary.
