Shop 'smart' and save

A bit of planning and trying not to be in 'auto pilot' mode in the supermarket will pay off in savings.

Savings based on a weekly saving for a family of four.

1.  Don’t shop too often

Topping up during the week is a budget breaker and a sure-fire way of impulse buying. Pick a time to shop and stick to it, and don’t shop when you’re hungry. If you’re taking the kids, that goes double for them!

• Stick to list: stick to budget
• Impulse and top-up buys: $5 - $20
• Save $5+

2.  Shop online

Buying online takes away the temptation to pop something extra in the trolley and lets you see your running total. Once you reach your budget, you can delete or exchange for cheaper varieties. Very few people feel they can leave things behind at the checkout, but deleting online is easy.

• Shop online: Stick to budget
• Shop in store: From $5 - $20 over budget
• Save $20+

3.  Hand pick your produce

Where possible, select individual items by hand. A sealed tray of food may conceal nasty surprises in the bottom that you’ll have to discard. Choosing this way allows you to pick fruit and veges at various stages of ripeness. You can choose soft tomatoes and avocados for today and firm ones for later in the week. You’ll use less packaging, too.

• Buying mushrooms once: $5
• Buying them twice: $10
• Save $5

4. Don’t buy too much produce

Many of us can identify with the moment of reckoning when we throw out the sad looking fruit and veges at the end of the week. Only buy what you realistically know you’re going to get through, based on your weekly menu. You can always top up with frozen or canned veges.

• Throw out 1/2 kilo of fruit and veg: $5+
• Save $5

5. Use discount cards

Sign up with your local store’s loyalty programme. Those little discounts do add up. Bakers Delight and other specialty stores also offer loyalty deals.
• Save $2+

Weekly savings: $37