ARE you always horrified by the cost of your weekly food shop?
Well, according to one frugal mum named Christine, there’s a very simple way to save money on your food bill – and it’s to do with 20 items you need to ditch buying at your local supermarket.
In a clip posted to YouTube (@Frugal Fit Mom), the savvy mum-of-four begins by discussing baby food.
“I’ve had four kids myself,” Christine explains. “I used to buy this stuff until I reached my third kid and from a cost savings standpoint, I started making my own baby food and I realised how easy it was.
“Sweet potatoes, butternut squash, frozen peas – you cook it a little bit so it’s soft, pop it in a blender or a food processor with enough water to obliterate it into something smooth, and freeze it.”
Next, Christine notes that supermarkets are not the place to buy gift bags or greeting cards, and warns not to buy holiday-specific items before the holiday has been, as they can be up to 90% cheaper if you get them out of season.
“Please do yourself and your wallet a favour – do not pick these up at a supermarket store,” she urges.
Christine goes on to say that things such as kitchen supplies such as storage containers are also typically a no, because you can get dupes elsewhere for much cheaper.
“Skip the kitchen goods completely – they are not kind to your wallet,” she notes.
Next up, she moves on to discuss granola and points out: “It’s great on yogurt and almost feels like a dessert…but =store-bought granola is so expensive.
“If you made it yourself you would get so much more – you don’t have the preservatives, you can control every ingredient that goes into it.
“You can put your favourite items in there, you take out your least favourite items, you can make a huge batch for pennies compared to the cost of these box items.”
Speaking of breakfast, Christine also urges shoppers not to buy cereal unless it’s on sale, and to swap pricey boxes of muffins for a muffin mix from the bakery aisle instead.
She moves on to discuss other snack items, adding that they’re going to be way more expensive in smaller packaging when compared to purchasing the larger container.
The money-saving whizz also recommends ditching frozen bags of food because you “don’t get very much for the price.”
Holding up a bag of potato dumplings, she continues: “Like these are delicious, they’re meant to taste good and be addictive and cost you a pretty penny in the process.
“But if you make them yourself, they’re going to be way cheaper and better for you.”
Christine admits she’s also a big fan of skipping the drinks aisle entirely, and warns that any product the store pre-cuts for you, such as fruit bowls or charcuterie boards, is always going to be more expensive than if you were to prep it yourself.
According to the savvy shopper, any time you can score a pizza for £3 ($3.70), then you should do it because she points out you can’t even make a homemade pizza for that price anymore.
Last but not least, Christine concludes: “Don’t buy anything at the supermarket that’s not on your list.
“Impulse purchases is what kills the budget 80% of the time – make a list meal plan and stick to your list…
“What item are you going to try and not purchase at the supermarket anymore from the list that I gave you today?
“If you try a few I guarantee you will save a lot of moolah and who doesn’t love more cash in their pocket because then you can do other cool stuff like take a holiday or go out and see a movie with your friends?”
