With food prices continuing to put pressure on household budgets, many South Africans are looking for ways to make their grocery shop go further.
But according to shopping and consumer experts, saving money often comes down to changing a few simple habits rather than cutting favourite foods from the trolley.
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“People often assume saving money means buying less, but that’s not necessarily true,” says Renier Botha, director of short-term loan provider Finance27.
“Small changes like planning your meals, checking what you already have at home and paying attention to unit prices can make a real difference over the course of a year without changing what you eat.”
Here are five supermarket habits that could be making your weekly shop more expensive.
1. Shopping without a list
Heading to the supermarket without a plan makes it far easier to buy items you don’t need, or forget ingredients and make another trip later.
“Most impulse spending starts before you’ve even picked up a trolley. If you know exactly what meals you’re making and what you need to buy, you’re much less likely to come home with lots of extras that weren’t on the list.”
2. Ignoring unit prices
Special offers and larger packs aren’t always the cheapest option. Comparing the price per kilogram, litre or 100g gives a much clearer picture of which product offers the best value.
“Promotions can look brilliant at first glance, but the unit price tells you whether you’re actually saving money. It’s one of the quickest ways to reduce your grocery bill without changing a single product you buy.”
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3. Shopping while hungry
Going to the supermarket on an empty stomach often leads to extra snacks and impulse purchases ending up in the trolley.
“It might only be one or two extra treats, but if you’re spending an extra R40 every week, that’s more than R2,000 over a year. Those little purchases add up much faster than people realise.”
4. Forgetting what’s already at home
Many households already have enough ingredients for one or two meals sitting in the cupboard or freezer.
“I always recommend taking two minutes to check your fridge, freezer and pantry before you leave the house. Buying food you’ve already got is one of the easiest ways to waste money.”
5. Always shopping at the same supermarket
Sticking to the same supermarket out of habit could mean missing out on better prices elsewhere.
“You don’t have to visit multiple stores every week, but it pays to know where your regular essentials are cheapest. Saving just R50 to R100 on your weekly shop could leave you with an extra R2,600 to R5,200 over the course of a year.
“The people who consistently spend less on groceries aren’t necessarily coupon experts. They’ve simply built good habits into their routine. A little planning before you shop can save you thousands of rand over a year, and you probably won’t even notice you’re doing it.”
Also see: WATCH: Man’s reaction to high grocery prices
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