As South Africans welcome the warmth of spring and local grocery aisles fill with fresh, seasonal produce, household budgets across Mzansi remain under persistent pressure.
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However, according to consumer expert Renier Botha, director of short-term loan provider Finance27, the shift in seasons offers the perfect moment for shoppers to reset their supermarket routines and significantly trim their grocery bills without sacrificing quality or changing what is on their plates.
To help households navigate rising food costs, Botha highlights five subtle supermarket habits that could be inflating your weekly shop, along with a seasonal tip to maximise savings this spring.
1. Shopping without a list
Heading down the supermarket aisles without a structured plan makes it far easier to fall for impulse purchases or forget essential ingredients, leading to costly second trips.
“Most impulse spending starts before you’ve even picked up a trolley,” Botha explains. “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
Bulk packaging and yellow promotional tags can be deceiving. Comparing the price per kilogram, litre, or 100 grams listed on the shelf tag reveals whether a deal actually delivers genuine value.
“Promotions can look brilliant at first glance, but the unit price tells you whether you’re actually saving money,” he notes. “It’s one of the quickest ways to reduce your grocery bill without changing a single product you buy.”
3. Shopping while hungry
Navigating the supermarket on an empty stomach almost guarantees that unnecessary snacks and quick treats will find their way into your 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,” says Botha. “Those little purchases add up much faster than people realise.”
4. Forgetting what is already at home
Many families unwittingly duplicate purchases simply because they have not checked the back of their cupboards or freezers before heading out.
“I always recommend taking two minutes to check your fridge, freezer and pantry before you leave the house,” he advises. “Buying food you’ve already got is one of the easiest ways to waste money—and it’s worth doing a proper pantry check as the seasons change, when a lot of people are also doing a spring clean.”
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5. Always shopping at the same supermarket
Sticking exclusively to one store out of convenience means missing out on potential savings on everyday household staples available elsewhere.
“You don’t have to visit multiple stores every week, but it pays to know where your regular essentials are cheapest,” Botha says. “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 bonus tip: Shop with the season
Beyond breaking costly habits, taking advantage of seasonal produce shifts provides an immediate financial win. As winter citrus moves out, early stone fruits, asparagus, and fresh spring greens arrive on shelves at far lower price points.
“Shoppers often stick to the same basket of fruit and veg all year round, but prices shift a lot with the seasons,” Botha adds. “Building a few seasonal swaps into your trolley each spring is a simple way to eat well and spend less, without it feeling like a sacrifice.”
By building simple, deliberate habits into your weekly routine, keeping a handle on food costs becomes effortless.
“The people who consistently spend less on groceries aren’t necessarily coupon experts—they’ve simply built good habits into their routine,” concludes Botha. “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.”
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