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Do you ever count the expenses on food and groceries? It may be a small part, but an essential one for survival. You cannot totally skip having basic meals, but you can definitely refine your choices. It will help you save money on food expenses and switch to a healthy diet.
For example, investing more in improving your cooking skills can save about 80% on food costs. It reduces the habit of depending on outside food. Moreover, it helps you build your interest and experiment and wow your friends with a new dish every time. You can also try other ways to save money on food.
How much does one spend on food every month in Ireland?
According to facts, “ one spends €160-€350 per month on just food and groceries in Ireland.” The costs may vary according to food preference, brand preference, number of people. A single person generally spends €250/month on food expenses. However, if one relies on food deliveries and cooking both, the expenses reach €350/month.
Sometimes, you don’t have cash to pay the vendor. You forgot to check your account before ordering before the payday. Don’t worry, you don’t need to lose your order. Get an instant cash loan online without credit check formalities. It helps you fund the food costs immediately without affecting your credit score. However, you must repay the dues when the salary hits your bank account. This personal loan proves helpful in extreme cashlessness and urgency.
What is a good budget for food per month for a single person?
A good budget for food for a single person per month is €160-€280 per month in Ireland. Alternatively, the food budget for a family ranges €700 €1000 per month. It is according to the average amount one spends monthly.
The expenses may vary according to food preferences, expensive items, and dietary preferences.
So, you can clearly see that the cost of living in Ireland is significantly high. It could be challenging for the one living on a basic income and multiple expenses. Therefore, understanding the ways to save money on food costs proves helpful. Read ahead to know that.
5 Strategies to Save money on food costs
With energy and food bills rising, factoring in the cost-cutting is challenging. You cannot skip critical nutrients nor spend excessively on food. However, you can plan the budget, explore economic food options and leverage discounts to save money. Here are some tips which may help you optimise the food bills:
Plan a food budget
You may not prioritise budgeting for food. However, these small expenses may turn out to be big when you calculate per monthly costs. Determine how much you spend every month on just food. Calculate every expense ( groceries, online food orders, etc).
It will give you an approximate range that clearly specifies your food-related expenses. Check it and try to reduce or eliminate the unnecessary expenses on eating. Most individuals spend more on food out of habit and laziness. You must factor in the reasons leading to excessive expenses. Here is what to do while creating a food budget:
- Check the availability and prepare a list of ingredients required
- Factor in the discounts going on in supermarkets
- Determine the items to buy in bulk with a good expiry date
- Calculate the approximate expenses and don’t exceed the limit
Buy less but of good quality
It is hard to choose the best amid a gamut of varieties available to pick from. Determine the food choices based on the list you create. Check the best quality and buy one instead of concentrating on the quantity.
It is because the former aspect helps you keep the health requirements and wellness in focus. Buying less is also beneficial as you pay less for groceries then. If confused, you can ask the supermarket vendor and explore reviews when buying groceries online. Shopping this way grants you satisfaction with the quality things.
Students struggle the most with keeping the food costs low. Here is how they can save money on one.
Use leftovers well
Most individuals dispose of the leftover food after dinner. However, this turns out to be utter food and money wastage. It is because some foods have a long shelf life. They don’t turn stale the very moment. You can easily consume it the other day by innovating it.
Yes, you can create or prepare a new dish with the leftover food. It just requires you to prepare the night before. You can easily turn that into a 5-minute breakfast recipe. Here is how you can use leftovers the right way:
- You can freeze portions of rice, soup, or stews to extend the shelf life.
- Use grains, beans and veggies for the next day’s lunch
- Tuck the leftover aspects into a creamy roll
- Create a French toast out of stale bread
- Label foods while freezing them
- If you cannot use a leftover, turn it into compost. It may improve your plant’s health and life processes.
Look for yellow and orange stickers
You may find a supermarket with yellow and orange-stickered food sections. If you are lucky enough to spot one, you are in for MEGA savings. Most supermarkets put the items approaching the end of their shelf life under yellow and orange stickers.
Thus, you may spot such items at unbelievably low rates. However, always check the food quality before buying. Check whether it still looks somewhat fresh and lacks any odour. Buy only if it seems fresh and without any probable fungi.
Compare online and offline costs
If you prefer buying food online, compare the prices. You may want to do so out of convenience. However, it may not turn out to be an affordable option every time. Therefore, analyse both the online and the in-store marketplace and compare prices. Check for the extras or the benefits that you may get by buying from a specific platform. It will help you choose the right one depending on your needs and money-saving approach.
Bottom line
These are some of the best ways to save money on food items. Identify the requirements and prepare a grocery list before shopping. Always carry only the cash that you need to buy food. It prevents you from using credit cards and paying unnecessarily more. Also, prefer generic brands over the popular ones. Check the ingredients and grab it if it is almost the same. It may also help you save money on food.
