Whether you’re in first year and opted out of a meal plan or second year and have just started cooking for yourself, you can always benefit from saving more money! Since every swipe at the grocery store can add up over time, it’s well worth it to start good habits as soon as possible. Your wallet (and tummy) will thank you.
Tip 1: Don’t Skip the Flyer
Although you might already know what items you need to purchase, it’s still helpful to look at the flyer. A different kind of fruit might be in season or another brand of deli meat could be on sale. You can also learn if any of your go-to items like tomato sauce or canned soup are cheap enough to stock up on. In addition, grocery stores typically have blowout sales around the time of some popular events like the Super Bowl that are worth checking out.
Tip 2: Know Before You Go
If it’s your first time really shopping for yourself, you probably won’t know if something is overpriced. Grocery stores are really good at making their items look tempting and you might make an impulse purchase because it’s on sale. However, I’ve seen lots of items that are on sale but that seem to be “on sale” every week. Just because it looks like a discount, doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. This is why you should take note of the regular and sale prices for your most-bought groceries and after a few trips, you’lll realize when the price just isn’t right.
Tip 3: Ask About Student Discounts
You’re paying a lot of money to be called a student after secondary school so you should use that title to your advantage. Both Metro and Loblaws have a 10% discount for students on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Loblaws even sponsors a shuttle bus that runs on those days so you don’t have to walk. If you don’t shop at either of those stores, ask your grocery store if they have any similar deals; you’ll definitely save a few dollars if they do.
Tip 4: Prep Food Beforehand
Grocery stores are likely to reward those that buy larger portions of things. Through 2 for 1 deals and family-sized packages, you can end up with more food than you can eat. This becomes a waste of money when the food spoils and you have to throw it out, which is why I started prepping my food before cooking. This works amazingly for meats and veggies. To do this, set aside some time after you get back from the store to cut up and portion out the food in little Ziploc baggies or containers. Then take whatever you’re not cooking immediately and put it into the freezer. When you’re ready to hop into the kitchen, you won’t have to worry about preparing everything because some of the work is already done. Just remember to move your items into the fridge a few hours in advance to thaw out for easy cooking.
Tip 5: Plan Same Meals
Planning meals is so important when you’re looking to save money. If you buy a bunch of ingredients that you can’t cook together, you’re not going to have a good time trying to make it work. This is why you should learn recipes that use the same ingredients in different ways. For example, eggs are so versatile; they can be hard-boiled for a salad, scrambled for breakfast, and used in a fried rice or a spaghetti carbonara. The possibilities are endless when you use simple ingredients in a variety of ways.
BONUS TIP: Cook Multiple Portions
Hands up if you hate washing dishes! If you don’t have a dishwasher, then you’re most likely going to spend more time in the sink than actually cooking. Don’t cook just one individual portion, cook at least two or even three portions at a time. If your pots and pans are going to be dirty, you might as well get a few meals out of them. You can also zap leftovers in the microwave easily or bring them to work or school, which is definitely a timesaver and way healthier and cheaper than eating out.
Source: Cover, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
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