If you get to uni and have yet to be unleashed by your parents on the weekly food shop, those big shiny buildings full of people with overloaded trolleys, screaming toddlers and harassed staff members can result in one of several things:
a) You think – “Yes! Freedom!” And promptly run off with the trolley to fill it with yummies.
b) You begin to quiver and shake and start to back out the door slowly before sprinting off into the sunset.
c) You stand, blocking the doorway, and blink whilst your brain flat-lines and your body shuts down.
Never fear however as help is at hand – Surviving the Shops 101 is WS’s new master class aimed to divulge a few handy-hints to help you survive in the big, bad world of shops.
Tip 001: The Best Laid Plans…
Our first tip is to plan your shopping trip – this will potentially minimise your bill and make certain that you’ve actually got food in the cupboards that’s good for more than decomposition!
Lists
Despite popular theories that the list pinned up to the refrigerator door is simply another form of modern interior design, believe it or not, mums’ use that list for a purpose – primarily so they know what to buy.
Before you go shopping, make a list of items you already have – this way you won’t double-up on products and you can shop for other ingredients that will go with what you’ve got in your cupboards. A stock-check every so often will also ensure that you don’t forget to use things up before they go off. Waste not, want not after all!
By making a list of the necessary (and I stress that word!) items you can ensure that you don’t make the classic mistake of returning home only to find the key ingredient of your dinner missing.
Try making a list of products that are vital to your survival – things like milk, bread, butter, beans, pasta, loo roll and shampoo will bulk up your cupboards for relatively little money. If you’ve still got money in your purse after the essentials, feel free to get yourself a treat – just make sure you do it that way round, chocolate may be yummy but eventually you’ll get sick of it.
Writing out your list will also mean that you can check it – if it’s looking a little long, maybe you can cut out some of the less necessary items.
Menus and Recipes
If you’re struggling to find ideas for your ‘essential shopping’, try making a list of lunches and dinners you want to cook, then write down the ingredients – you’ll probably find that several recipes double up on things, so buy those in bulk as it’s often cheaper.
Try searching online for free downloads of meal planners – they’ll give you a helping hand in setting out your menu and make it easier to plan meals that use the ingredients you already have.
By shopping to a weekly menu of dinners you can avoid buying items that will never make a meal – that German sausage might have looked nice when you saw it, but did it really go with that chicken and pasta bake?
Be firm with yourself…
Lists are all well and good, however just writing one doesn’t instantly cut your shopping bill down – you actually have to stick to it.
If you’re one of those people who come under the category of ‘impulse-buyers’ (meaning you use the see-it-grab-it tactic when faced with temptation), trying asking yourself the question ‘do I really need it?’ before placing the item in your trolley. Chances are you can manage without whatever it is.
Impulse shopping can feel good for a little while, but once you see the receipt you’ll most likely wish you’d never bought it.
Be strong, if you know you don’t need it, don’t give into temptation – this will ensure that your wallet is kept happy, plus – you’ll feel really good knowing that you resisted !
All in all…
So let’s recap…
1) Try making a shopping list of the items you can’t live with out to minimise your spending (but be sensible, did you really need that new CD player from Tesco? – Actual purchase by one of my housemates, she only went out for pasta…).
2) Having an idea of what you want to cook for the week will make sure that you buy the ingredients you need rather than just a random collection.
3) Ask yourself whether you really need something before you buy it. If you answer yes, bung it in, if you hesitate – it probably means you can wait a little while before you treat yourself with it.
Going into a supermarket with a firm idea of what you are going to buy will help you to resist temptation and make certain that you’re actually buying products that are useful.
It will also lessen the possibility that you’ll be embarrassed when you get to the till to find that you can’t afford to pay!