It may happen that groceries cost way more in the country you moved to. After comparing the prices of Indian and German groceries, we were convinced of this. So, we collected some grocery shopping tips for expats that really work.
How to save money on groceries: The basics
Just like learning a language starts with the alphabet, understanding how to save money on groceries begins with the basic rules. Check these tips for grocery shopping:
Don’t shop hungry
Because if you do, you won’t stop yourself from adding more and more products to the shopping cart. Then, while unpacking you’ll likely wonder why on Earth you decided to buy chips that you never eat. So, the list of tips for grocery shopping starts with “Eat before you goю”
Decide what to buy in advance
Oh, this feeling of frustration when you go to buy bread and return with everything but bread. Going with the flow works in certain situations, but not when you’re wondering how to save on groceries. Explore your kitchen—find some forgotten products, calculate for how long your food supplies will last. Then, create a list on paper or your phone and follow it strictly.
Calculate your household budget
If you’re not a big fan of meal planning, try setting up budget limits. For example, you have 50 EUR per week as your food costs. Then, calculate expenses on the essential products and what’s left can be spent on treats.
Grocery shopping tips: round the prices. If your potatoes are 1,76 EUR, count it as 2 EUR in the budget.
Explore: Boost your budget planning with these AI prompts.
Store ingredients for lazy meals
Deliveries save us when we are busy with work or during no-energy days. But fees and markup bites. So, here’s our money-saving tip for grocery shopping—prepare for such days in advance. It’ll take you no time to boil the pasta, cut tomatoes and cheese and add sauce. Always keep some easy-to-cook ingredients in the house and save money.
Cook and freeze
One more money-saving tip for grocery shopping that goes especially well for people living alone. To avoid wasting your meat, fish and vegetables, prepare meals once and put them in the refrigerator. Then, you'll always have the food ready, and the ingredients will stay edible longer. How to save money on groceries—use them to the max.
Don’t let them scam you
Check the final prices at the cashier. It often happens that they’re higher than what you saw while shopping, especially during sales. You can even take pictures of the hugest discounts and present them at the register right away. Use this strategy and thank us for the tips for efficient grocery shopping later.
Saving-money grocery shopping tips: don’t panic or be rude if a product is mispriced. Calmly let the workers know and see what their reaction will be.
Take advantage of bulks
We’re not saying to buy everything in big sizes (because then it would be not a grocery shopping tip, but a waste-the-planet one). However, buying non-perishable goods in bulk will save you time and energy. Some people even have special days when they shop big for a month or two. It can work as one of the money-saving tips for grocery shopping.
Buy reusable bags for veggies and fruits
In many shops plastic bags cost several cents. Several cents here, several cents there and you’ve already run out of cash. On the other hand, reusables will quickly pay off and you won’t contribute to humanity drowning in plastic in the nearest future. Tips for efficient grocery shopping: take these bags with you all the time. They won’t use much space, yet you’ll always be ready for getting that fresh banana.
Go for the seasonal shopping
Firstly, you’ll enjoy the taste of spring, summer, autumn and winter (the tastiest grocery shopping tip). Secondly, natural strawberries picked up by a local farmer in June will cost less than the ones grown in the winter.
Replace drinks with water
Get a filter and stay hydrated. Sodas and juices are unhealthy anyway, so cutting them off is not a huge loss. And imagine how much spare money you’ll have if you follow this grocery shopping tip!
That’s it for the basics. Even if you follow only these money-saving tips for grocery shopping, your budget will feel much better. Now, let’s have a look at the best apps to save on groceries.
Read more: Strategies for creating an emergency fund for expats in Europe.
The best apps to save money on groceries
Some apps may become powerful tools that guide us on how to save on groceries.
Too good to go
One of the best apps to save money on groceries. Works in the UK, several European countries, Australia, Canada, and the US. What it does is offer unsold food to customers at reduced prices. You can find some gems there.
The website is here.
Phenix
Also stands among the best apps to save on groceries. The idea is similar to 'Too good to go', as you can purchase unsold goods cheaper. You save both money and nature, which sounds like a great deal.
The website is here.
Local stores apps
Download the apps of the shops you often visit. Lidl, Spar, and Aldi—all have apps with coupons, cashback and the best loyalty programs for groceries. You’ll know how to save money on groceries once you see a 20% discount on fish in Lidl today!
Lastly, we’ll cover some pro-methods in our guide to grocery shopping on a budget.
May be interesting: Mobile apps that make international transfers easier.
How to save money on groceries: Methods
4x2 method
When you shop, buy a certain amount of the core foods first:
- Two fruits
- Two veggies
- Two fats
- Two proteins
Concentrate on them and don’t go to the snack section.
Or use another 4x2—meal planning version. Plan four meals and shop twice a week. This approach saves money, time, and energy and prevents the food from spoiling.
3-3-2-2-1 method
Similar to the 4x2 but with a different ratio. Buy three vegetables, three protein sources, two grains, two fruits, and one dip. Thus, you’ll always have something to eat during the week and won’t overspend on unnecessary ingredients. That’s what we call smart shopping for food.
6-to-1 method
These creators of the tips for efficient grocery shopping really love numbers, don’t they. Here, you buy six veggies, five fruits, four proteins, three starches, two sauces or spreads, and one fun thing for yourself. All these approaches’ logic is similar, choose the one that works best for you.
Now, you know how to save on groceries without sacrificing your eating habits or comfort. Simply adjust the way you shop, use tricks and see how you spend less and less.
More ways to save for expats
Since we’re done with our guide to grocery shopping on a budget, let us share more insights into expats’ financial stability.
Utility bills
Sometimes, the price of electricity and water is just crazy in Europe. You can cut the costs by finding a flatmate and sharing the bill, buying adhesive weatherstripping, thermal curtains, and plug-in smart thermostats, and being water-wise. We’ve collected more tips for saving on utility bills for you in this article.
Ask the locals
They know better where the cheapest and coolest bars and cafes are located. Maybe they’ll even share some saving-money grocery shopping tips if you ask. Plus, the locals will introduce you to the rules about waste recycling, parking and so on, so you don’t have to pay fines accidentally.
Send money with Profee
Expats often transfer funds back home to invest, open a business, or simply support their loved ones. However, they often lose out on unfavourable exchange rates and hidden fees. To avoid overpaying, use Profee. This service offers market-beating rates, low fees, a convenient process, and great speed. In other words, you'll spend money in minutes from home without being robbed.
Conclusion
In this article, we covered how to save money on groceries. Plan in advance, eat before you go, be strategic, use grocery shopping methods and eat well! At first, you may be confused with the new shops and rules after moving abroad, but you’ll quickly adapt. To make this process even smoother, use tips on how to save money on groceries presented in this article. And to send funds back home smartly, use Profee—an online remittance service.
