8 quick ways to cut your supermarket bill this week
If you get bill shock at the cash register every time you go grocery shopping, this is for you.
There are stacks of ways to save money on your shopping, so we’ve pulled together eight ideas that you can implement ASAP.
PLUS did you know that you can search for recipes on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge app that have been designated as ‘budget friendly’? Perfect for those of us wanting to save money.
All of these tips and ideas can be used while taking part in the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge so that you can lose weight and save money at the same time.
1. Make double
Make more than one family portion of a meal and freeze the second portion to use next week. That means next week’s grocery bill won’t include one night’s meal so you’re already ahead.
You can also cook something that gives you the chance to reuse it in a different way in the same week – for instance, you might roast a chicken one night and then have the leftover chicken in a laksa or soup a day or two later.
Try making the Chicken Laksa from the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge
2. Go vegetarian
If you are a meat loving family, opting for a vegetarian meal once or twice a week is a great money-saving strategy. If your family truly have an issue with it, why not make them a vegetarian option like this Broccoli, Spinach and Feta Frittata from the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge and top it with a sprinkling of cooked (budget friendly) bacon for flavor.
3. Choose the cheaper protein
Often we over-spend on meat, so it pays to shop around online to see where meat is on sale that week. Stock up on your favorite proteins when they are on sale (there’s often ground beef marked down for instance) which you can freeze.
You can also often substitute one protein for another in our 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge recipes. For instance, this Beef San Choy Bow would be just as good with ground pork instead of beef.
4. Cook your lunch at dinnertime
So that you don’t have to spend extra time and money on your lunches for the week, get into the habit of making enough dinner so that you can have leftovers for lunch.
This might be some leftover Lasagna that you can enjoy with a salad; some roasted meat that you could have with some rice and greens; or a stirfry that you can just heat and eat.
5. Find items from the supermarket’s own brand range
Certain groceries lend themselves to buying the supermarket’s own brand option. For instance, tinned tomatoes, legumes, rice, spices, sour cream, and wraps for your Mexican Lasagna – these are all as tasty as their branded counterparts (but often half the price).
You might find that your family has some preference for a specific brand of bread for instance, which you can factor into the budget as you’re saving money elsewhere.
6. Look for the odd shaped items on special
Some supermarkets have a cheaper price for fresh produce that is a bit of a funny shape or not a perfect color.
Grab these and use them as they’re just as good for you and often a lot cheaper. At fruit shops, they often have bags of cheaper produce for quick sale near the counter. Have a look and see if you can think of a meal that you could make with them (this is where the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge app comes in, as you can search by ingredient).
So even if your red peppers look a bit wonky, you can still pop them on your Chicken Satay Tacos for a budget-friendly dinner.
7. Find alternative ingredients
As part of the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge, we often suggest that you adapt recipes to suit your family’s tastes, but it can also work when a specific ingredient is more expensive than usual.
So if avocadoes are too expensive to use for your burger, leave them out or use a bit of mayo instead.
8. Make from scratch if you can
Instead of buying things like chicken stock, pre-chopped vegetables, store bought pizzas, ready made soups – get into the habit of doing it yourself. Every time you finish a roast chicken, pop the bones in the freezer to use for a healthy chicken stock (which can become the base for a delicious soup or risotto from the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge later).
If you’re going to the trouble of making your own 2 ingredient pizza dough from the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge, make more than you need so that you can store some bases in the freezer to use another time.
Are you ready to become a Healthy Mommy?
Our Challenge is designed by moms FOR MOMS – to help them reach their goal weight and tackle their health and fitness.
The Challenge is home to customizable meal plans, 24/7 social support and realistic exercises moms can do AT HOME.
To find out more on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge click here.
*Images and references to pounds lost are as supplied by the individual in the story. The Healthy Mommy assumes information and photographs supplied to be true in nature and is not responsible for any false misrepresentations or claims relating to their programs or products.