5 Tips to Help Plan your Weekly Food Shop

Shopping can be either a joy or a chore. But don’t worry, we’re here to make things a bit easier. Over the next three blogs, we are sharing our top tips to help you get the best value out of your shopping and maybe save a few euro on your shopping bill.

We’ll be looking at 3 specific areas; food planning, financial planning and things to remember when at the supermarket. Up first, food planning and 5 tips to remember when creating a shopping list.

1. Know your budget and how much you have available to spend.
   Food shopping can be one of the biggest household expenses. Knowing how much you can spend will help you feel more in control of your money. If you spend around the same every week, use this as a starting point and see if you can make savings. A well-thought-out meal plan means you will stick with what’s on your shopping list, and ensure you get a balanced diet. If there are leftovers, you can have them for lunch the next day or even freeze them.
2. Make a shopping list of everything you need, keeping in mind how much you can spend and the price of the food items.
   You can pull your list together from your meal plan in step 2. Be sure to check what you already have in your presses.
3. Keep your kitchen cupboards organised.
   It’s easier to see what you have and what’s needed. This will help you not to buy more of what you already have.
4. Clean out your kitchen presses, fridge and freezer at least once a month to use up any leftovers.
   Check ingredients are in date before use, try moving things closer to their expiration date to the front of your fridge or cupboard so you’ll be encouraged to use it first. Have some fun and turn it into a monthly routine – the Kitchen Cupboard Clear-out Challenge. What new and wonderful creations can you come up with? Perhaps a new family favourite? Be sure to share your creations on our social media channels using #MABSClearoutChallenge

Have you got a tip or shopping hack that you’d like to share? Perhaps you have a question that we haven’t covered here? We’d love to hear from you, so be sure to follow us on social media, share your ideas or send us your questions.

Increases in the cost of goods and services are having an impact on many people living in Ireland. This blog’s tips, tricks, and life hacks are suggestions to help you find better value and stretch your euro.

MABS advisers are here and ready to help you through the MABS 6-Step Money Advice Process. This process will help you maximise your income and tackle and prioritise debt and spending. Advisers can help you access social welfare entitlements and hardship funds to get you through.

You can contact your local office here, or call the MABS Helpline on 0818 07 2000, Monday to Friday, from 9am to 8pm, WhatsApp 086 035 3141.

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