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8 hacks to save money on groceries as a student
Groceries can take up a big chunk of your monthly budget, especially if you often buy takeaway, ready-made meals, or forget about food and it ends up going to waste. With a few smart habits, you can save money while eating healthy, tasty meals. Here are 8 hacks to help you stretch your budget a bit further, so you can spend your money on other things, or even save some!
1. Plan your meals
Meal planning takes a bit of effort, but it always pays off. Plan your meals around weekly discounts and reduce your shopping trips to once or twice a week. This helps avoid impulse buys and wastes less money.
2. Cook in bulk
Cooking for one is almost always more expensive per portion than cooking for two. However, cooking for two takes around the same time. If you cook an extra portion, you can store it for tomorrow and save both time and money. Easy bulk meals include pasta, curries, stir-fries, and soup.
3. Cook with friends
Don’t feel like eating the same thing twice but still want to save? Invite a friend or neighbor to cook together and split the costs. And what’s more fun than having dinner together anyway?
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4. Shop store brands
Instead of opting for A-brand, go for supermarket labels instead. The price per kilo/liter is usually shown on the shelf tag, next to the actual price, and shows you just how much cheaper this actually is. The best part? These brands taste just as good!
5. Don’t let food go to waste
Food waste = money waste. Letting food go to waste is one of the biggest reasons why you're spending more on food than you should. Freeze bread, veggies, and leftovers before they go bad, or buy frozen products to begin with. This way, you'll always have a backup meal ready.
6. Compare prices
Check the weekly brochure or apps of your favorite grocery shops and compare prices. Even small differences in staples like rice, pasta, or milk can add up over time. And pre-cut vegetables? They're way more expensive than whole ones.
Remember: 20 cents doesn't sound like much, but if you overspend that on 20 items per week, that's more than € 200 a year!
7. Cook seasonal & local
Local fruits and vegetables, especially those in season, are often a lot cheaper. And if you want to go even cheaper, visit a local farmers market to find unbeatable prices. With a bit of luck, farmers will sell their leftovers at a lower price at the end of the day. That's how you can find the best bargains!
8. Don’t shop hungry
We'll round up this list with a simple tip: don't shop on an empty stomach. Passing the chocolate aisle when hungry? We guarantee that you'll end up with a chocolate bar in your cart. No judgement – we do this too. ;)
Here's a trick: when you’re hungry, write a grocery list (you'll feel inspired). Then eat something, after which you're ready to go grocery shopping. Now, just stick to your list!
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