Handy hacks

With food prices soaring, we’re all trying to find ways to save pennies and cut down on the cost of the weekly shop. Follow these top tips from Pricerunner’s consumer expert, Evelina Galli, to slash your supermarket spend!

1. Batch cook with your slow cooker

A slow cooker is a hero in the kitchen – not only does it make cooking easier, it actually saves energy and is cheaper to run than an oven.

You can more or less throw in anything you’ve got in your fridge and easily create a nice stew, warming soup or chilis and curries.

2. Shop smarter and save

By changing the way you shop, you can save money.

As a rule it is better to buy loose products as opposed to pre-packaged food, but always make sure to compare the cost per weight for an accurate understanding of the price. Don’t buy shredded cheese, salad or anything pre-chopped.

Do your research and buy food that’s in season – this is not only cheaper but also more environmentally friendly. Opt for frozen veggies, fruit and protein over fresh – most veggies and fruit are flash frozen upon harvest so do actually maintain their nutrition.

3. Keep it organised

By organising and keeping track of the things in your fridge, freezer and cupboards, you will reduce the risk of things expiring.

If you are a sauce or jam fanatic then a spinning tray is a great way to keep track of all those small jars that usually end up being pushed to the back of the fridge.

Air tight containers are also great for flours, sugar and rice.

4. Go reusable

Replace cling film with washable ziplock bags or beeswax food wraps – they’re eco-friendly and long lasting. You can also swap out your baking sheets for reusable silicone mats.

5. Box your lunch and save more

Plan the food you will eat during the week and buy it all in one shop, to avoid costly sporadic shopping.

By planning and buying everything you need in advance and batch cooking you will be able to make lunch and dinner boxes – this will help save time and money.

Make sure to plan some diversity in your meals as well as some snacks, so you don’t get bored after two days.

6. Become your own barista

Coffee is one of the most overpriced products that you can buy from a café, yet it is the one thing that many of us are unwilling to give up on – and you don’t have to! There are some excellent coffee machines that will help you create coffee shop standard drinks for a fraction of cost.

Get a good thermal mug that will keep your coffee warm even on a long commute to work.