Do you always run out of food before the month ends? It’s frustrating, isn’t it? You start with a full kitchen, but before you know it, you’re staring at an empty fridge, wondering how it all disappeared.
The good news is that this doesn’t have to keep happening. The problem is often not how much you buy but how you shop. But don’t worry! With this blog post, you can stay stocked up, save money, shop smart, and avoid mid-month grocery panic. These smart shopping tips include:
1. Understand Your Grocery Needs (Not Your Neighbor’s Own!)
The first step to shop smart so you don’t run out of food before the month ends is understanding your grocery needs! Before heading out to buy anything, ask yourself the following questions:
- What do I actually eat every week?
- How often do I cook?
- How many people do I usually cook for?
When you clearly understand your shopping needs, it prevents you from committing suicidal financial mistakes, like buying excessively as if you’re feeding a family of five when it’s just you.
Planning your meals ahead is another game-changing tip to tailor your grocery shopping to your needs.
Sisi Yemmie, a top Nigerian food blogger, agrees. She says, “The best way to avoid buying unnecessary things at the market is to plan your meals ahead. When you know what you’re cooking for the week, you only buy what you need.”
So, note down the types of meals you mostly eat or simply use our meal plan idea:
- For Breakfast, eat: Bread & eggs, or Oats, or Akamu.
- For Lunch, eat: Rice & stew or Yam & egg sauce.
- For Dinner, eat: Swallow & soup, or Beans, or Spaghetti.
By planning out your daily meals, you will be able to shop smart because you will see exactly what to buy and stop impulsively buying those extra cornflakes you never eat or stocking up on spaghetti when you still have three packs at home!
2. Budget Like a Lagos Pro (Before Prices Shock You!)
To stay stocked throughout the month, you need to budget like Dr. Chinasa Amadi, a Lagos-based nutritionist. According to her, creating and sticking to a realistic budget is one of the best ways to shop smart.
Look, the economy is not very favorable, and the costs of food (even the tiny food items like salt) keep rising. For instance, you could buy plantain for ₦500 today, and by tomorrow, that same plantain might cost ₦1,200! Don’t bother arguing. The sellers will just look you straight in the eye and say, “Aunty, dollar don rise. Na the price be that.”
Here is how to shop smart, budget smartly and stay ahead of these price shocks:
- Set a Monthly or Weekly Food Budget: The first step to grocery budgeting is determining how much you’re comfortable spending. Start by asking yourself critical questions like what percentage of my income can I realistically allocate to groceries? etc. Once you decide on your shopping style (e.g., monthly or weekly), set a budget that makes sense for your household size.
- Know the Current Prices: Before going shopping, ask around or check online to have an idea of current food prices. That way, you won’t be shocked when a basket of tomatoes costs the same as a week’s fuel.
- Carry Exact Cash: If you are shopping at open markets like Mile 12 or Balogun Market, take only what you plan to spend. Because once they start saying, “Aunty, just add small money na!”, you will overspend!
- Use the “Envelope System”: Allocate money separately for staples, protein, and extras to avoid running out of cash before getting everything you need.
Our Pro Tip: If you’re going to a supermarket like Shoprite or Spar, use a smart grocery shopping app like SundryAgro to compare prices first.
3. Plan Your Shopping Like a Boss
Are you familiar with the frustration of visiting the market only to realize that you’ve exhausted your money on skincare products and unnecessary items and have no food to show for it? Here’s the hard truth: your money will plan itself if you don’t plan your shopping!
Shopping without a list is not a great way to shop smart. Instead, it is a recipe for impulse buying and overspending. To avoid this, make sure to create a grocery list before every trip to the market.
Here is how to create a master grocery list:
- Write Down Your Essentials: Start by listing everything you use regularly, such as rice, beans, oil, spices, vegetables, protein, and snacks.
- Categorize Your Items: Organize your list into sections for easy shopping. Use categories like staples, proteins, veggies & fruits, snacks & extras, and household items.
- Choose the Right Shopping Location: Decide where to shop based on what you need. For packaged goods, visit supermarkets. For fresh produce, head to open markets. Don’t feel like stepping out? Use SundryAgro to shop from the comfort of your home.
Pro Tip: Check your fridge and pantry before shopping to avoid buying duplicates. And most importantly, stick to your list—no matter how tempting those extras look!
4. Avoid Impulse Buying Like a Big Man!
Impulse buying is the number one enemy of a well-stocked home that doesn’t run out of food before the month ends. Have you ever gone shopping for only tomatoes and onions but somehow ended up buying ice cream, suya spice, and that fancy Greek yogurt you saw on Instagram?
We’ve all been there. Including Sisi Yemmie. Here’s her advice for smart shopping: “Eat before you go shopping. If you’re hungry, everything will suddenly look important even that overpriced ‘healthy’ biscuit you won’t eat.”
Here are other anti-impulse-buying hacks so that you can shop smart:
- Stick to your list like your life depends on it.
- Avoid supermarket aisles that tempt you.
- If you see something interesting, wait 10 minutes before buying. If you still want it, maybe it’s worth it. If not, you just saved money!
Final Thoughts
Running out of food before the month ends can become a thing of the past if you shop smart by understanding your grocery needs, setting a realistic budget and sticking to it, shopping with a list to stay on track, and avoiding impulse buying at all costs.
By following these simple, smart shopping steps, you’ll enjoy a well-stocked kitchen, save money, and reduce food waste.
So, what are you waiting for? Start planning your next grocery run today with SundryAgro today! And don’t forget to share this blog post with that friend who is always borrowing noodles before payday 😂.