Tips on how to save money during inflation by Bianca Monley, Founder of Lifely
The cost of living has been concerning for many people with new rate rises being announced every few weeks and that resulting in the price of groceries, clothing and everything else going up.
However there are some things you can do to reduce your costs if you are savvy with your shopping. Here are some of my top tips to help you ease the stress on your bank balance.
Get organised and plan Ahead
One of the best ways to save on your groceries is to write a menu and plan exactly what you will be eating ahead of time. By doing this you can save yourself from over ordering and over shopping. Failure to plan often means that you may over purchase perishables that will ultimately go off and be thrown out, wasting both money and precious food that could have gone to someone else.
Plan to use perishable ingredients across more than one meal
If you don’t need to use the full amount of an ingredient for the meal that it was intended for, try to plan a few other meals that week that incorporate the same ingredients so it doesn’t go off and get thrown out. This is one major way that people waste money and food. If you have left overs, make a plan to use them wisely as every time you will likely save a few dollars.
If you don’t like cooking, consider a meal delivery service
If you are someone who has good intentions to cook but then after a long day at work you turn to Uber Eats or Deliveroo instead, a meal delivery service may be the best option for you. That way you will always have food at home and all you need to do is heat it up which can save you hundreds of dollars each week, especially if you have a bad habit for food delivery services.
With my new meal delivery service Lifely, not only is your food pre-packed into the exact portions that you need which means that there is no wastage, but each meal will also cost between $8-$12 per head and all products are sustainably sources from local farmers which keeps costs down. The dollars you might spend on 8 ingredients for one meal are saved, you still get full flavouring in every meal and there is no wastage if you only order what you eat.
Go meat-free a few days a week
Add a few vegetarian dishes to your menu to substitute the costs of meat. Meat-eaters might be hesitant – we get it!- but there really are some beautiful vegetarian meal options and it will give your body a chance to try new ingredients and benefit from a wider variety of nutrients.
Keep your kitchen organised.
Before you shop, check what you have in the fridge and pantry and try to base your meals for the week on what you have available rather than ordering new things every week. By having your kitchen organised it will be easier to spot what you have available which will make it easier to plan.
Shop local
Shopping locally and for fresh food that is in season will often save you money because imported fresh food often comes with a higher price due to the cost of transporting it. Additionally the quality of the food is often much better.
When fresh food gets transported, it often gets frozen while they are moving it which means it loses its quality, taste and nutrient value compared to fresh vegetables, meat and other ingredients which are taken straight from the farms to the kitchen.
Don’t go shopping when you’re hungry.
Have you ever noticed you buy more unnecessary, non-nutritious items when you are hungry? The best way to stop that from happening is to not go into a grocery store while hungry. Try to go after breakfast or lunch, shop online or opt for ready made meals to save you from purchasing the extra items that you don’t need.
About Bianca Monley
Bianca Monley (who also founded Eat Fit Food when she was 22 years old), is introducing her latest venture – Lifely to Australian homes. A premium chef prepared meals business, Lifely is the evolution of the mother of three’s passion for regenerative farming processes and educating children on where their food comes from.
Lifely sources the majority of fresh produce from its own farms on the outskirts of Sydney and the Southern Highlands. The kitchen team has also partnered with local suppliers who share their dedication to respecting the environment and the humane treatment of animals.
If you want more tips on how to save money, check out:
