We all know that in Ramzan our grocery budget exceed due to increase in prices and change in menu. Staying within the budget and indulging in Ramzan feasts is a big challenge. Here is an easy guide for you when you plan your next grocery trip.
A reverse grocery list is a very handy tool to cut down your food bill and prevent food waste as well
As prices rise, we all need to save. And, to be honest, we do have plenty of other calls on our money. So, while eating healthily and well is top priority for us, it’s also important to be sure that we’re not inadvertently throwing money away. You might say, “Hey, I don’t do that! I’m careful…” but almost without doubt you’ve probably found food products that have expired, or actually gone way past their ‘Best by’ date and had to be thrown out. How about those vegetables in the refrigerator that spoiled before you got to them? The main reason we waste food – and therefore money – in this fashion is because we often don’t know, or track, what we have in our fridge and in our kitchen cabinets.
One way to avoid this situation is to make a reverse grocery list. This is a great shopping hack and will keep you from making repeat purchases of items you already have and need to use up. A reverse grocery list is basically an inventory of what you have in your kitchen.
How Do You Make A Reverse Grocery List?
How you make your list depends on what you’re comfortable with. You can keep a running handwritten list, use a spreadsheet such as Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, or even the checkboxed feature in Google Keep.
Put down a list of all the items you use in the kitchen such as grains, lentils, spices, condiments, dry goods, veggies and fruits. Go into your refrigerator and look at what you already have there. Note those items down as well. This process might take a while when you begin, but you’ll soon get used to it, and find it easier to maintain when you realise how much money it saves you.
Next, might we suggest that you look at this list of yours and draw up a rough meal plan? This will help you work out what needs to be used up quickly before it goes bad, which again saves you money and prevents food waste.
Don’t forget to keep the items that need to be consumed soonest where you can see them. Place a list on the outside of your fridge flagging off items within that must be used quickly.
Use the same strategy for leftovers and any takeaway items that usually lurk at the back of the fridge and then get thrown away.
Coming back to that reverse grocery list… Once you have an inventory in place, you will know what you actually need to buy. Your meal plan will help you tremendously at this point, because you can now buy only what is needed to make specific dishes.
If you inadvertently buy a duplicate of something you have in your pantry, put the older product in front to use up first.
