Simple Ways to Save Money on Groceries

Grocery shopping can be pricey, especially with food costs going up. But with a little planning and a few smart habits, you can stretch your budget and still get what you need. Here are some helpful tips to make your money go further when shopping for groceries in South Africa.

🛒 Use Store Rewards and Loyalty Cards

Many supermarkets offer free loyalty cards that give you instant savings or points:

• Shoprite and Checkers offer the Xtra Savings Card for in-store discounts.
• Pick n Pay has the Smart Shopper Card, which gives you points to use later.
• Makro offers the mCard, which gives cashback on certain items.
• If you bank with FNB or use Discovery Vitality, you may get extra discounts at certain stores.

📦 Buy in Bulk When Possible

Buying bigger packs of everyday items can help you save over time. Stores like Makro, Game, and Shoprite Hyper often have great bulk deals. Look for:

• Rice, mielie meal, pasta, sugar, and flour
• Cleaning products and toiletries
• Tinned food and other long-lasting products

If you have space at home, it helps to stock up on basics.

🥬 Shop Smart for Fresh Produce

Fresh fruit and vegetables are an important part of any diet, and there are ways to get them at better prices:

• Visit Food Lover’s Market or local street stalls for affordable produce.
• Check which fruits and veggies are in season at the moment. This will automatically make them cheaper than other options.
• Try shopping in the late afternoon at Pick n Pay or Checkers. You might find discounted items that need to be used soon.
• If you buy a large quantity, freeze what you can to avoid waste.

🍲 Plan Your Meals and Cook in Batches

Meal planning helps you save time and money. Use ingredients that work across different meals so you don’t end up wasting food. Some affordable and filling ingredients include beans, lentils, cabbage, and potatoes.

Cooking in bigger portions means you can freeze the extra food for another day.

For some cool recipe ideas, check out this post on our blog: The 5 Best Winter Recipes to Make Right Now!

📆 Shop Less Often

Try doing one big grocery shop per week or even once a month. This helps you avoid buying extra items on impulse and makes it easier to stick to your budget.

Write a shopping list before you go and try to stick to it.

🧂Choose House Brands

Store-brand items are often cheaper and still good quality. Look for:

• Ritebrand at Shoprite
• No Name at Pick n Pay
• Housebrand at Checkers

These brands can help lower your total bill.

🔖 Look Out for Weekly Specials

Supermarkets often run weekly deals that are worth checking out. For example:

• 10-Buck Tuesdays at Food Lover’s Market
• Mid-month madness or weekend saver deals
• Combo specials on items like meat and vegetables

Keep an eye on flyers, apps, or newsletters to catch these deals.

✅ Extra Tips to Save Even More

• Bring your own shopping bags to avoid extra charges
• Eat before you shop to avoid impulse buying
• Freeze leftovers or overripe fruit for smoothies or soup
• Check expiry dates to reduce food waste

With a few small changes and good planning, it becomes much easier to manage your grocery spending. Try out these tips on your next shop and see how much you can save!