Women often do most of the errands around the house. A 2021 CivicScience survey found that 70% of women do all or most of the household/children's shopping for their household. With that responsibility comes the pressure to maintain fiscal spending, which is becoming increasingly difficult due to inflation. In this Financially Savvy column, we speak to shopping and money-saving experts to get their top tips for managing household expenses as prices continue to rise.
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This is how you save on groceries
According to the latest CPI report, the cost of groceries has increased by almost 11% over the last 12 months. While it's difficult to keep grocery costs on budget, there are some smart shopping options that can help you save in this category.
Prepare more vegetarian dishes
"One of my favorite ways to save on groceries is to make adjustments to your eating habits," said Trae Bodge, smart shopping expert at TrueTrae.com . "While prices are high at grocery stores everywhere, some studies have found that meat and fish prices are higher than vegetable prices, so make allowances for your wallet and waistline for late-night vegetarians a few nights a week .
Use the right credit cards
Some credit cards offer higher cashback percentages and rewards than others for purchasing household items like groceries or shopping at certain major department stores.
"Make sure you're shopping with a credit card that offers points for your purchases," Bodge said.
Buy non-perishable groceries in bulk
You can often get better unit prices if you buy in bulk, but it's not always worth buying this way for perishables that may expire or spoil before you can use them all. However, it's often a good way to save on non-perishable items.
"I like to bulk buy items like pasta, canned food, frozen foods, nuts and some baking ingredients," Bodge said. "It's an easy way to save on these items, and then conveniently have them on hand when you need them."
More savings opportunities
TopCashback.com consumer expert Rebecca Gramuglia shared some additional tips for saving on groceries:
Sign up for loyalty programs to receive exclusive discounts.
Always shop with a list to avoid impulse buying.
Stock up on durable items when they're on sale.
This will save you on cleaning supplies, stationery and other household items
Not only are prices going up, but thanks to 'reduced inflation' some of your favorite products can now be smaller. Here's how you can save on non-food essentials for your home.
Buy in bulk
As with groceries, one of the best ways to save on cleaning supplies and paper goods is to buy in bulk.
"Buying cleaning supplies like sponges and powdered detergents in bulk is a great way to save money, but be careful when buying liquid cleaning supplies in bulk unless you plan on using them very frequently," said Bodge. "Liquid cleaners tend to lose their effectiveness over time."
Buy cleaning products without water
"Another way to save on cleaning products is to look for brands that make waterless cleaning products," Bodge said. "Water dramatically adds weight to a product, making shipping more expensive. Plus, buying waterless cleaners is better for the environment due to the weight and shipping cost. Grove Collaborative offers several options.
DIY cleaning products
You can avoid buying cleaning products if you devote yourself to DIY.
"You can easily make your own liquid cleaners using ingredients you already have on hand, like vinegar and lemon juice," Bodge said. "YouTube and TikTok have no shortage of recipes."
Find deals online
Go to deal pages or add a browser extension to find coupons and discounts for household purchases. This can be especially helpful if you have a favorite brand that you love to buy.
"Use a deals site like Slickdeals.net to check for available deals," Bodge said. "A quick search for Bounty paper towels, for example, turned up several listings. You can also install the Slickdeals browser extension, which will notify you of available savings as you browse online and run coupons for you at checkout, no research required.
Go for the generic version
Switching from branded to private label is an effective way to save money as these products tend to cost significantly less.
"In many cases private labels are just as good and sometimes even better! — as brands, so they're definitely worth checking out and at least trying," said Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst at DealNews.com . "Unit prices are often better for private label than their branded counterparts, which can mean you have to spend less to get more, and also buy certain items less often."
GOBankingRates aims to empower women to take control of their finances. According to the latest statistics, women own $72 billion in personal wealth, but fewer women than men consider themselves "good" or "excellent." Women invest less and are more likely to borrow, and overall women still receive less than men. Our Financial Smart Woman column will examine the causes of these injustices and offer solutions to change them. We believe financial equality starts with financial literacy, which is why we provide tools and guidance for women to take control of their money and help them live richer lives.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : How to control household spending in times of inflation
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