Outsmarting Inflation - Tips and Tricks for Smarter Shopping
Miriam Weitz
November 17, 2024
Good preparation is everything
Good planning is key, even when it comes to your weekly shopping. Before you even dive into the hustle and bustle of shopping, you should create a meal plan or - if that's too much effort - at least roughly consider what you want to cook for the current week. A useful tool for this can be the various flyers from discount stores and supermarkets that regularly land in your mailbox. For example, if I see something on special offer that we like, I will probably incorporate it into the weekly meal plan. Good planning of shopping also has another advantage. Usually, it means that less food ends up in the bin. I recently read that a family of four can save around 1,000 euros a year with well-planned shopping.
Stock up on food supplies
Das Thema Lebensmittelvorrat behandeln wir ja immer wieder im Blog von Speisekammer.App. Ein gut geplanter Lebensmittelvorrat kann nicht nur für unerwartete Situationen eine sinnvolle Reserve sein, sondern dein Vorrat kann dir helfen, bares Geld zu sparen. Dafür musst du übrigens nicht gleich zum Prepper mutieren. Du kannst beispielsweise durch den strategischen Einkauf von länger haltbaren Lebensmitteln wie Nudeln in größeren Mengen von Mengenrabatten profitieren. Gleichzeitig gehst du damit Preissteigerungen erstmal aus dem Weg. Dein Vorrat muss auch nicht in den Tiefen irgendwelcher Schränke oder Kühltruhen verschwinden, um dann irgendwann als abgelaufene Lebensmittelleiche wieder aufzutauchen. Dafür gibt es zum einen die Speisekammer.App und zum anderen solltest du deinen Vorrat immer aktiv in dein „Tagesgeschäft“ mit einbeziehen. Neigt sich beispielsweise eine Packung Nudeln dem Ende zu, dann kaufst du einfach eine neue. Du solltest immer darauf achten, die Lebensmittel aus deinem Vorrat als Erstes zu verbrauchen, bei denen der Ablauf des MHD droht. Darüber informiert dich dann unsere App.
Essential: the shopping list and a full stomach
This has happened to me more than once, and you've probably experienced it too: I go shopping with a growling stomach and end up being the proud owner of many food items that I don't actually need. By now, I've gotten into the habit of eating at least a little something before each shopping trip if I'm not full. The second tool to prevent me from going completely overboard while shopping (since I am admittedly a sucker for packaging) is a shopping list.
By the way, supermarkets and discount stores also use every trick in the book to tempt you into buying more than you actually need, for example with shopping carts. So, whenever possible, grab a smaller shopping cart or go shopping with a basket. A larger shopping cart often leads to buying more because 'the cart still looks so empty'.
If you're looking for more affordable groceries, it's worth checking the lower shelves as well. Expensive brand products are often displayed at eye level so that you'll reach for them more quickly. By the way: more expensive doesn't necessarily mean better.
The thing about bulk packages
Even though we at Speisekammer.App are big fans of stockpiling and the like, unfortunately, bulk packages are not always the cheaper alternative. Comparing base prices, meaning the price per 100 grams of a product, can definitely be worthwhile.
Conscious shopping can also help you save money. My weakness is, of course, besides the infamous cooking cream, chocolate. In the past, I often bought sweets, especially chocolate, just to have them at home. Nowadays, I try to limit this and if I can't resist at all, I only take one bar and not an entire selection.
Seasonal fruits and vegetables and cooking for oneself
Regional and seasonal fruits and vegetables can often be cheaper - and you can also cook something delicious from them. Tropical fruits, on the other hand, usually travel a long distance and often continue to ripen during transport. This doesn't mean that you should forever give up on pineapples, bananas, and the like, but it's the quantity that counts.
Another tip for saving money is to cook or make things yourself. Pre-cut salad or ready-made meals are of course convenient - but in the long run, they are more expensive than meals you prepare yourself.
Don't forget the deposit bottles
Another saving tip: Return empty deposit bottles. Depending on how much is consumed at your home, this can add up to a nice little sum. We don't take our deposit bottles and cans with us on every shopping trip, but only every second one. By doing this, we have indeed been able to save on our shopping expenses.
The best kitchen tools to turn leftovers into delicious dishes 🍲✨
Hand on heart: Each of us has them – those little leftovers in the fridge or pantry that somehow never get properly planned for. But it's exactly these remnants that can often be turned into the most creative and delicious dishes! All you need are a few clever kitchen tools that make the work easier and get the best out of your ingredients.
Here are our favorites:
🥣 1. The powerful blender
Smoothies, soups, dips – a good blender transforms leftover vegetables, fruit, or even bread into a new dish in seconds. Perfect when bananas are a bit brown or the vegetables no longer look crisp.
🔪 2. A sharp chef's knife
Sounds simple, but a really good knife is worth its weight in gold. It allows you to cut vegetable and meat scraps precisely and quickly. Moreover, cooking is just more fun when you have the right tools.
🍳 3. A cast iron skillet
The all-rounder in the kitchen: fried potatoes made from leftover boiled potatoes, frittatas with yesterday's vegetables, or crispy bread cubes from stale bread – everything tastes twice as good in a cast-iron skillet.
🥕 4. Vegetable Peeler & Grater
A modest tool with a big impact: grate carrot leftovers, turn zucchini into noodles, or finely shred cheese remnants. With a peeler and grater, you bring variety to your leftover cooking.
🥡 5. Storage Containers & Screw-top Jars
Without proper storage, nothing works. You can keep leftovers fresh, transport them, or even prepare them for the next meal prepping. Tip: Jars are also great for serving small amounts in style.
🌱 6. Kitchen Scale
It's practical to know exactly how much is left over, especially with leftovers. This way, you can adjust recipes and avoid waste.
🥄 7. Personal Blender
The little brother of the blender – perfect for soups or sauces right in the pot. When only a small amount needs to be processed, it's super convenient.
How Smantry additionally helps you 📲
With the Smantry App you can not only keep an eye on your supplies, but soon you'll also be able to discover recipes for your leftovers. This way, you'll immediately know which tool to take out of the cupboard to save your food and create something new.
👉 Because good tools and the right app are the perfect combo to combat food waste.
New laws on food waste in Spain
Spain has recently passed a groundbreaking law to combat food waste. This law requires all actors in the food chain, from producers to retailers, to implement specific plans to prevent food loss.
Key provisions of the law:
Obligation to donate surplus food: Supermarkets with a floor space of more than 1,300 square meters are now required to form partnerships with non-profit organizations to donate surplus food that is still fit for consumption. These donations are exempt from value-added tax.
Offer of packaging for leftover food: Restaurants and bars are required to provide their guests with free, reusable or recyclable packaging so that they can take home uneaten food. The aim is to raise consumer awareness of food waste and encourage them to take leftovers with them.
Promotion of the sale of products with approaching expiration dates: Retailers should offer products that are nearing their expiration date or have aesthetic defects at reduced prices to encourage their sale and reduce waste.
Hierarchy of priorities for dealing with surplus food: The law establishes an order for handling surplus food. Priority is given to human consumption through donations. If this is not possible, the food should be used for the production of processed products. The last options include using it as animal feed or for energy generation.
Sanctions for violations:
Companies that violate the provisions of the law can expect fines ranging from 2,000 to 500,000 euros.
Critique and Outlook:
While the law is considered an important step in the fight against food waste in Europe, there is also criticism. Some voices argue that the strict framework of sanctions could disproportionately burden companies and that the law does not sufficiently address the role of consumers, who are responsible for a significant portion of food waste.
Nevertheless, the law is seen as a significant advancement in reducing food waste and promoting a more sustainable awareness in society.
Join in and reduce food waste! 🌱📲
Spain's new law demonstrates: Sustainability starts in the pantry! With the Speisekammer App you can keep track of your groceries, plan meals efficiently, and avoid unnecessary waste.
👉 Download the app now and join the movement for less waste and more conscious consumption! 💚 Try it now!
Sharing supplies together – why the Shared Economy is now moving into the kitchen
The concept of Shared Economy has long been more than a short-term trend – it's changing our everyday lives. More and more neighborhoods, shared apartments, and community projects are discovering how practical it is to organize groceries together and manage supplies transparently.
Why sharing supplies is becoming increasingly popular
- Save on costs: Bulk purchases become cheaper when more people participate.
- Save space: Not everyone needs their own package of rice or pasta.
- Better organization: Digital tools make it easy to see what is available.
- Experiencing community: Food brings people together – as does camping together.
From the flatshare to the neighborhood
Especially in shared apartments or families with multiple households it pays off to keep a communal stock of supplies. But neighborhood projects or small communities are also recognizing the added value: shopping, storing, and using together.
How Smantry helps
This is where Smantry comes into play:
- Community Feature: Supplies can be managed collectively.
- Transparency: Everyone can see which items are available.
- Efficiency: Duplicate purchases are avoided, leftovers are used up in time.
- Flexibility: Soon it will become even easier to manage entire communities (including new features such as categories or the option to completely delete communities).
👉 The shared economy doesn't stop with cars – it moves right into your kitchen. With Smantry sharing supplies becomes easier than ever.
At last, it's here: The categorization of articles 🎉
Over the past few months, we have collected numerous feedback from you – and the request for better organization of supplies was one of the most frequent wishes. Soon, it will be possible to sort your items into individual categories, so that you can keep track of everything even more quickly.
Why categories are so practical
- 🥦 More organization in your pantry: Instead of a long list, you can structure your products into categories such as "Vegetables", "Beverages", or "Household Goods".
- ⏱️ Faster Finding: No more long scrolling – jump straight to the right category.
- 👨👩👧👦 Improved collaboration: In communities or family households, everyone can immediately see where things belong.
- 🌍 Customization: You can create your own categories that suit your needs – whether for meal prep, stockpiling, or just your everyday life.
Your wish will become reality ✨
We know how important this feature is to you. That's why our development team has implemented categorization as a high priority. It will soon be available step by step in the app – fulfilling one of the biggest wishes of our community.
We are thrilled that we can make everyday life even easier for you with this. Stay tuned – as always, we will keep you updated on when the feature will be officially released.
👉 Do you already have ideas on how you want to structure your categories? Feel free to send us your suggestions or requests – your input might directly influence the ongoing development.