How To Grocery Shop Like A Pro So You Get The Best Experience & Savings Every Week
There's a science to shopping smart ;)
Published for AEON, 15 Mar 2019, 09:22 AM
1. Don't shop on an empty tummy
When you do groceries on an empty tummy, you'll totally end up spending on snacks and overbuying food you don't actually need. It's much better to shop on a full stomach, that way you'll only get the necessary groceries and save a lot of money.
2. Plan your meals ahead of time and bring a list
Making a meal plan doesn't have to be complicated. Think about two or three dinners, list the ingredients needed to make those meals, then add some snacks and easy breakfast foods. This is the single easiest and most efficient way to save money and time on your groceries!
3. Buy less canned and packaged convenience foods
Fresh produce is much cheaper than canned goods. Shop for local fruits and veggies when they're in season to get the most bang for your buck. While pre-packaged meals are convenient, cooking from scratch is not only more affordable, it also tends to be healthier too!
4. Don’t automatically overlook no-name or store brands
One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to buy store brands! They tend to be less expensive than branded goods, yet are still good quality. Products to consider buying are dry goods like noodles and household supplies like garbage bags. You never try, you never know!
5. When you’re picking out chicken, look at the colour of the flesh, texture, and odour
Fresh chicken meat should have pink flesh and when you hold it, it should feel springy and firm rather than stiff or overly soft. If you see blood, this may be a sign that the meat has been frozen and thawed several times, which is not a good thing. There should be no bloody spots on your chicken.
6. For the freshest fish, check the eyes, the colour of the gills, the firmness of the stomach, and the scales
Fish eyes should be clear and firm rather than cloudy and sunken.Meanwhile, you want the gills to be bright red rather than brownish. Look for a firm stomach, if the insides are starting to spill out, do not buy that fish. Finally, fresh fish would have the scales firmly intact to its skin.
7. If you're buying fresh meat, take note of the colour, firmness, odour, and clean cuts that are uniform
Fresh meat will have a rich, red colour. If it is brownish or dull, the chances are the meat has been sitting out for a while. The meat should be springy, so if your finger leaves an indentation, it's probably not a good pick. Finally, fresh beef is generally odourless, so if it gives off a smell, give it a pass.
8. When shopping for fresh produce, look for bright colours, heavy weight, firmness, and aroma
Go for fruits and vegetables with the brightest colours. Dull colours usually mean the item is not fully ripe or was deprived of sun or nutrients. Generally, the heaviest fruits will be juicy and crisp, while lightweight produce tend to be more dry and mealy. Meanwhile, your produce should be plump and firm to touch, but not hard. Finally, give your produce a sniff. Unripe fruits smell like nothing, but ripe ones tend to be fragrant.
9. Buy baked goods later in the day for an extra discount
Most grocery store bakeries will slash their prices near the evening in order to finish their inventory before the market closes. It’s the perfect way for you to get your fill of yummy carbs at reduced prices!
10. Hit the frozen aisle last on your grocery trip
Adding them to your cart at the start of your trip will cause them to thaw as you complete your grocery list, making them less fresh when you finally get home.
11. Use a trusted membership card to collect points and rewards
Membership cards provide lots of rewards that will benefit you. From exclusive discounts and privileges to point redemption and conversion to cash, it’s always a great hack to sign up for membership to your preferred grocery store.
For the ultimate hassle-free shopping experience, AEON has introduced the AEON Member Plus Visa Card and AEON Wallet
With the AEON Member Plus Visa Card, you'll be able to collect X2 AEON Points and make payment with your smartphone
This prepaid AEON Member Plus Visa Card allows you to earn 2x AEON Points for every RM1 payment in any AEON retails. That includes AEON Stores, AEON BiG Hypermarkets, AEON MaxValu, AEON MaxValu Prime and AEON Wellness using AEON Member Plus Visa Card.
These AEON Points are then converted into cash via AEON Wallet. Plus, this card is a VISA prepaid card, which means it can be used in Malaysia AND overseas with VISA acceptance. It also can be used for online shopping!
Check out the full benefits of the AEON Member Plus Visa Card now!
What makes this card super convenient is that even if you forget it at home, it's connected to your AEON Wallet app on your phone. Pick up your groceries, scan the QR code when you checkout to make payment and collect double AEON Points!
What's even cooler is you can top up your card instantly via the app with no additional charges. So even if you run out of credit at the checkout or realise you're a little short on cash, you can just top up on the spot without any stress.
Take a look at the awesome benefits of AEON Wallet:
- Check your account balances and transaction history in real time
- Easy point redemption
- Store your AEON membership card & credit cards
Watch the video below see how it works:
Do your grocery shopping like a pro and get the AEON Member Plus Visa Card and AEON Wallet today!
