9 Things you should never borrow money for

 

Written by R. A. Stewart

There are some things which you should never borrow money for because they are considered to be bad debt. The reason why they are considered to be bad debt is that they do increase your wealth but rather decrease it. The value of the item which has been purchased with borrowed money decreases over time. 

Another thing which you should not borrow money for is risky investments which may or may not make you rich but also have the potential to send you to the poor house if the value of the investment plummets. Purchasing crypto currency is a classic example.

Here is a list of items you should never borrow money for.

  1. Cryptocurrency

Only discretionary spending money should be used for purchasing cryptocurrency because of its volatile nature and that nobody really knows what the future holds for crypto. The problem with borrowing to invest is that the liability (the loan) is sometimes more than the value of the investment. This occurrence is on the cards if you borrow to purchase Bitcoin and then the price of Bitcoin crashes.

It is exactly what happened to a lot of investors after the 1987 sharemarket crash. One man in our town borrowed money for shares using the equity in his home and when the market crashed in 1987 he was left with a debt.

  1. A wedding

A wedding is something you should never borrow money for. If a couple cannot even afford to pay for their own wedding you have to question whether they can afford to get married at all. A debt is a bad start to a married life that couples can do without.

  1. An overseas holiday

This is just dumb debt! Taking a holiday with someone else’s money is just irresponsible. There is nothing to show for the money apart from a debt which will be made to get ahead.

  1. A wedding ring

Another thing which is a no go area for borrowed money. If a person cannot even save for a wedding ring then getting married is not a wise decision. If the recipient of the ring expects something expensive then you have to question her motives. This is something that needs to be discussed between the families involved. 

  1. Gifts

Thousands of people go into debt at Christmas time and most of it is spent on buying gifts for others.  Advertisers encourage people to spend, spend, and spend more money and very often it is borrowed money that is being spent. No one should be pressured into spending money in this way or anything else for that matter. If you are then you can always plead poverty to your family.

  1. A new car

Borrowing for a new car is a complete no no because once you take possession of the car its value has dropped considerably and the vehicle is worth less than the amount owing on it. This is called “Dumb Debt.” If you cannot even save for a vehicle then you have to ask yourself this question, “Can I afford to run a vehicle?” The costs of keeping one on the road will drain you of your finances like nothing else will.

  1. Electronics

This is a complete No No as far as borrowing money for. Electronics such as TV sets, radios, smartphones and the like are stuff that you only buy with your discretionary spending money. Follow this rule, “If you don’t have the money you don’t buy it.”

  1. Hobbies

This is something you only do with your own money, not someone else’s money. Some hobbies can pay for themselves, such as stamp collecting. If you are able to swap with other collectors or even sell some surplus stock it can at least be self funding. Other hobbies can cost you an arm and a leg and be a hindrance to your financial goals.

  1. Vet bills

Keeping pets is not cheap and becoming too attached to them can be costly. Many people have spent a fortune on vet bills for their cat or dog when the sensible thing to do is to have it put down.

“If you don’t have the money you don’t buy it” is a good rule to live by. It is called “Living within your means.”

About this article: You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook. Feel free to drop me a message and give me other things which you should never borrow money for. Read my other articles on: www.robertastewart.com

 

The Benefits of Having a Travel Card

A dedicated travel card makes trips smoother and more secure. Unlike regular debit cards, travel cards often offer competitive exchange rates, low foreign transaction fees, and multi-currency support—saving you money on conversions.

If lost or stolen, travel cards can be frozen instantly via an app, protecting your funds without affecting your main bank account. Many also provide emergency cash replacement and 24/7 support.

Preloaded with a set budget, travel cards help control spending and avoid overspending. Some even offer rewards or insurance perks. For worry-free travel, a travel card is a smart financial companion.

Join Wise Here

https://wise.com/invite/dic/roberts10486

Kiwisaver Benefits for KIwis

Are you throwing money away?

 

Written by R. A. Stewart

 

New Zealand’s kiwisaver scheme is a retirement scheme for New Zealanders. There are many features and benefits of joining kiwisaver.

What is the difference between a feature and a benefit?

A feature of kiwisaver is that the money is locked up until you reach the age of 65.

The benefit is that you will have a nest egg waiting for you when you retire.

Here is the main benefit of kiwisaver. 

The government will deposit $520 into your kiwisaver providing your contribution is at least $1040 during that financial year.

People who are not contributing to kiwisaver or have not even joined are missing out on all of this money.

Why?

It is hard to fathom why anyone would not join kiwisaver. 

There will not be a single person who reaches the age of 65 who regrets that they contributed to kiwisaver all of their lives.

It is a matter of asking the question, “What will my future self thank my present self for”?

The key to kiwisaver is to keep contributing irrespective of what the markets are doing. 

Investors will be rewarded for their consistency.

Some people have prioritized other things such as sky TV, cats and dogs, lotto, smoking, and booze over their future prosperity.

It is all about choice and it is something everyone has. 

Any New Zealander is able to join kiwisaver.

Any one of any age, from the day a baby is born to those already retired. 

It is important to point out that only those aged from 18-65 are eligible for the government money. It is still worthwhile for those age groups which are not eligible for the government top up to join kiwisaver because it will give the young ones a head start in life and who knows, a rich uncle may leave them some money in his will. It doesn’t pay to fall out with your family by making false allegations about your cousin.

The retired folk can treat kiwisaver as an investment; one which you have access to.

There are circumstances when you are able to withdraw money from kiwisaver, they are:

(a) For bond money if applying for a flat to rent, but only under thirty year olds are eligible to apply.

(b) You may use a portion of your kiwisaver as a deposit on your first home. Most people who take this option are in their thirties.

(c) Moving overseas permanently.

(d) Terminal illness

(e) Hardship

There are some hoops to jump through when trying to withdraw your kiwisaver for hardship reasons. 

There are several books on personal finance which I recommend with my favourite New Zealand authors being Frances Cook, Mary Holm, and Martin Hawes. Check them out. Maybe your local library will stock their books.

With so much information on personal finance available there is no excuse for being financially illiterate. Not joining kiwisaver when you have the means to is just stupidity.

If you are one of these people then you are just throwing money away

About this article:

You may use this article as content for your blog, website, or ebook.

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

The Percentage Formula

The Percentage Formula

Knowing how to work on percentages is a benefit in the area of finances.

If you are figuring out the return of your investments, you will need to know how to calculate percentages. 

Here is an example:

Your return on an investment of $100 is $7. The formula for working out your return in terms of percentage is:

(a) 7 multiplied by 100 =700

(b) The answer is a being divided by 100= 7%

Your return $7 is multiplied by 100

Your investment of $100 is divided by 700

Shirley has $5,000 in her personal savings account and has received $100 in interest off that money. In terms of percentage, what is her return on that money?

(a) $100 multiplied by 100 =$10,000

(b) 10,000 divided by 5,000= 2

Shirley has received 2% interest on her money.

This formula does not include tax so supposing Shirley pays 17.5% tax.

The formula for working out the tax which needs to be paid on interest is straight forward; it is:

Interest received (income) multiplied by the individual’s tax rate (17.5%).

In Shirley’s case, this is $100 multiplied by 17.5% equals $17.50.

Her net return on her money is $82.50.

17.5% is 0.175

An example such as this shows us the futility of just leaving your money in the bank without investing it. The combination of inflation and taxation means that those who do not invest are losing the value of their money. 

Saving money is a good habit to get into, but it is also important to get into the habit of investing. This increases your financial literacy.

Some people do not invest their money because they are afraid of losing their money, yet they will buy lottery tickets which is a sure-fire way of losing. 

Knowing how to figure out percentages is a skill which will assist you in different areas of your life.

Here are some examples of where knowing how to calculate percentages will be a valuable skill.

Shopping & Discounts: Calculate discounts during sales (e.g., “30% off”).

Tips & Service Charges: Determine how much to tip at restaurants (e.g., 15% or 20% of the bill).

Tax Calculations: Compute sales tax (e.g., 8% tax on a purchase).

Budgeting & Expenses: Track spending (e.g., “20% of my income goes to rent”).

Loan & Credit Card Interest: Understand interest rates on loans or credit cards.

About this article:

You may use this article as content for your website/blog or ebook. 

www.robertastewart.com

Your investing risk profile and what it is.

Written by R. A. Stewart

Your risk profile is the level of risk you can take with your investments based on your personal circumstances and your timeline.

The number one question to ask before deciding where to invest your money is, “Will the loss of my capital affect my lifestyle?”

Here is an example of how this may occur. 

Suppose you are saving for a car and you decide to use an online investing platform such as sharesies or robinhood to save for that car. You also decide that you will invest your money in growth funds and your savings are going well for a while and just when you are a month away from  purchasing your car, the market takes a dive. (as it has after Trump imposed tariffs on imports).

Your planned purchase of that car now has to be put on hold which has affected your lifestyle.

On the flip side of this is that you can purchase more unit trusts than previously so that when the market rebounds your savings will grow faster.

There are three options when investing in managed funds; growth, balanced, or conservative. 

Growth funds have the most potential to grow your money but they are also the fund with the most risk.

Conservative funds are the safest option but they are also the least profitable.

Balanced funds are a combination of growth funds and conservative funds.

Your risk profile will determine where you are going to invest your money and this is dependent on when you need the money.

This can be classified into any one of three categories:

  1. Long-term money
  2. Medium-term money
  3. Short-term money.

It is possible to fall into more than one category as an investor depending on when you need to access your money.

For example: Your retirement fund if you are young is classed as long-term money, but your rainy day fund is short-term money.

Long-term money is money needed after five years.

Medium-term money is money needed between 1-5 years

Short-term money is money needed within a year.

Long-term money may be money saved for a house-deposit or your retirement.

Medium-term money might be money being saved for an overseas holiday or a vehicle.

Short-term money might be money being reserved for unexpected bills which crop up or an overseas holiday you intend to take within twelve months.

There are so many investing apps available these days that setting something up for a specific savings project is a simple process.

The current share market falls should not be much of a concern to investors who are in the correct type of funds. Your financial plan has to consider the worst case scenario of a share market crash. Hopefully, a 1987 Black Monday type of crash will not happen.

About this article

This article is of the opinion of the writer and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore, discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your blog/website/ebook.

Check out my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

Share market falls on the back of Trump Tariffs

Markets tumble

Written by R. A. Stewart

The markets have taken a tumble after President Trump’s tariffs have started a trade war.

The newspapers have reported that Kiwisaver balance will be affected on this. This is stating the obvious. Kiwisaver balances may have dropped, but a lot of people are decades away from retirement so how the markets are performing in 2025 is not going to affect how much they have in kiwisaver when they retire in 2035 and beyond.

It all boils down to selecting the right fund for your risk profile. Money invested falls into one of three categories. Short-term money, medium term money, or long-term money depending on when you are going to be needing that money.

Other factors which come into it are your age, health, and commitments.

The share market goes up and down and the recent (March 2025) tumble is mainly due to the tariffs which President Trump has imposed on goods from certain countries, namely steel. 

Losses are only on paper, but investors who react to recent events and change to conservative funds will lock in those losses and miss out on the gains when the markets rebound. 

The United States will have a new President in four years time, and it certainly will not be Donald Trump in charge then so the markets will certainly bounce back then, if it had not prior to that.

Changing to conservative funds is not the only way to lose during a market slump. The others are to stop contributing to your retirement fund or if you are already retired, make withdrawals from kiwisaver.

With everything being said, it is not the current market slump which will determine how much your retirement portfolio is worth when you retire but how you react to market volatility and that is all down to the choices you make. 

Here is a list of choices which will affect your kiwisaver balance when you retire:

  1. Changing from a growth or balanced fund to a conservative fund.
  2. Stop contributing to your retirement fund.
  3. Withdraw money from your kiwisaver.
  4. Chopping and changing from one type of fund to another.

No one is going to reach the retirement age and regret that they made contributions to their retirement fund. Ask yourself this question, “Will my future self thank me for investing my money instead of wasting it?”

Your retirement fund can only be accessed when you reach the retirement age, therefore you need an alternative source of funds to cover any future financial needs. There are lots of online investing platforms available where you can invest a minimal sum of money regularly and still have easy access to your funds. If you are from New Zealand or Australia, sharesies is a good option for you. This gives you easy access to the share market.  Check out Sharesies Here

About this article

The opinions expressed in this article are of the writer’s own opinion and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. 

Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission if you join sharesies.

You may use this article in full or part as content for your blog or ebook. Check out my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

3 Things a Financial Advisor should not tell you

3 Things a Financial Advisor should not tell you

Written by R. A. Stewart

Having a financial advisor is one thing but at the end of the day it is you who has to make the decisions of where to invest your money. In other words; you must take full responsibility for your actions. You must also have the ability to discern whether a piece of advice is good, bad, or not applicable to your personal circumstances.

Here are some things a financial advisor should not tell you to do.

  1. Invest in cryptocurrency

Only money that you can fully afford to lose should be invested in bitcoin or other types of cryptocurrency. This is an extremely volatile investment with a short history, therefore it is hard to know where it is heading as far as the price of Bitcoin goes. Anyone who claims to know the future of Bitcoin is probably misleading you. It is likely that they are using data from Bitcoin’s history to predict its future but as they say, “The past is no guarantee of the future.”

Only discretionary spending money should be invested in Bitcoin. It will give you plenty of interest while investments which are for your material goals are growing as you continue to save for whatever it is you are saving for, whether that be a house deposit, car, education, or overseas trip.

  1. Invest your life savings in one company

There is a phrase for this and it is called, “Placing all of your eggs in one basket.” During the Global Financial Crisis of 2007/2008 some New Zealand investors lost their entire life savings after some high profile company collapses. Several finance companies were offering above average interest rates to attract investors and some people let greed get the better of them, but no one would admit to such a sin. Financial advisors who promoted these finance companies were scapegoats. It may be true that it is a mistake to advise someone to invest everything into one company but it is up to each and every investor to take responsibility for their own investment portfolio.

Diversification needs to be part of your financial vocabulary if it already isn’t. Diversification means you invest your money with different companies and across several asset classes. This minimizes risk. Ordinary Mum and Dad investors are able to drip feed small amounts of money into the markets these days with so many online investing platforms available. It is just a matter of choosing one or two of them which fits in with your investing strategy.

  1. Invest in growth funds when you are retired

Investing in growth funds is okay when time is your friend but not when it is your enemy because a market slump can affect your lifestyle if you are retired. This is because retired people are in the spending phase of their life and if the value of your portfolio is down when you need the money then you are accepting a loss. The young ones, however, do not need to panic because they have time on their side and do not need the money in a hurry. By the time they themselves retire the market will have had it’s ups and downs.

I am not saying that you should not have anything invested in growth funds if you are retired, but rather, it should not be money which you can ill afford to lose. It all boils down to how soon you may need the money keeping in mind that time is not your friend.

About this article

The information in this article may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook. 

Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

Retire on a Shoestring

“Retire with Little Money” is your guide to achieving financial freedom, even if you don’t have a large retirement fund. This practical ebook reveals creative strategies and smart budgeting tips to help you retire comfortably on a modest income. Learn how to cut unnecessary expenses, boost your savings with side gigs, and make the most of the resources available to you. With easy-to-follow advice and real-life examples, this book shows you how to build a sustainable retirement plan without relying on a hefty nest egg. Start planning today, and discover how you can retire sooner than you think!

 

https://robertalan.gumroad.com/l/sdzvl

 

Start investing on a shoestring

Sharesies makes it possible for anyone to get into buying and selling shares. It is an online share market platform where you have the option of purchasing shares in individual companies or in various funds (managed/mutual funds). You can even start with $5. This is a no brainer because it gives investors young and not so young the chance to improve their financial literacy. There is certainly no substitute for experience when it comes to learning and this is applicable to everything else, not just investing.

Join sharesies here: https://sharesies.nz/r/377DFM

 Reasons why people remain Poor

 

Written by R. A. Stewart

People don’t just become prosperous for no reason, unless of course they win the lottery and for every person like that there are millions who didn’t win the lottery and go back to their mediocre lives until the next draw.

Here are the main reasons why people remain poor.

  1. Unwillingness to change

People tolerate their financial situation because they are more comfortable with it. They are unwilling to change anything in their life for fear that it will interfere with the routine which they have become accustomed to. Not doing anything about one’s financial situation despite the facts is just plain laziness. It shows a lack of ambition and there is no hope for people like that.

  1. Lack of Financial literacy

Lack of financial literacy is a major cause of financial struggles. This is an easy hurdle to overcome because there are lots of books on personal finance available you can read and you do not have to spend a lot of money to purchase such books. Your local library will have plenty of books on the subject. Frances Cook, Mary Holm, and Martin Hawes are New Zealand authors who have published excellent books on personal finance.

  1. They don’t join kiwisaver

Kiwisaver is the New Zealand retirement scheme. It is a scheme with several incentives such as the $520 per annum top up from the government. Not making any plans for your retirement years will almost guarantee that you will spend these years in poverty. “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” is a saying which is worth remembering. Responsible people will sign up for a retirement plan of some kind. If you have dependents it is your responsibility to make sure you don’t leave them up the creek if something happens to you so don’t use that argument of, “I may not make it to 65.”

  1. They spend everything

Poor people spend everything they make and do not give any thought to tomorrow. Whether you like it or not, tomorrow always comes. People like this have no vision for the future. They can never see any further than next week’s pay day. If an unexpected bill arrives such as a car breakdown they borrow the money which means that the interest they owe on the borrowed money pushes up the cost of the repairs. It is the same when one of their kids needs a pair of new spectacles. People such as this always have money to spend on lottery tickets or alcohol but the really important things in life take a back seat. Some people would rather spend money on cigarettes than wholesome food for their kids.

  1. They don’t invest

Not investing is a sure fire way to stay poor because inflation erodes the purchasing power of your money if you just leave it in an ordinary savings account. Investing your money in managed funds increases your wealth and your financial literacy. 

  1. Wrong friends

Associating with people who are financially illiterate is another reason why some people remain poor. The poverty mindset of the group will infect you sooner or later. Some of the stupid comments made by some of these people regarding personal finance are not worth listening to. 

  1. Wrong choices

Making wrong choices is at the heart of the reason why most people are poor. It is not just choices in terms of personal finance such as joining KiwiSaver and investing which keep people poor but life choices such as having kids when not in a good financial position and living beyond their means. What you do with your discretionary spending money is a choice. Becoming financially sorted requires vision. Some of life’s most expensive items will arrive at some stage and the person with vision will prepare for these.

About this article

The subject matter is of the writer’s own experience and opinion and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use the article as content for your website/blog or ebook. Read my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

“Retire with Little Money” is your guide to achieving financial freedom, even if you don’t have a large retirement fund. This practical ebook reveals creative strategies and smart budgeting tips to help you retire comfortably on a modest income. Learn how to cut unnecessary expenses, boost your savings with side gigs, and make the most of the resources available to you. With easy-to-follow advice and real-life examples, this book shows you how to build a sustainable retirement plan without relying on a hefty nest egg. Start planning today, and discover how you can retire sooner than you think!

 

https://robertalan.gumroad.com/l/sdzvl

Prioritizing your spending

The Waiho Bridge near Franz Josef Glacier, New Zealand.

Prioritizing your spending

Written by R. A. Stewart

Life is all about making priorities and it is not all about money and how you prioritize your spending but about what you do with your time. We have different financial commitments and different levels of income but when it comes to time, we all have an allotted 24 hours in the day, no more and no less but our income and how we earn our income will have an effect on how much time we have to devote to the important things in our life.

Many people sacrifice their time for money by spending all of their time working leaving little time for anything else. They are out of balance.

If you have a specific goal in mind such as saving for a house deposit then the sacrifices may be worth it in the long term. Maybe because only you will know whether the long days were truly worth it. It all depends on what your priorities are.

What factors should you consider when setting priorities?

Here are several to consider:

Your commitments

If you have children then you obviously have different priorities than someone without children. It is their future as well as your own which you need to factor into your plans.

Your debt levels

Paying off your debt needs to be your number one priority because unless that debt is paid, you have no discretionary spending money.

Your age

This is an important factor. If you are in your sixties then you are not likely to set goals with a 30 year timeline. The young ones have time on their side and speaking from an investment perspective can use time to increase their wealth.

Your health

Your health is an important factor. If a health issue has cropped up then your number one priority has to be to manage it and make the most of your life.

Your career

Your career will influence your priorities. Some couples delay parenthood, instead, preferring to ensure that they are on a good financial footing before they have kids. This is the sensible thing to do. 

Your pets

Any pets you have will mean that you just cannot forget about them and forget about them. You are responsible for their care and well being.

It is certainly a good idea to think twice before taking on new pets because they could be a hindrance to you as far as finding a new job. 

If you are fortunate or smart enough not to have any commitments whatsoever then you will find it easier to gain employment in a new town or province. Most of the commitments listed are choices you make and the consequences of those choices are commitments.

There is a cost to these choices and it is the wise thing to do to take this into account when making decisions.

About this article: You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook. The contents of this article are of the writer’s own opinion and may not be applicable to your own circumstances.

www.robertastewart.com

Below: Lake Mapouriki 2 miles south of Franz Josef GLacier New Zealand

The P/E Ratio Explained and Why it matters

Written by R. A. Stewart

The P/E Ratio is a useful tool for calculating a particular share’s performance. P/E stands for Price to Earnings Performance. This tool is a useful guide because it tells us whether a particular share is overvalued or undervalued.

The P/E Ratio is found by dividing the current share price of the company by the dividend per share.

If the company’s share price was $5 and the dividend per share was $1 then the P/E ratio would be 20. 

A company might base its P/E ratio on what it has earned in the past (trailing P/E) or what they expect its earnings to be in the future (forward P/E Ratio).

A higher PE ratio indicates that investors are willing to pay a higher share price today compared to its current earnings.

A lower P/E ratio might be a sign that investors are less willing to pay a higher price for the share compared to its current earnings.

It is important not to get sucked in by a value trap-some companies offer what appear bargains but it is really a sign of financial instability.

A negative P/E ratio means that the company has made a loss. This could be due to expansion-that is when the company sacrifices profits to invest in the company.

However, when a company consistently has a negative P/E ratio it runs the risk of bankruptcy.

Making your investment choices

Which is better, Higher or lower?

Some investors prefer investing in a company with a higher P/E ratio due to its potential for growth while others go for companies with a lower P/E ratio on the grounds that the market has undervalued these companies. A combination of both is often used by investors.

Financial experts say, “You should only compare apples with apples when comparing different companies, P/E ratio.” In other words, only compare it with stocks in similar industries. That being said, if a stock has a higher P/E ratio than its competitors it could indicate that the market believes that it has higher growth prospects than its competitors.

A factor which needs to be considered by investors is that past performance is no guarantee of future performance. There are other factors to consider. A company may have a good year but that may be due to a one off event such as a selling off of assets. The same applies in reverse, a company may have shown a one off loss due to investment into the business.

To Summarise

The P/E ratio is the proportion of a company’s share price in relation to its earnings per share. To work out the earnings per share Divide the stock price by the earnings per share.

About this article

The views expressed in this article are of the writer’s own experience and knowledge and may not be applicable to your personal circumstances, therefore discretion is advised. You may use this article as content for your blog/website or ebook.

Check out my other articles on www.robertastewart.com

How to Fight High Grocery Prices

How to Fight High Grocery Prices

In recent years, grocery prices have been rising steadily, squeezing household budgets and forcing families to find creative ways to make ends meet. The reasons for these price hikes are varied, from global supply chain disruptions to inflation and changes in consumer demand. Regardless of the cause, there are practical strategies that anyone can use to reduce their grocery bill without sacrificing quality or nutrition. In this article, we’ll explore several effective ways to fight high grocery prices.

1. Create a Budget and Stick to It

The first step to controlling grocery spending is to set a budget. It’s easy to overspend when you don’t have a clear plan for how much you can afford. Start by reviewing your monthly income and expenses to determine a reasonable amount for groceries. Be realistic, but also challenge yourself to spend less than you normally would. Once you’ve established your budget, stick to it as closely as possible. Keeping track of your spending will help you stay accountable and allow you to make adjustments as needed.

2. Meal Planning and Batch Cooking

Meal planning is one of the most powerful tools in fighting high grocery costs. Plan out your meals for the week before heading to the store. Focus on recipes that use similar ingredients, so you can buy in bulk and avoid wasting food. This also prevents impulse purchases and last-minute takeout, both of which can strain your budget.

Batch cooking is another strategy to save money and time. By cooking large quantities of food at once and freezing portions for later, you reduce the need for frequent grocery trips and take advantage of bulk buying. For instance, you can prepare a large pot of chili or soup and freeze individual servings for easy meals during the week.

3. Shop Sales and Use Coupons

Taking advantage of sales and using coupons can make a big difference in your grocery bill. Many stores offer weekly deals, which you can find in their flyers or online. Focus on buying items that are on sale, especially non-perishable or freezable products like canned goods, rice, pasta, and frozen vegetables. Stock up when your favorite products are discounted.

Coupons can also be a great tool if used wisely. Many grocery stores have loyalty programs or apps that offer digital coupons. Clip the ones that are relevant to your needs and combine them with store sales for maximum savings. However, avoid the temptation to buy something just because you have a coupon if it’s not something you actually need.

4. Buy in Bulk – But Smartly

Buying in bulk can lead to significant savings, especially for pantry staples such as rice, flour, pasta, and canned goods. However, be cautious not to overbuy perishable items that might go bad before you have a chance to use them. Bulk purchasing works best for products with long shelf lives or items you use frequently.

Shopping at warehouse stores like Costco or Sam’s Club can be helpful, but it’s essential to calculate the cost per unit to ensure you’re actually saving money. Sometimes, smaller packages at regular grocery stores on sale may be cheaper than the bulk version at a warehouse.

5. Embrace Store Brands

Store or generic brands often offer the same quality as name brands but at a much lower price. In most cases, the difference in taste or quality between generic and brand-name products is minimal, especially for staples like pasta, rice, canned vegetables, and household supplies. By swapping brand-name products for store brands, you can significantly cut your grocery bill without sacrificing quality.

6. Reduce Food Waste

A staggering amount of food is wasted each year, and reducing food waste can have a direct impact on your grocery costs. To avoid throwing out spoiled food, make an effort to use what you already have before buying more. Leftovers can be repurposed into new meals, and nearly expired fruits and vegetables can be used in soups, smoothies, or baked goods.

Organizing your pantry and refrigerator can also help reduce waste. Keep older items in front so you’ll use them first, and label leftovers with dates so you don’t forget about them.

7. Buy Seasonal and Local

Seasonal produce is typically cheaper than out-of-season options because it’s more abundant. Learn what’s in season in your area and build your meals around those items. Additionally, shopping at local farmers’ markets can often result in lower prices for fresh produce, and you’re supporting local growers in the process.

8. Consider Substitutions

If a recipe calls for a pricey ingredient, consider cheaper alternatives. For instance, if a dish requires fresh herbs, you can use dried herbs or even frozen ones, which are less expensive and have a longer shelf life. Similarly, beans can replace meat in certain recipes, providing protein without the high cost.

Conclusion

Fighting high grocery prices requires planning, discipline, and a willingness to make small changes. By setting a budget, planning meals, shopping smart, and reducing waste, you can significantly cut your grocery expenses. These strategies not only help save money but also promote a more sustainable and mindful approach to grocery shopping, allowing you to navigate rising prices with greater ease.

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