Here’s how to beat high food prices
Jun 05, 2009
BUYING sufficient food for a family has become very expensive due to the escalating prices coupled with the scarcity. For instance, a bunch of matooke that cost sh7,000 in past months is at sh15,000 and with sh3,000 you can only buy one kilogram of rice.
By Agnes Kyotalengerire
BUYING sufficient food for a family has become very expensive due to the escalating prices coupled with the scarcity. For instance, a bunch of matooke that cost sh7,000 in past months is at sh15,000 and with sh3,000 you can only buy one kilogram of rice.
The cassava and sweet potatoes that used to flood the markets are no more! A heap of tubers that used to cost sh500 has now been reduced to four tubers costing between sh1,000 to sh2,000 in most markets.
However, despite the high prices, you still have to put food on the table for your families. Below are tips to guide you while shopping.
Make a budget, draw a shopping list and stick to it to avoid impulse buying.
Good shopping also requires a conducive environment. For example, if you plan to shop in the supermarket, it is advisable that you do your shopping during mornings and afternoons.
Avoid lunch time, evening hours and weekends because they tend to be crowded.
Alternatively, you can choose to go shopping during the week or on a day when you are off duty. This will enable you have ample space to park your car at the same time enable you to move freely checking on items.
Crosscheck your receipt with the tems to ensure that everything has been packed for you.
Read your receipt to confirm that the price indicated on the shelves is what appears on the receipt.
Do not be lured by low prices or discounts especially in supermarkets, take time to check the expiry dates.
If you cannot afford to buy large quantities of items on your own, you can pool money with a friend buy the item and share. For example, you can combine money and buy a box of soap, a bag of rice, a jerrycan of cooking oil then share. This way you will be able to save money since you will have bought at whole sale price.
Avoid shopping when you are hungry because you will find yourself heaping your trolley with foodstuff exceeding your budget.
Now that the vegetables are in plenty do not leave them to wither . Take advantage the season to preserve them for the future use. For example, you can sun dry greens like ggobe and make powder. Eggplants (biringanya) can also be dried and stored for future use. When you have plenty of tomatoes, do not leave them to rot, put them to use by processing home made tomato sauce.
BUYING sufficient food for a family has become very expensive due to the escalating prices coupled with the scarcity. For instance, a bunch of matooke that cost sh7,000 in past months is at sh15,000 and with sh3,000 you can only buy one kilogram of rice.
The cassava and sweet potatoes that used to flood the markets are no more! A heap of tubers that used to cost sh500 has now been reduced to four tubers costing between sh1,000 to sh2,000 in most markets.
However, despite the high prices, you still have to put food on the table for your families. Below are tips to guide you while shopping.
Make a budget, draw a shopping list and stick to it to avoid impulse buying.
Good shopping also requires a conducive environment. For example, if you plan to shop in the supermarket, it is advisable that you do your shopping during mornings and afternoons.
Avoid lunch time, evening hours and weekends because they tend to be crowded.
Alternatively, you can choose to go shopping during the week or on a day when you are off duty. This will enable you have ample space to park your car at the same time enable you to move freely checking on items.
Crosscheck your receipt with the tems to ensure that everything has been packed for you.
Read your receipt to confirm that the price indicated on the shelves is what appears on the receipt.
Do not be lured by low prices or discounts especially in supermarkets, take time to check the expiry dates.
If you cannot afford to buy large quantities of items on your own, you can pool money with a friend buy the item and share. For example, you can combine money and buy a box of soap, a bag of rice, a jerrycan of cooking oil then share. This way you will be able to save money since you will have bought at whole sale price.
Avoid shopping when you are hungry because you will find yourself heaping your trolley with foodstuff exceeding your budget.
Now that the vegetables are in plenty do not leave them to wither . Take advantage the season to preserve them for the future use. For example, you can sun dry greens like ggobe and make powder. Eggplants (biringanya) can also be dried and stored for future use. When you have plenty of tomatoes, do not leave them to rot, put them to use by processing home made tomato sauce.