Budget-friendly Ramadaan grocery shopping guide

Lutho Pasiya

With inflation soaring globally on the back of rising energy and food prices, you can adjust for costs incurred during the holy month with a few financial hacks

THE holy month of Ramadaan is almost here!

It is the sacred month when Muslims around the world observe fasts, spend time in prayers and take time for introspection.

It is also one of the busiest times, when supermarkets and malls are crowded with an influx of Ramadaan food shoppers. Therefore, it is always better to complete your Ramadaan preparation in advance.

With inflation soaring globally on the back of rising energy and food prices, as well as supply chain disruptions, you can adjust for costs incurred during the holy month with a few financial hacks.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you head out for Ramadaan grocery shopping and it won’t break the bank either.

Stick to your list

Wandering the different aisles, you might end up adding stuff to your cart that you really do not need but were tempted to buy. Remember to stick to your grocery list and do not buy unnecessary or unhealthy food items that can take a toll on your health and pocket. We also advise you to either go alone for grocery shopping or take just one person to help load and unload the items. Don’t take children or elderly people, since grocery markets will get crowded around this time.

Shop in one go

Try to do your shopping in one go. This will avoid extra trips to the supermarket where there is an opportunity and temptation to spend more. You will also avoid the chaos of extra busy supermarkets during Ramadaan. If you need fresh produce that cannot be bought to last the month, then decide when you will do the rest of the shopping.

Plan your meals in advance

Plan your meals a week ahead and make a list before you go shopping. Try to divide your list into sections based on the different food categories. This may take a few minutes but save you time in running back and forth to different aisles within the store.

Do all your shopping online

The best part of living in 2023 is all the online food and grocery stores. This has many benefits but the one that surely stands out is that temptations are reduced.

How many times do you find yourself veering from your grocery list to add something to the cart that you do not necessarily need but can’t resist the urge to buy?

Online shopping makes it so easy to find what you are looking for, check out, and wait for the delivery guy to pull up on the driveway. No more walking up and down the aisles searching for something that might be out of stock anyway.

It lets you quickly run over to the kitchen to take stock of what you have and adjust your menu accordingly.

Clean your kitchen and refrigerator

The next step is to compare your shopping list to what you already have in your kitchen and refrigerator so you do not buy the items you already have, and add or remove items as needed.

Make sure you do not overspend on unneeded things, which could result in food waste. Having a clean and well-maintained kitchen and fridge brings a sense of calm and gives you better productivity and motivation in the kitchen to prepare your meals and cook them with utter precision, resulting in delicious meals.