Buying groceries is one of the most common regular expenses for any household and it is easy to become complacent about grocery shopping. Particularly as the year is drawing to an end, when you may need to budget for the holidays, it is important to manage grocery spending and look for the best deals.

If you regularly use your credit card to shop for groceries, you are in a good position to analyse your grocery spending patterns. An examination of your monthly itemised statement can be a very useful way to streamline your shopping.

Manage your spending

Do you regularly spend money on unnecessary items, or habitually purchase more than your household can use?  Are some minor luxuries adding up to a lot more than you thought? Simply by looking at the accumulated costs of different goods, it is often be possible to trim the excess off of your grocery bill, without noticeably depriving yourself or your family.

To best organise grocery shopping, it can be helpful to use two or more credit cards linked to a single account. This way, the grocery spending of each member of a household can be compared and coordinated.  In addition to the benefits outlined above, centralising grocery shopping can eliminate costly duplication of spending.

Online shopping

Shopping online is another excellent way to control grocery spending. By establishing a fixed list of truly essential items, you will get the items you need without being distracted by superfluous goods. The further advantage is that you are less likely to overlook important items or find yourself suddenly running short of household essentials.

Retailers in South Africa are increasingly offering facilities for online shopping. Online shopping with a reputable merchant is safe, particularly when using a credit card over a properly encrypted website. Indeed, online shopping can be the safest, most convenient way to buy groceries.

Timing

Sensible shopping is also a question of timing. As prices inevitably increase during the peak holiday seasons, it can pay to buy essential groceries and holiday luxuries ahead of time, as far as is practical. This will help you beat festive season price increases and also ensure that you have more cash available in December to spend on your holiday.

Credit card rewards

As an additional help, many credit card holders find December an excellent time to redeem their credit card rewards to buy gifts and special holiday items without straining their budget.

Your credit card is also an excellent backup in case you need to buy items you hadn't budgeted for. The holiday season is the one time most people feel entitled to splash out a little – especially if they have been careful about spending during the year. As long as you spend within reason, and are committed to paying off your debts without accruing too much interest (using your bonus to settle your accounts can be useful), you should be able to get the most out of your holiday.

Plastiq is a credit card comparison website for South African consumers. Plastiq can help you compare different credit cards in South Africa and allows you to apply for credit cards online.