Grocery shopping is something that we all get wrong at some point. The errors are endless and as a result, we finish off the month destroying the savings that we have been working so hard to build up. Therefore it is essential to follow a few strict rules so that you do not end up shopping the wrong way, especially in a country like Sri Lanka, where the cost of living is a quite high relative to average income levels.

It is imperative that a shopping list is made and adhered to. Carrying a shopping list with you to the supermarket or store will ensure that you spend less on unwanted products. Make sure that the shopping list always contains a good and healthy variety of food so that you do not get bored and end up eating from outside even though there is food at home. Eating out constantly is a health killer as much as it is a budget killer. If you cannot find enough time to allocate to buying food by yourself, try to use one of the online shopping in Sri Lanka platforms run by some of the reputed supermarket chains such as Keells Superand others in the field.

Your ideal shopping list should contain a good variety of vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates and fruits. There should also be a few fun things to munch on so that you do not feel the urge to run to the shop every time that you feel like having something sweet or a bit unhealthy.

Plan your meals before shopping. This is another great way to make sure that you keep a fun yet clean eating plan which in turn will remove all the eating out expenses from your list. At the same time, make sure that you keep a track of what you are spending on food for a month. The best way to go about this is to collect receipts and do the math. This way you could always eliminate whatever errors you make. You will also have the added benefit of eating healthy if you make your meals at home.

Nelson Osborne is an independent freelance writer who has been sharing his expertise on a variety of subjects via numerous articles and web content over the years. Google+