Many people notice that times have become more expensive. Increased prices for food, electricity and fuel are some of the expenses that put pressure on the economy. – Ordinary people have tighter financial conditions now than just a year ago, says Jorge Jensen, director of finance at the Consumer Council. news has therefore created a series of cases where consumers can get advice and tips to “live more cheaply” in these more expensive times. First up is food. In February, food prices rose by 4.5 per cent, according to Statistics Norway. It is the biggest monthly change since July 1981. July did not improve much. Food prices increased by 7.6 per cent during the month. Compared to July last year, food prices are now 10.4 per cent higher. The consumption research institute SIFO calculates every year what it costs to live at an acceptable level of consumption in Norway – the so-called reference budget. A family of four, two adults and two children, spends between NOK 10,000 and 11,000 per month on food and drink alone, according to Sifo’s budget. This means that expenses for food and drink are now between NOK 1,000 and 1,100 higher than a year ago. Director of the Norwegian Consumer Council Jorge Jensen says ordinary people have tighter financial conditions than a year ago. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB – Many people I speak to, and surveys we carry out show that there are now very many people who are worried as a result of the increased prices. You notice that you have to start prioritizing differently and have a more conscious relationship with what the money goes to if you are going to carry out the things you most want to spend your money on, Consumer Economist Cecilie Tvetenstrand at Storebrand tells news. Here are some of her and the Consumer Council’s tips on how you can reduce your expenses in the grocery store: Food budget Get an overview of how much you want and can spend on food each month. Feel free to set up your own food account, so that you have it on your own budget. That way, you have control over how much money you want to spend. – Having more awareness of one’s finances – going through account statements a couple of times a year and gaining more awareness of what one spends money on, is healthy for most people, says Tvetenstrand. Shopping list and “weekly action” By setting up a plan and shopping list for the week, you avoid quick impulse purchases. – Surveys have shown that when customers leave the store, they have much more in their shopping bag with them than they intended. Use a shopping list and make large purchases rather than many small ones. It has been shown that you then get a milder cut in the budget, but also reduce food waste, says Jensen of the Consumer Council. Consumer economist Cecilie Tvetenstrand in Storebrand shares her advice on how you can save money in the grocery store. Photo: Privat Many people probably think that it is time-consuming to rearrange a shopping list for the whole week and then spend a long time at the store to buy everything. But according to Cecilie Tvetenstrand in Storebrand, you actually save time. – Spend some time planning, go to the shop once, and you won’t have to spend more time on it for the rest of the week. And with the money you save on it, you have the opportunity to put it aside and use it on something else you want, she says. Create a “food plan” In 2020, Norwegians threw away over 450,000 tonnes of food, and each one of us threw away almost 85 kilograms of food on average. According to Tvetenstrand, food waste is equivalent to close to NOK 1,500 for a family per month. It’s not only bad for the bank account, but also bad for the environment. – Check what you have at home in the fridge and drawers. Make a list and plan the week based on that and preferably have a dinner or two with leftovers during the week so that you can use up all the food. Don’t buy more than you eat, says Tvetenstrand. Liter and kilo price – watch out for “shrink inflation” Beware of food products that have shrunk in size but have kept the same price. – It is a fairly new term that is becoming more and more popular now that prices are increasing. Several manufacturers make the same packages, but with less content so that it does not look as if the prices have increased as much. You get fewer items for the same price. That is why it is important to pay even more attention to the price per liter and the price per kilo when you shop for goods, says Tvetenstrand. Other advice from the experts is: Buy loose weight – Vegetables and fruit you buy loose are cheaper than those you buy in the fixed packs. Choose seasonal products – They are short-traveled and also cost less than the products that are imported. The stores’ “cheap brands” – Often produced in the same factories. So choosing the chain’s products that have a lower price is a good option. Avoid going to the store hungry – When you’re hungry, you want everything. Spread with lunch from home – It will be quite a high amount if you buy lunch every day. Bake yourself if you have the opportunity – it will be much cheaper than buying bread in the store Keep an eye on the special offers counters – Many stores have become good at discounting goods that are nearing their expiry date. These are often also products that can be eaten well after their expiry date. Use the grocery chains’ benefit programs and offers – Just remember not to buy things because they’re on sale, but because you actually need it.
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Food – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
