food prices go up
According to the Federal Statistical Office, the inflation rate in Germany rose to 7.4 percent in April 2022, measured as the change in the consumer price index compared to the same month last year. “The inflation rate reached a new record high in reunified Germany for the second month in a row,” says Dr. Georg Thiel, President of the Federal Statistical Office. A sudden increase to 7.3 percent could already be observed in March. What is particularly striking about the changes in April, however, are the above-average price increases for food. The effects of the war in Ukraine would become increasingly visible here.
If you look at the evaluations of the Federal Statistical Office, you can see that products such as sunflower oil and rapeseed oil in particular have become significantly more expensive. Their prices rose by 36.7 percent compared to the same month last year. But consumers also have to shell out 31.3 percent more for butter than they did a year ago. Other products that have experienced similar price increases include whole milk, fresh rolls, sliced cheese, eggs, flour, frozen fruit, tomatoes, minced meat, cucumbers and pasta. On the other hand, ice cream, chocolate, peppers, cabbage and carrots have become somewhat cheaper.
Save money with smart shopping
Especially in a high-priced environment, it is all the more worthwhile to save money. With the right approach to shopping, this can be achieved even in times of inflation. One tip is to buy fruit and vegetables only when the food is in season. The prices of different products fluctuate throughout the year and only at certain months are they particularly cheap. For example, many foods are expensive in late autumn and spring and become cheaper in summer. According to the Salzgitter Zeitung, the best time to buy tomatoes is between June and August. This approach can save up to 20 percent. The opposite is true for onions and garlic. Here you pay almost 30 percent more in July.
Aside from seasonal shopping, there are other simple tips to save money on groceries. For example, you should go shopping with a precise plan. If you think carefully about what you need and what you want to do with the purchases, you avoid unnecessary expenditure and waste. You should never go shopping when you are hungry as this could lead to impulse buying. It is also worth keeping an eye out for special offers and basing your purchases on them. If there are no special offers at the moment, it is generally advisable to compare the basic prices per reference unit and to bend down for cheaper alternatives. In the end it is important how much product you really get for your money. Nobody wants to pay for the air in the packaging.
Customize your behavior
You don’t just save money at the supermarket checkout, but also by adapting your own behavior. If you plan your meals well in addition to your shopping, you can use leftovers and save on expenses. Cooking and preparing yourself is also usually cheaper than using ready-made products. This doesn’t just apply at home, but also, for example, to the lunch break or breakfast in the office. It is cheaper to prepare rolls yourself or to take food with you than to buy ready-made products from a bakery or shop. General thrift is also the order of the day. Instead of buying sparkling water or water, you can simply drink tap water as an alternative. Likewise, one could minimize the addition of various very expensive foods. Since oil is particularly scarce and expensive at the moment, it makes sense to use it sparingly.
Nicolas Flohr / Editor finanzen.net
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