Caitríona Redmond: Please learn from my error when I was grocery shopping last week

A look at the value of supermarket savings cards — money saved is money earned

Let me tell you, I was kicking myself when I got to the checkout

Whether it’s loyalty cards, vouchers, or an app, you can save money on your grocery shopping every single week.

Once you are loaded up and prepared, it’s no more complicated than making sure you have your wallet, phone, and keys when you leave the house.

You may not even need your wallet if you have a smartphone, because several supermarkets use apps and that dispenses with the need to carry cards everywhere you go.

There is nothing worse than doing a shop and realising that your voucher has expired. 

Stick a small reminder in your phone 24 hours before your money off runs out, or use your smart speaker system.

It’s a spoken version of an effective filofax; It’s nearly too easy and I get little reminders throughout the day.

“Alexa/Hey Siri, set a reminder for 5 days time at 2pm and tell me that my shopping voucher has 1 day left.”

If you’re really stuck there are Facebook groups to share the vouchers which is awesome. 

It just goes to show the canny power of Irish community that there is now a group to get around pesky vouchers near expiry, and literally thousands of people sharing so that everyone can save money. 

Failing that, ask around your neighbours or family, because you’d be surprised who has the right voucher you might need and wouldn’t get a chance to use it. Somebody might as well benefit.

Did you know that some supermarket schemes automatically apply the vouchers if you order online? 

I discovered this to my absolute delight when I booked an online order from Dunnes Stores a few months back and didn’t have proof of my last shopping trip. No worries, the system credited me anyway.

Regardless, please learn from my error last week. I went to the supermarket in a hurry and I just brought my card, forgot my phone, and therefore my barcodes. 

Let me tell you, I was kicking myself when I got to the checkout. If I had been prepared I would have spent €21 on a few messages, instead I spent just under €27.

I have no excuse because of all people, I should know better! If I got caught out on such a small amount of shopping every week for a year I’d have spent €312 too much on my groceries. What could you do with an extra €312?

One of the benefits of living in a household with neurodiversity is how we are all making use of lists and reminders. 

After my supermarket disaster I have stuck a large yellow sign on the inside of the front door that lists the things I must remember when I’m leaving the house. 

From now on, I’m not going anywhere without the bag of carrier bags, supermarket vouchers, wallet, and phone.

While my budget might have taken a small hit last week, I’m determined not to let it happen again if I can help it.

Home Truths

What will you do with all the money you’ve saved this week? It used to be so much easier when we all used cash didn’t it? 

My tip this week is to hand over whatever you’ve saved at the check out and put it onto a supermarket savings card.

Nowadays it’s a bit more difficult to figure out where the leftover money has gone. It’s all in the same pot; the bank account connected to the card. 

I could, of course take the cash out regardless but sometimes the spare change is literally just that; change made up of a few coins. 

Instead I shift the money from my current account to a savings stash and treat it like my big coin bottle.

I know I can’t leave that small bit of money I saved in my current account because no doubt it’ll get spent. It’s like there’s a neverending chute of money running from the bank into this house. 

Stem the flow and make your money work for you whether it’s cash, savings card, or bank account. Reap the rewards in a few months' time.

Greek yoghurt choc-ice

Don’t be caught out by the ice-cream van and keep a stash of homemade choc-ices in your freezer. I bought a silicone ice-cream mould with wooden lollipop sticks online and it is constantly in rotation in/out of the freezer.

Servings

4

Preparation Time

 10 mins

Total Time

 10 mins

Course

 Dessert

Ingredients

• 200g strawberries

• 2 tsp caster sugar

• 3 tbsp honey

• 500ml Greek yoghurt

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• 500g dark chocolate

Method

1. Chop the strawberries into small pieces and place into bowl. Stir in the caster sugar with the strawberries, cover the bowl and set to one side. After about 10 minutes the strawberries will be self saucing. You can also do this with raspberries if you prefer. Open the pot of Greek yoghurt and stir in 3 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

2. Set up each mould with a lollipop stick. Half fill 4 moulds with the yoghurt mixture. Then divide the strawberries equally between the 4 molds and then spoon the remainder of the yoghurt mixture on top. Make sure the yoghurt reaches the edge of the mould. Tap the mould on the countertop to make sure you eliminate any bubbles then cover the mould and freeze for 20 hours.

3. 20 Hours Later

4. Take one tip from me, don’t bother using cooking chocolate or poor quality chocolate when making these choc ices. Go for a high cacao content chocolate but own brand is fine to save money. It sounds like a lot of chocolate and honestly you won’t use it all but you need that much melted to get a straight dip.

5. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or in a bain marie then pour it into a deep jug or pint glass. Demold the frozen Greek yoghurt and dunk the entire ice cream quickly into the chocolate and place onto a lined baking tray.

6. Sprinkle with crisp rice or toasted nibbed almonds for extra texture and put the tray into the freezer for at least another hour before enjoying your home made choc ice. Decant the leftover chocolate into a container for use on another day.