Consumers are well aware that food inflation in South Africa is rising. The most recent information from StatsSA makes grim reading.

Our tips for dealing with rising food inflation will help you manage your budget.

The rise in food inflation in 2022 and 2023

In 2022, South Africa’s economy contracted by 1.3% in the last quarter. This, combined with rolling blackouts, has caused huge strain.

This year, food inflation in South Africa hit a 14-year high, reaching 14.4% in March. This is its highest level since March 2009 during the global financial crisis when it hit 14.7%.

Constant pressure on the pockets of South African households has increased the need for smart, frugal shopping.

Tips for managing higher food prices in South Africa

There’s no way to completely avoid rising food inflation in South Africa. However, it’s easier to manage your money with a few clever tricks.

1. Focus on “gamifying” shopping

Finding healthy, appealing foods on a budget can be challenging, but this can be motivating.

Approach frugal shopping as you would a game. Set yourself a budget and challenge yourself to meet it.

This is a good habit to form because it makes it harder to splurge unnecessarily in the future.

2. Compare specials every week

Most supermarkets have weekly specials. Before you shop, compare them to find the best deals.

Stock up on non-perishable groceries during specials like Black Friday and Food Lover’s seasonal sales. Check out the weekly catalogues and flyers at these stores:

• Pick n Pay
• Checkers
• Shoprite
• Woolworths
• Boxer
• Food Lover’s Market.

3. Go to more than one shop

It takes time, but visit more than one shop to get the lowest prices on essential products. It can result in significant savings.

The only time this isn’t worthwhile is if you have to spend extra on transport or parking to do so.

4. Pool resources and buy in bulk

Bulk purchases are almost always cheaper per item than smaller amounts.

This will mean a bigger initial spend, but you can get around this by pooling your money with friends, families or neighbours. Buy in bulk and distribute the goods equally.

5. Adopt the envelope method

The envelope method is a budgeting strategy where you divide cash among different envelopes for different categories. For food shopping, this could be dividing into different types of food, such as meat, vegetables, dry goods and dairy.

Alternatively, each envelope can be for a separate meal or weekly meal plan. You spend only what’s in each envelope.

This ensures you don’t go over budget for each meal or week on the plan.

6. Get creative with South African budget recipes

Shopping frugally doesn’t have to mean eating bland meals. There’s no shortage of creative budget recipes and meal plans available online.

You might like to have a look at these recipes and articles for inspiration:

• Fresh Living budget beaters
• How Cheap Can I Eat? February 2023 Edition and March Edition
• Woolies dinners under R50 per serving
• Food for Msanzi cooking on a SASSA budget
• Briefly cheap dinner ideas.

Rising food inflation in South Africa may mean you need a short-term cash injection. With Lamna, you can use a personal asset such as a car or luxury watch as collateral for a short-term loan.

We’re a registered credit provider and our loans are fast, discreet and transparent. Apply online now or call us on 086 111 2866 to learn more.