Rising fuel and food prices: three tips on how to save money quickly

Created: 05/02/2022, 15:35

By: Andrea Stettner

Inflation causes rising prices, for example for heating costs and food.

© Andreas Gebert/dpa

Prices have been rising for months.

We show how you can save in the most important areas of the household despite inflation.

The Federal Statistical Office calculated an inflation rate of 7.4 percent in April 2022.

Not surprising for consumers, after all, the price increase is already making itself felt in the wallet.

Consumers are being asked to pay more than ever before, especially in supermarkets, when filling up and when buying electricity.

The consumer advice center has a few quick tips on how you can still save money.

1. Save money when shopping: Pay attention to the right groceries

The prices of foods such as

have exploded in many places in recent weeks.

Supermarket chains such as Aldi or Rewe have announced or already implemented further price increases.

If you pay attention to a few things, you can still save money when shopping for groceries:

• Set a

  weekly

  grocery shopping budget.

• Plan your shopping carefully: create a

  meal plan for the week

  , then shop only according to the grocery list.

  This avoids expensive spontaneous purchases.

• The cheapest products can usually be found in the bottom shelf, in the so-called

  "Bückware"

  or in the upper area ("Stretched goods").

• Buy

  seasonal fruit and vegetables

  .

• Always compare products based on the stated

  basic price

  , such as per 100 grams or per litre.

  Large packs are not always relatively cheaper than smaller packs.

• Include more

  vegetarian dishes

  in your diet - this saves you from buying expensive meat.

2. Save costs when refueling

If you want to save fuel, you should of course first and foremost

.

With a few tricks, you can also save a few euros when refueling:

• "Refuel with foresight and compare prices," advises the consumer advice center on its website.

  “As a rule, petrol and diesel are

  cheapest between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m..

  ”

• Drive with foresight

  , if possible at a constant speed and shift up quickly.

  This means you consume less petrol while driving.

• Superstructures such as bicycle racks increase air resistance and thus fuel consumption.

  So only carry them on the car roof if necessary.

  Also remove unnecessary ballast from the trunk.

• Use heating and

  air conditioning sparingly

  .

• It may also be worthwhile for you to purchase a

  more economical motor vehicle

  .

3. Save electricity costs

Electricity costs are currently skyrocketing.

However, cost traps can be avoided both with the electricity provider and when using your devices.

Some household appliances turn out to be real power guzzlers.

If you know these, you can minimize the costs for them.

The most important tips for saving electricity:

• Normally, switching from your electricity provider's basic service would be the most important advice.

  But according to the consumer advice center, this can currently backfire: the prices for new customers are now often higher than for the basic service.

  Here you should

  compare the prices exactly

  !

• In the case of entertainment devices, refrigerators and heating pumps, the

  purchase of new devices

  can be worthwhile. 

• Unplug devices when not in use - do not leave

  them

  on standby.

• When the weather is nice, leave the dryer off and let the laundry dry outside.

• Turn

  off refrigerators, freezers and routers

  for longer trips .

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