Every day to the super around the corner or once a week all the bargains? With the current cost crisis, we are more critical of our expenses, also in the supermarket. In the section The Bonnet every week we talk to a Dutchman about his supermarket strategy in times of inflation.
How: Sofia Janisevska (48)
Earn a living: seller of the homeless newspaper
Lives in: Amsterdam
Sofia’s receipt
Vegetarian balls 1.69 euros
Radishes 0.75 euros
Tomato cubes 0.69 euros
Apple 0.39 euros
Stewed pears 0.51 euros
Total: 4.03 euros
Is this just for tonight?
“No, I eat this for two days. The radish and the fruit are my candy. I stew the tomato cubes together with the veggie balls and some chickpeas that I have left. I also add some pepper and a bay leaf.”
“People think you should only fry those veggie balls in oil. But I don’t. If you cook the meatballs in a sauce, they become very large. The fat from the meatballs ends up in the sauce, which gives the whole flavor. Really tasty. And because those balls get so big, you can eat them for two days. This dish can also be made with rice or pasta.”
Where do you prepare it?
“I now live in a shelter and use the kitchen there.”
Usually I go to Kruidvat for the offers; half a liter of shampoo or ecological cleaning solution for 3 euros.
How often do you go shopping?
“I buy a little bit every other night and then make a meal out of it a few times a week.”
What do you notice about the recent price increases?
“I now spend about 15 euros more per month on groceries. But the prices of the products I buy have not risen that much. And I buy about the same things every time.”
Do you also go to supermarkets other than the one where you sell your newspapers?
“I sometimes go to the market for parsley. Or to ALDI, because the eggs have a fixed low price there.”
Where do you get your skincare products?
“I usually go to Kruidvat for the offers; half a liter of shampoo or ecological cleaning solution for 3 euros. I do everything with that and I use it for a very long time.”
Try combining the cheapest products with something you really like.
Do you have any tips for people who have to live on little?
“Try to combine the cheapest products with something you really like. And if you have the time, keep an eye on offers. Especially products that you can store for a long time. For example, get two, pay one promotions.”
“And last week you paid 5 euros for 10 kilos of potatoes at ALDI. For older people, that is heavy to carry. Maybe they can ask if the neighbor can lift. Then you have a product that will last for a very long time. you can make a soup, for example.”
Are there days when you don’t sell enough newspapers and can’t do your shopping?
“Fortunately not. The people are so nice. They also often ask if they can bring me something from the store. Then I usually choose some fruit.”
Is there something you really like that is actually too expensive?
“I don’t need that much. I sometimes go to the Polish store. Prices are higher there. But because not everyone comes there, they sometimes have to sell products for lower prices. Then you can find many discounted products for 1 euro We make sour, such as gherkins, differently in Poland than here. And I really like that.”
Unfortunately, this content cannot be displayedWe do not have permission for the necessary cookies. Accept the cookies to view this content.
