Eat what you have before buying more
Before opening flyers, open the fridge. Note what must go this week. Deals fill gaps; they shouldn’t duplicate stock.
If you already have two packs of chicken, the flyer “extra” only helps if you’ll freeze it now—and have space.
Pack size and dates, not just the % off
A family pack isn’t a deal if you’re two and the date is short. Divide price by realistic meals, not theoretical weight.
Very ripe fruit nets: fine if you’ll eat them in 48 hours or freeze. Otherwise, slightly pricier loose produce can win.
Three destinations for every deal
This week’s meal, a frozen portion, or a batch-cook ingredient. If you can’t name which, leave it out of the cart.
Label on arrival (contents + date). An anonymous freezer is delayed waste.
A short list, not a catalogue of specials
Keep 10–15 lines max. Flyers help you choose among what you were going to buy—not invent new needs.
On SimpleICI, build the list after the fridge/freezer check. Deals become substitutions, not extras.
The real cost of throwing food out
An item 30% off that’s 70% tossed didn’t save anything. Count space, cooking time, and the mood of finding a forgotten tub.
A 5-minute Sunday inventory prevents more loss than an hour chasing every sticker.
Deal + meal plan + date. Three conditions. SimpleICI shows specials; the list—not the flyer—stops waste.
Ready to compare this week’s deals?